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

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics of objects sliding down an inclined plane, specifically a 10 m ramp at a 30-degree angle. It is established that both a 5 kg and a 10 kg object will take the same time to descend due to the acceleration of 4.9 m/s² being independent of mass. Additionally, the conversation addresses the concept of velocity when an object is thrown upwards and begins to fall, clarifying that the magnitude of velocity always increases as it accelerates downwards, regardless of the direction assigned to the vector.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Second Law (F = ma)
  • Knowledge of gravitational force components (Fx of slope = mgsinx)
  • Familiarity with vector quantities and their magnitudes
  • Basic principles of kinematics related to acceleration and velocity
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of mass on acceleration in different friction scenarios
  • Study the effects of angle on the acceleration of objects on inclined planes
  • Learn about the relationship between velocity and acceleration in one-dimensional motion
  • Investigate the concept of vector quantities and their representation in physics
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Students studying physics, educators teaching mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of motion on inclined planes.

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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