How Does Mass Affect the Time It Takes Objects to Slide Down an Inclined Plane?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of mass on the time it takes for objects to slide down an inclined plane, specifically a 10 m ramp elevated at a 30-degree angle. Participants explore the relationship between the times taken by different masses and the implications of acceleration on velocity when an object is thrown upwards.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to establish the relationship between the times taken by a 5 kg and a 10 kg object sliding down the ramp, questioning whether mass affects the time taken. There is also a discussion on the nature of velocity when an object is thrown upwards and begins to fall.

Discussion Status

Some participants express agreement on the acceleration being independent of mass in this context, while others seek clarification on the implications of velocity as a vector quantity. There is an ongoing exploration of definitions and interpretations regarding velocity and its magnitude.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific equations of motion and forces acting on the objects, while also discussing the implications of treating upward and downward motion as positive and negative values, respectively. There is a noted emphasis on the completeness of explanations in the context of classroom discussions.

x86
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Homework Statement


If the incline plane is 10 m long, and it is elevated at an angle of 30 degrees: If a 5kg object takes t1 seconds to go down the ramp and a 10kg object takes t2 seconds to go down the ramp... What is the relationship between t1 and t2?


Homework Equations


F = ma
Fx of slope = mgsinx
Fnorm = mgcosx


The Attempt at a Solution


If the incline plane is 10 m long, and it is elevated at an angle of 30 degrees... Then this means the x component of acceleration down the ramp is 4.9 m/s^2 meaning that a 5 kg object and 20 kg object will take the same amount of time to go down this 10 m ramp.

This is correct, right?

Secondly:

Also, if you throw an object up, when Vf = 0 it will start accelerating downwards.

Does this mean the velocity increases, or decreases? I answered in class that it depends on relativity, being as its a vector quantity (i.e. up can be negative or down can be negative). The teacher said this is wrong, and the velocity has to increase. Why?
 
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x86 said:

Homework Statement


If the incline plane is 10 m long, and it is elevated at an angle of 30 degrees: If a 5kg object takes t1 seconds to go down the ramp and a 10kg object takes t2 seconds to go down the ramp... What is the relationship between t1 and t2?


Homework Equations


F = ma
Fx of slope = mgsinx
Fnorm = mgcosx


The Attempt at a Solution


If the incline plane is 10 m long, and it is elevated at an angle of 30 degrees... Then this means the x component of acceleration down the ramp is 4.9 m/s^2 meaning that a 5 kg object and 20 kg object will take the same amount of time to go down this 10 m ramp.

This is correct, right?
Yes, that is correct.

Secondly:

Also, if you throw an object up, when Vf = 0 it will start accelerating downwards.

Does this mean the velocity increases, or decreases? I answered in class that it depends on relativity, being as its a vector quantity (i.e. up can be negative or down can be negative). The teacher said this is wrong, and the velocity has to increase. Why?

It's possible that your teacher was thinking about the magnitude of the velocity (also known as speed) which does increase as the object starts falling downwards.
 
Sourabh N said:
Yes, that is correct.
It's possible that your teacher was thinking about the magnitude of the velocity (also known as speed) which does increase as the object starts falling downwards.

Thank you.

Also, it does increase if it falls downwards. But, what if you make downwards negative and upwards positive?

Then say it will go from 0 to -10m/s to -20m/s etc. Would this be considered decreasing?

Or is the magnitude of the quantity the absolute value of it?

magnitude velocity = |V|

Sourabh N said:
Magnitude is the absolute value, so, yes, it will always be increasing.

If your answer was "it depends on relativity, being as its a vector quantity (i.e. up can be negative or down can be negative)", it's absolutely right.
But if instead your answer was "it depends on relativity, being as its a vector quantity", he might have ruled it out because it's incomplete.
Ah okay, thank you
 
Last edited:
Magnitude is the absolute value, so, yes, it will always be increasing.

If your answer was "it depends on relativity, being as its a vector quantity (i.e. up can be negative or down can be negative)", it's absolutely right.
But if instead your answer was "it depends on relativity, being as its a vector quantity", he might have ruled it out because it's incomplete.
 

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