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

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a puck sliding up an inclined plane, where the effects of friction are to be analyzed. The original poster presents equations derived from Newton's second law, seeking clarification on their correctness and the role of various forces acting on the puck.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the problem, questioning the interpretation of the puck's motion and the application of forces. There are inquiries about the correctness of the equations presented and the meaning of terms like \mu_x and \mu_y, as well as the relevance of spring constants in this context.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing examination of the equations provided by the original poster, with some participants pointing out inaccuracies and seeking further clarification on the definitions and components involved. Guidance has been offered regarding the need to clarify terms and the correct application of forces, but no consensus has been reached on the final formulation of the equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original poster's description of the puck's motion may have led to confusion, and there is a lack of clarity regarding the role of friction and the introduction of spring constants, which have not been previously mentioned in the thread.

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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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