Minimum Acceleration for Sliding Cream Pie: Solving Static Friction Problem

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the minimum acceleration needed to prevent a cream pie from sliding down a vertical hand, given a static friction coefficient of 0.70. Participants emphasize the importance of understanding forces acting on the pie, including weight, normal force, and friction. The normal force is identified as equal to the force exerted by the hand, and the relationship between static friction and normal force is clarified. There is confusion regarding the mass of the pie, but it is noted that it will cancel out in the equations. The conversation concludes with participants encouraging each other to verify calculations and seek further assistance if needed.
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Homework Statement


The coefficient of static friction between your hand and a pie is 0.70. if you want to put a cream pie pie in someone's face, what is the minimum acceleration needed to keep it from sliding down your vertical hand?

The Attempt at a Solution


Im not sure how to go about this.. but I am prttty sure that is related to F=ma..
Help would be greatly appreciated, thanks alot..
 
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draw a free body diagram of the PIE-mass, what forces acting downwards what forceas acting upwards? what force is the hand "pushing the" pie-what is the normal force?

answer those questions, and see if it helps , answer them and I'll help You from there.
 
ok.. i know the normal force is acting upwards, and weight is acting downwards, and there is also the force of the hand pushing on the pie.. but they don't give me a mass fro the pie.. so wouldn't that mean the normal froce and the wight cancel each other..
 
1)Normal force= perpendicular to the surface(the hand) look at this in this way:
hand pushes on Pie, Pie pushes same force on hand(third law of...)=Normal force direction=Left.
2)upwards-friction. moment before it slides fs=Us * N
N=normal force=(this is the key for the problem, try to figure out by your own).
Write forces in the Y direction, and in equilibrium Fy=0

Good Luck!

P.S
Mass of Pie will cancel out
and the solution is for vertical hand:
|=hand
X=Pie
_
X|
X|
X|
 
Last edited:
Don't forget to experimentally verify the result of the calculation.
 
ok, i think I am starting to figure it out... you have to take Us/g and that equals Fs
 
"Don't forget to experimentally verify the result of the calculation."
xD I would've preferred eating the pie :D
You're close to the answer :}
Write Your equations
btw there was a mistake in my last post
i wrote fs=us*m*n , its us*N

I'm off now, good luck solving, other ppl can help you for now :
good luck.
 
Last edited:
Fs= Us * M*N
Fs= Us *M/mg
Fs=Us/g
Fs=.0713

no i take the Fs and plug it back in right
so now i do this:
Fs=Us*n
Fs/Us=n
.0713/.70=.101
n=.101
so that would mean since N=.101
acceleration is also equal .101n
 
Last edited:
Is anyone elsehere that can help me..
 
  • #10
check my last post.
fs=us*N.
N=m*a.
What You've done is wrong Imo.
 
  • #11
ok if what ur saying is true, then that would mean Fs and Us are equal, and my acceleration would be 1.. but i think that wouldn't make sense... corret me if I am wrong.
 
  • #12
I really wonna sleep xD
fs=static friction=MG(in equilibrium state)=us*N
how did yo get that they're equal (fs and us).

Hope You see this:
mg down, friction up which depends on the normal force, normal force acting on hand (and by hand on body).
good luck.
 
  • #13
i still can't get it... anyone else can help me cause I am stuck...
 
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