How Much Work Does Lifting and Pushing a Box Involve?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the total work done by a girl who pushes a box along the floor and then lifts it vertically. The subject area includes concepts of work, friction, and gravitational force in a physics context.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conversion of weight to mass and back, the calculation of frictional force, and the work done against gravity. Some express uncertainty about their calculations and seek clarification on the correct approach to find the net work done.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the calculations involved in determining the total work done. Some participants have provided insights into the relationships between the forces and the work done, while others are still clarifying their understanding of the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There is a focus on ensuring that the calculations reflect the physics principles accurately.

jameo15
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A girl pushes a 3.0x102N box along the floor for a distance of4.0m. The coeffifient ofkineticfriction is0.33. She then lifts the box straight up 1.2m. What is the total amount of work she has done?

I converted 3.0x102N to kgs and found Ff. Then I found work. Then I found Wgrav.
Now I am stuck and do not know what to do to get the answer. ( 760J )
 
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jameo15 said:
A girl pushes a 3.0x102N box along the floor for a distance of4.0m. The coeffifient ofkineticfriction is0.33. She then lifts the box straight up 1.2m. What is the total amount of work she has done?

I converted 3.0x102N to kgs and found Ff. Then I found work. Then I found Wgrav.
Now I am stuck and do not know what to do to get the answer. ( 760J )
The total work done by the girl is simply the sum of the work done against friction and the work done against the weight of the box. Perhaps if you showed a little more detail of what you have done thus far, we could help you out a little more.
 
d=4m
u=0.33
m=3.0x102N=30.6kg
h=1.2m

Ff=uFn=0.33 x 30.6 x 9.8= 98.96N

Wgrav=-1mgh=-3(30.6)(9.8)(1.2)=359.9J

W=Fd=98.96 x 4
W=3879.2J

I do not believe this is right..
 
jameo15 said:
d=4m
u=0.33
m=3.0x102N=30.6kg
h=1.2m

Ff=uFn=0.33 x 30.6 x 9.8= 98.96N

Wgrav=-1mgh=-3(30.6)(9.8)(1.2)=359.9J

W=Fd=98.96 x 4
W=3879.2J

I do not believe this is right..
Why are you converting the weight to a mass and then back to a weight again? Note that the frictional force in this case may be written as:

F_r = \mu mg = \mu W

Equally, the work done against the weight of the box may be written:

\text{work} = mgh = W\cdot h
 
Oh ok that makes more sense. Now I find Wnet correct?

Wnet= Wgrav ( answer from -1mgh formula) + Wp( answer from W=Fd formula)?
 
jameo15 said:
Oh ok that makes more sense. Now I find Wnet correct?

Wnet= Wgrav ( answer from -1mgh formula) + Wp( answer from W=Fd formula)?
Correct, but please be aware that this quantity is positive since the girl is doing work.
 

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