How Does Frictionless Slope Affect Acceleration?

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SUMMARY

In this discussion, the acceleration of Sam, who weighs 85 kg and uses jet-powered skis with a thrust of 180 N on a 10° frictionless slope, is analyzed. The key forces acting on Sam include the thrust from the skis, gravitational force, and the normal force. The frictionless nature of the slope simplifies the calculations, allowing the use of Newton's second law (F = ma) to determine acceleration. Understanding these forces is crucial for calculating the resultant acceleration while Sam is airborne.

PREREQUISITES
  • Newton's Second Law of Motion (F = ma)
  • Basic understanding of gravitational force and normal force
  • Concept of frictionless surfaces in physics
  • Knowledge of vector components in inclined planes
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate acceleration using F = ma for jet-powered systems
  • Explore the effects of different angles on acceleration on inclined planes
  • Study the role of thrust in overcoming gravitational forces
  • Learn about the dynamics of motion on frictionless surfaces
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Students studying physics, particularly those interested in mechanics and dynamics, as well as educators looking for practical examples of force and motion concepts.

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Sam (85 kg) takes off (from rest) up a 50 m high, 10° frictionless slope on his jet-powered skis. The skis have a thrust of 180 N. He keeps his skis tilted at 10° after becoming airborne.

i understand the whole concept, but i don't understand how to get the acceleration, the frictionless keeps confusing me.

please help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.
 
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bamfdan said:
Sam (85 kg) takes off (from rest) up a 50 m high, 10° frictionless slope on his jet-powered skis. The skis have a thrust of 180 N. He keeps his skis tilted at 10° after becoming airborne.

i understand the whole concept, but i don't understand how to get the acceleration, the frictionless keeps confusing me.

Hi bamfdan! Welcome to PF! :smile:

In an exam question like this, "jet-powered" means that there is a constant force that points in the same direction as the skis.

So the acceleration due to the jet-power is in that direction, and is found from F = ma.

"frictionless" means that, while he is still on the slope, the only forces are the jet-power, gravity, and the normal force.

Does that help? :smile:
 

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