How Much Force to Keep a 1390 kg Car from Sliding Back on a 17.5° Hill?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the force required to prevent a 1390 kg car from sliding down a 17.5° incline. The solution involves using the formula F = mg(sinθ), resulting in a force of 4096.20 N. Participants clarify that the calculated force cannot exceed the car's weight, emphasizing the distinction between force and mass, which are measured in different units.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with free body diagrams (FBD)
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions, specifically sine
  • Basic grasp of gravitational force calculations (F = mg)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of free body diagrams in various physics problems
  • Learn about the implications of incline angles on force calculations
  • Explore the concept of static friction and its role in preventing sliding
  • Investigate the relationship between mass, weight, and force in different contexts
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, automotive engineers, and anyone interested in mechanics and force calculations on inclines.

tatiana
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The question is saying that in a city, most roads are 17.5 degrees to the horizontal. They want to know how much force is needed to keep at 1390 kg car from sliding back on the hill?

Solution:
I first drew a FBD and then broke the diagram into components F, the force.
After i didi that i used F=mg(sinθ) and plugged everything in and got 4096.20N

My question is not only am i doing this right? But can the force that you solve for be greather than the actual weight of the car?
 
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Looks like moondawg is in your same class:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=440104

Yes you are right. The force is not greater than the weight. Remember, the weight is mg, not just m. You cannot say if the force is greater or less than the mass since they are different units and cannot be compared.
 

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