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physstudent1
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This problem has to do with physics but it is from my calculus book, and for my calc class so I put it here:
"A component is designed to slide a block of steel with weight W across a table and into a chute. The motion of the block is resisted by a frictional force proportional to its apparent weight. (Let k be the constant of proportionality.) Find the minimum force F needed to slide the block and find the corresponding value of theta. (Hint: FcosTheta is the force in the direction of the motion, and FsinTheta is the amount of force tending to lift the block. So the apparent weight is W-Fsintheta.)"
Apparent weight = W-FsinTheta
I set the equation FcosTheta = k(w-Fsintheta)
I really don't know where to go from here. In every optimization problem we have found 2 equations a primary and a secondary and used the secondary to relate to get rid of variables. Can someone please point me in the right direction I'm pretty lost.
Homework Statement
"A component is designed to slide a block of steel with weight W across a table and into a chute. The motion of the block is resisted by a frictional force proportional to its apparent weight. (Let k be the constant of proportionality.) Find the minimum force F needed to slide the block and find the corresponding value of theta. (Hint: FcosTheta is the force in the direction of the motion, and FsinTheta is the amount of force tending to lift the block. So the apparent weight is W-Fsintheta.)"
Homework Equations
Apparent weight = W-FsinTheta
The Attempt at a Solution
I set the equation FcosTheta = k(w-Fsintheta)
I really don't know where to go from here. In every optimization problem we have found 2 equations a primary and a secondary and used the secondary to relate to get rid of variables. Can someone please point me in the right direction I'm pretty lost.
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