How Does Mass Cancellation Affect Acceleration on an Inclined Plane?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a boy dragging a sled up an inclined plane and subsequently sliding down. The participants are exploring concepts related to forces, acceleration, and the coefficient of kinetic friction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to determine the acceleration of the boy sliding down the hill, questioning the relevance of mass in the calculations. There are discussions about using unknowns for mass and applying Newton's second law.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on how to approach the problem by suggesting the use of free body diagrams and the cancellation of mass in the equations. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between forces and acceleration, with various interpretations being discussed.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of a specific coefficient of kinetic friction value (0.16) and a potential misunderstanding regarding whether the question asks for acceleration or velocity. Participants are also addressing the setup of the problem, including the forces acting on the sled and the boy.

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Homework Statement
A boy drags his 60N sled at constant speed up a 15 degree hill. He does so by pulling with a 25N force on a rope attached to the sled. If the rope is inclined at 35 degrees to the horizontal

What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled and snow?

At the top of the hill he jumps on the sled and slides down the hill. What is the magnitude of his acceleration down the slope.
----------------------------
Relevant Equations
How to find a?
I've found M-k it is 0.16
how to find the acceleration? I can't solve it without the quetion telling me the mass of the kid!
 
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Mohmmad Maaitah said:
Homework Statement: A boy drags his 60N sled at constant speed up a 15 degree hill. He does so by pulling with a 25N force on a rope attached to the sled. If the rope is inclined at 35 degrees to the horizontal

What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled and snow?

At the top of the hill he jumps on the sled and slides down the hill. What is the magnitude of his acceleration down the slope.
----------------------------
Relevant Equations: How to find a?

I can't solve it without the quetion telling me the mass of the kid!
The masses are irrelevant for the second part. Just put an unknown for it, m, and watch it disappear.
 
haruspex said:
The masses are irrelevant for the second part. Just put an unknown for it, m, and watch it disappear.
That's what I've been told and I still don't get how!
Can you please show me how so?
Thank you in advance.
 
Mohmmad Maaitah said:
That's what I've been told and I still don't get how!
Can you please show me how so?
Thank you in advance.
As I suggested, let the boy's mass be m and write out the equations. Use M for the sled's mass, rather than plug in numbers.
Post what you get.
 
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Mohmmad Maaitah said:
Homework Statement: A boy drags his 60N sled at constant speed up a 15 degree hill. He does so by pulling with a 25N force on a rope attached to the sled. If the rope is inclined at 35 degrees to the horizontal

What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled and snow?

At the top of the hill he jumps on the sled and slides down the hill. What is the magnitude of his acceleration down the slope.
----------------------------
Relevant Equations: How to find a?

I've found M-k it is 0.16
how to find the acceleration? I can't solve it without the quetion telling me the mass of the kid!
I agree with ##µ_k≈0.16## , Are you sure that the question asks for the acceleration down the slope? Or it asks for velocity?
To find the acceleration, not only the mass of the boy but also the mass of the sled is not needed. Just use Newton's second law for an object sliding down a ramp.
 
MatinSAR said:
I agree with ##µ_k≈0.16## , Are you sure that the question asks for the acceleration down the slope? Or it asks for velocity?
To find the acceleration, not only the mass of the boy but also the mass of the sled is not needed. Just use Newton's second law for an object sliding down a ramp.
haruspex said:
As I suggested, let the boy's mass be m and write out the equations. Use M for the sled's mass, rather than plug in numbers.
Post what you get.
I get this a =0
1682253325482.jpeg
 
and in the textbook the asnwer is 1 and idk how
 
Mohmmad Maaitah said:
I get this a =0
There is no tension force when the boy slides down! First try to draw a free body diagram.
Consider the x-axis along the ramp and the y-axis perpendicular to it.
 
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MatinSAR said:
There is no tension force when the boy slides down! First try to draw a free body diagram.
Consider the x-axis along the ramp and the y-axis perpendicular to it.
Oh lord oh no! yes you are right 🤦
Thanks guys now I can see how the mass cancel and I got the acceleration
(I Wish I knew earlier about this forum)
1682254960908.png
 
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