How Does Friction Affect a Puck Sliding Up an Inclined Plane?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the dynamics of a puck sliding up an inclined plane, specifically analyzing the forces acting on the puck, including friction, gravity, and initial velocity. The student attempts to apply Newton's second law, represented as F = m&ddot;r, to derive the puck's position over time. Key issues identified include the incorrect application of velocity and friction components in the equations, specifically the misunderstanding of the coefficient of friction (μ) as having x and y components. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in the equations and the correct interpretation of forces acting on the puck.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's second law (F = m&ddot;r)
  • Knowledge of forces acting on objects on inclined planes
  • Familiarity with coefficients of friction (static and kinetic)
  • Basic concepts of vector decomposition in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the application of Newton's second law in inclined plane problems
  • Study the role of friction in motion on inclined surfaces
  • Learn about vector decomposition and its application in physics
  • Explore the effects of initial velocity on motion along an incline
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Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics and dynamics, as well as educators looking for examples of inclined plane problems involving friction.

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1. Homework Statement
A student kicks a puck with initial speed v_0 so that it slides straight up a plane that is inclined at an angle \theta above the horizontal. the incline has a coefficient of friction (both static and kinetic) of \mu
Write down Newton's second law for the puck and solve it to give it's position as a function of time.

2. Homework Equations

F=m\ddot r

The Attempt at a Solution


idk why I am having such a hard time with this. imagine pucked is kicked diagonally up and to the right. that incline will be the positive x-axis with angle \theta to the horizontal.
forces
1. friction: -x direction
2. normal: positive y axis
3. gravity: straight down(component of x and y)
4. v_0: positive x direction

F_x=m\ddot r
\vec F_g \sin\theta + v_0 -\mu_x = m\ddot x

F_y=0
\vec N - \mu_y + \vec F_g\cos\theta=0

thats as far as I've gotten. are these equations correctly written?

thanks
 
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pizza_dude said:
A student kicks a puck with initial speed v_0 so that it slides straight up a plane
pizza_dude said:
imagine pucked is kicked diagonally up and to the right.
As I understand it, the bold part of the first quote means that the puck is not kicked diagonally up the plane.
 
Nathanael said:
As I understand it, the bold part of the first quote means that the puck is not kicked diagonally up the plane.

after that it says it's an inclined plane.
 
pizza_dude said:
after that it says it's an inclined plane.
Sorry, I thought you were thinking the puck was moving diagonally up the inclined plane instead of straight up the inclined plane.

Your equations aren't correct but it's hard to give you any guidance since you didn't explain them. Perhaps you could start by explaining what you mean by \mu_xand \mu_y?
\mu is the coefficient of friction, a scalar, it doesn't have x and y components.
 
pizza_dude said:
##\vec F_g \sin\theta + v_0 -\mu_x = m\ddot x##
Apart from the question Nathanael asked of what ##\mu_x ## is supposed to be, the ##v_0## makes no sense there. You can't add a force to a velocity.
 
okay...so taking out the v_0 \text { and } \mu_x , \mu_y the equations are correct? but how do the spring constants come into play?
 
pizza_dude said:
okay...so taking out the v_0 \text { and } \mu_x , \mu_y the equations are correct? but how do the spring constants come into play?
You can't just throw them away. You need to replace them with the correct terms, involving friction.
Where have spring constants been mentioned in this thread?
 

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