Solve for θ to get the angle of the hill.

  • Thread starter Thread starter ludakrishna
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Car Power Work
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 1900-kg car navigating a hill while experiencing forces from air resistance and friction. The objective is to determine the angle of the hill based on the additional power required by the car's engine when moving uphill compared to downhill.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss drawing free body diagrams to analyze forces acting on the car. There are attempts to express the forces involved in moving up and down the hill, with some participants questioning the correctness of the force equations used. The original poster expresses confusion and seeks initial guidance.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided insights into the relationships between forces and power in the context of the problem. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct formulation of forces acting on the car, particularly regarding the role of friction and gravitational components. While some calculations have been attempted, there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or final angle.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of unit consistency throughout the problem. There is also a recognition that assumptions about forces may need to be revisited, particularly regarding the effects of gravity when moving downhill.

ludakrishna
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
1.) A 1900-kg car experiences a combined force of air resistance and
friction that has the same magnitude whether the car goes up or down a
hill at 27 m/s. Going up a hill, the car's engine needs to produce 47 hp
more power to sustain the constant velocity than it does going down the
same hill. At what angle is the hill inclined above the horizontal?




P=F*v*cos (thetha)



I am completely lost. Any help will be necessary. I just need a beginning. Anyways, here's my attemp. mg sign (thetha). 1900(9.8) sin (thetha) and solve for thetha to get the answer. But for some reason i know that i am wrong.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Draw free body diagrams of the car going up and down the hill.

The forces are the weight of the car, the drag and friction force (the same magnitude in both cases) and the force from the engine.

You don't know the drag and friction force so call it F. Find the engine force going up and down the hill, then find the engine power going up and down.

You know Power(up) = Power(down) + 47hp.

Be careful about the units!
 
The force required to push a mass m up an incline is equal to


F (up) = (mgsinθ - friction )



When going down power is required only to overcome friction

F (down ) = ( friction )


Power = Force x velocity

P (up) –P(down) = ( force up – force down ) x velocity = 47 hp





Therefore extra power for going uphill (47 hp) is equal to mgsinθ x velocity.

I Substituted and fond out the value of theta.

1900*9.81 sin thetha * 27 = 47*746

I calculated theta as ~ 4 degrees.
 
ludakrishna said:
The force required to push a mass m up an incline is equal to

F (up) = (mgsinθ - friction )
Are you sure about that?
 
F (up) = (mgsinθ + friction )
 
ludakrishna said:
F (up) = (mgsinθ + friction )
Better :approve: Watch your units on the rest of the question!
 
ludakrishna said:
When going down power is required only to overcome friction

F (down ) = ( friction )[\QUOTE]

No. Going down the mg sinθ force is still in the equation, but the sign is reversed (the force is trying to increase the speed of the car not decrease it)

F(up) = (friction) + mgsinθ
F(down) = (friction) - mgsinθ
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
10K
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
13K