How Long Until a Crate Reaches a Specific Velocity on an Incline?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the time it takes for a crate to reach a velocity of 2.44 m/s while moving up a 33-degree incline, influenced by a tensile force and friction. The initial calculations indicate that the crate remains stationary until a certain time, t1, which is determined to be 1.25 seconds before it starts moving. After correcting a sign error in the equations, the participants arrive at different quadratic equations to solve for the total time, with one participant ultimately finding the correct answer of 2.01 seconds. The importance of correctly applying the limits in the integral and ensuring accurate values in calculations is emphasized throughout the discussion. The final consensus confirms the correct time for the crate to reach the specified velocity is indeed 2.01 seconds.
_N3WTON_
Messages
350
Reaction score
3
A stop block, s, prevents a crate from sliding down a \theta = 33 \hspace{2 mm} degrees incline. A tensile force F = (F_{o}t) N acts on the crate parallel to the incline, where F_{o} = 325 \frac{N}{s}. If the coefficients of static and kinetic friction between the crate and the incline are \mu_{s} = 0.325 and \mu_{k} = 0.225, respectively, and the crate has mass of m = 50.8 kg, how long will it take until the crate reaches a velocity of v = 2.44 \frac{m}{s} as it moves up the incline.

upload_2015-3-5_13-0-14.png


Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I know when f < f_{max} = \mu_{s}mgcos(\theta), the system isn't moving, and the net force is:
F - mgsin(\theta) - f = 0.
f = F-mgsin(\theta) < \mu_{s}mgcos(\theta)
When t = t_{1}, f = \mu_{s}mgcos(\theta) so I have:
325t_{1} - mgsin(\theta) = \mu_{s}mgcos(\theta)
t_{1} = \frac{mg(sin(\theta)+\mu_{s}cos(\theta))}{325}
Now plugging in my values:
t_{1} = \frac{(50.8)(9.81)(sin(33)+(0.325)cos(33))}{325}
t_{1} = 1.25 s
So, after 1.25 seconds, the block moves up along the incline and the net force is:
F - mgsin(\theta) - \mu_{k}mgcos(\theta)
The impulse of the net force is:
\int_{t}^{t_{1}} (F-mgsin(\theta)-\mu_{k}cos(\theta)) = m(v-0)
\int_{t}^{t_{1}}(325t - mgsin(\theta)-\mu_{k}mgcos(\theta)) = mv
162.5(t^{2}-t_{1}^{2}) - mg(sin(\theta)-\mu_{k}cos(\theta))(t-t_{1}) = mv
162.5(t^{2}-(1.25)^{2})-177.4(t-1.25) = 123.95
162.5t^{2} - 177.4t - 126.76 = 0
When I solve this quadratic, I get t = 1.58 s. However, this answer is not correct and I am not quite sure where I went wrong. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Does your answer represent the total time since t = 0? [Edit: Yes, it does. Your work looks good, but I haven't checked your numbers. Let me try it.]
 
TSny said:
Does your answer represent the total time since t = 0? [Edit: Yes, it does. Your work looks good, but I haven't checked your numbers. Let me try it.]
Yes, I'm really not sure where I went wrong on this one...I'm thinking maybe I entered a value incorrectly but I can't see where. I was thinking that having another set of eyes look over the problem would really help :)
 
When you factored out -mg in the third to last line, did you mess up a sign?
 
TSny said:
When you factored out -mg in the third to last line, did you mess up a sign?
I believe that I did, I had:
-mgsin(\theta)-\mu_{k}mgcos(\theta)
-mg(sin(\theta)-\mu_{k}cos(\theta)
instead of
-mg(sin(\theta)+\mu_{k}cos(\theta)) Thank you !
 
Yes. I hope it works out now.
 
TSny said:
Yes. I hope it works out now.
I'm trying it now...
 
so after making the correction, I ended up with
162.5t^{2} - 365.458t - 126.7645 = 0
Solving that quadratic I got:
t = 2.55 s
This answer is incorrect, the correct answer according to Pearson is t = 2.01 s :/
 
I get a different number in place of your -126.7645.
 
  • #10
TSny said:
I get a different number in place of your -126.7645.
is it 78.96 or something close to that?
 
  • #11
Yes.
 
  • #12
TSny said:
Yes.
Ok, I see where I went wrong now, thank you very much!
 
  • #13
OK. Good.
 
  • #14
TSny said:
OK. Good.
and using that number I do get 2.01 seconds after using the quadratic equation :)
 
  • #15
Why do you have the time you found in the upper limit?
 
  • #16
_N3WTON_ said:
t_{1} = \frac{(50.8)(9.81)(sin(33)+(0.325)cos(33))}{325}
t_{1} = 1.25 s
So, after 1.25 seconds, the block moves up along the incline and the net force is:
F - mgsin(\theta) - \mu_{k}mgcos(\theta)
The impulse of the net force is:
\int_{t}^{t_{1}} (F-mgsin(\theta)-\mu_{k}cos(\theta)) = m(v-0)
\int_{t}^{t_{1}}(325t - mgsin(\theta)-\mu_{k}mgcos(\theta)) = mv
162.5(t^{2}-t_{1}^{2}) - mg(sin(\theta)-\mu_{k}cos(\theta))(t-t_{1}) = mv
162.5(t^{2}-(1.25)^{2})-177.4(t-1.25) = 123.95
162.5t^{2} - 177.4t - 126.76 = 0
When I solve this quadratic, I get t = 1.58 s. However, this answer is not correct and I am not quite sure where I went wrong. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Why do you have the time you found in the upper limit?
 
  • #17
mohjee said:
Why do you have the time you found in the upper limit?
You are right, t1 should be the lower limit. When _N3WTON_ evaluated the integral, t1 was used as the lower limit. So, it's OK.
 
  • Like
Likes mohjee
  • #18
TSny said:
You are right, t1 should be the lower limit. When _N3WTON_ evaluated the integral, t1 was used as the lower limit. So, it's OK.

Okay, thank you for that, was just making sure, I noticed that the numbers made sense.
 
Back
Top