How Does a Rock Climber Use Friction to Climb?

  • Thread starter Thread starter uberbandgeek6
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Friction
AI Thread Summary
A 55 kg rock climber utilizes friction to ascend a chimney by pressing her shoes against one rock slab and her back against another. The static coefficients of friction are 1.1 for her shoes and 0.80 for her back, and she is on the verge of slipping. The climber's push against the rock can be calculated using the equation that combines the friction from both surfaces with her weight. The next step involves analyzing the horizontal forces to determine the relationship between the normal forces on her shoes and back. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for calculating the magnitude of her push and the fraction of her weight supported by her shoes.
uberbandgeek6
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
A 55 kg rock climber is climbing a "chimney" between two rock slabs with her shoes on one side and her back against the other. The static coefficient of friction between her shoes and the rock is 1.1; between her back and the rock it is 0.80. She has reduced her push against the rock until her back and her shoes are on the verge of slipping. What is the magnitude of her push against the rock, and what fraction of her weight is supported by her shoes?

Okay, so I think I should set it up like this (though I'm not sure if this is right):
friction(shoes) + friction(back) = weight

I plugged in the numbers and now I have:
(1.1)*(N1) + (0.8)*(N2) = 539

Where do i go from here (if this is right so far)?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
So far, so good. See if you can figure out the relationship between N1 and N2 by analyzing horizontal forces on the climber.
 
does she have to exert a force proportional to the coefficients of friction?
 
Analyze the horizontal forces.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Mountain climber 2d forces question.
Replies
8
Views
19K
Help critique my problem solving and thinking process (problem included)
Replies
6
Views
2K
Friction Forces on rock climber
Replies
2
Views
8K
How is the tension of a rope calculated in a climber's FBD?
Replies
12
Views
5K
Finding Minimum Force Needed to Hold Object In Place
Replies
5
Views
9K
Equilibrium problem involving wierd static friction
Replies
2
Views
6K
Calculating Minimum Normal Force for a Climber in a Vertical Chimney
Replies
10
Views
4K
Static Equilibrium Climber Problem
Replies
1
Views
6K
A ball climbing a ramp while "rolling the wrong way"
Replies
32
Views
3K
Chimney climber, Newton's lawquestion
Replies
6
Views
11K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top