Solving AP Physics Problem: Vector Addition/Subtraction

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving vector addition and subtraction, specifically in the context of forces acting on objects, such as boxes on ramps and frictionless surfaces. Participants are exploring the concepts of free body diagrams and the forces involved in these scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the necessity of drawing free body diagrams and question the differences between their diagrams and the required ones. There are attempts to identify forces acting on the objects, including gravity, tension, and normal forces, while some express confusion about the application of equations and the relevance of friction.

Discussion Status

Some participants have shared their attempts at solving the problem and expressed their confusion regarding the application of physics concepts. Guidance has been offered regarding the use of free body diagrams and the identification of forces, with some participants beginning to clarify their understanding of the relationships between these forces.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention constraints such as time pressure due to impending deadlines for assignments and the challenge of understanding the material without sufficient instructional support. There is also a reference to the complexity of the examples in their textbook compared to their current problems.

swimchica93
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As you all have seen, I am completely lost, but within the last two hours of being a member, I now know how to add and subtract vectors. Anyway!

I made the image, because there is a diagram, and I have some clue as in what to do. My head is still spinning from the 40 vector addition/subtraction problems.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/image-4.png

I really need to know how to do it, not the answer, I changedthe values, so answers won't help. :) THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
 
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First step is drawing a free body diagram.
 
Is that different than the diagram that I have? :)
 
I am pretty sure I have no clue what I am doing.

It is beyond hard. Or I am missing some key piece of information. I have tried three things, and they are not right. At all.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/phys2.png

I really need to know how to do it, because I changed the values. :)

I really want an A in physics. >.<
 
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A free body diagram usually consists of an object (a dot) and the forces acting on it (yeah actually it is pretty close to what you have). Now that you are an expert at decomposing vectors...what part of the force is acting parallel to the floor?
 
Is there a force parallel? I have no clue what I am doing. lol So far for what is acting on the box I have this:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/phys2.png

There wouldn't be friction if it is a frictionless floor, right?
 
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swimchica93 said:
It is beyond hard. Or I am missing some key piece of information. I have tried three things, and they are not right. At all.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/phys2.png

I really need to know how to do it, because I changed the values. :)

I really want an A in physics. >.<

Show us the 3 things that you've tried. We do not do your work for you.
 
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I think I figured out that the muk is kinetic friction.

I tried an equation with pulleys and that is definitely wrong. I also tried one, but it involved two boxes, again wrong, and another one that I don't really know where I got it.

When the rope breaks I know that I will hae to use 9.8 m/s^2 but I hae no clue where.

I have two equations: Fgx= mg sin (angle) & Fgy = mg cos (angle)

I am not looking for answers, I changed the values so even if someone did give me answers I wouldn't use them. I have a test soon so not knowing how to do the problems might be detrimental to my grade. :)
 
(merged two threads with the same questions)
 
  • #10
They are both different. One is about a box and an incline, while the other is a box being pushed...
 
  • #11
I'm pretty sure that the figures were the same for the two threads I merged. In any case, show us the 3 things you tried in the post where you said you tried 3 things... Showing your work is important here.
 
  • #12
Ok. For this one: http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/phys2.png

I tried this to no avail: Fgx=mg sin (angle) and Fgy = mg cos (angle)

The thing is, the examples in the book are nothing like this problem. That is for finding acceleration and I need force, and magnitude of acceleration. Which I am guessing magnitude of acceleration= acceleration. So it works for that.

This is where the example gets sticky.It uses a skier as the example and then they literally use greek symbols from then on. Sigma F y = ma y
Fn - mg cos (angle) = ma y = 0

That is where I get confused... It is all greek to me. (pun intended)

Then the example switches to speed.

All the other examples involving anything similar are in the next chapter, so wouldn't relate.

I also tried something involving a sled and pushing, so pushing isn't what I am looking for for that problem.

Then I tried another equation: Sigma Fy= Fn - mg = 0

I tried substitution and it didn't work, and turned out unbearbly long. I am guessing seeing the space to put it, should at least fit an eighth of the problem, I was on th wrong track.

I tried something else but scribbled it out.

On this: http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/image-4.png

I don't have any clue what to even try... I did change the values. I just am at a loss for both of them.

The main thing is, they are both due in 5 hours... -sigh-
 
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  • #13
In http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/image-4.png

What forces are acting on the box, and what direction(s) are they? That's a good place to start.
 
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  • #14
Let's talk about the ramp problem first. The capital sigma means "sum of", as in you add up all of the things you see after the sigma. The example in your book add up all the forces in the y direction, and set them equal to zero for equilibrium (everything is sitting still or moving at a constant velocity).

What I suggest you do, especially for the ramp problem, is to draw a free body diagram for the box, what forces are acting on it? Then, knowing that if you want a constant velocity in the direction parallel to the ramp set the sum of those forces equal to zero, just like in your text.
 
  • #15
I have this right now: http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/mythologymaniac/phys2.png

With no friction, and I added the force from the floor.
 
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  • #16
I tried drawing a free body diagram, and came up with the pull of gravity, the force from the ramp, magnitude, and the force from the rope.

What do you mean by adding them together? This was never explained in class. Is tension at all a part of this. We went over that some. The book is completely useless...
 
  • #17
What book are you using?

Parallel to the ramp, you have the component of gravity which is parallel, you said a few posts ago this is mg*sin(theta), you also have the friction, and you have the tension from the rope. In the direction perpendicular to the ramp you have the normal force, and the perpendicular component of gravity. The sum of the forces (like force A +force B- force C) has to be equal to zero.

This is not so different from your vector problem from before.
 
  • #18
Thank you for your help. :) I got an extension for the problems. I figured out the box one.

I used Fpx=(force)(cos(angle))

then ax=(Fpx)/(m) which gave me acceleration

then v=(initial velocity which equals zero) + acceleration*force= speed

then I took that, and multiplied it by the time to get the distance. :)

Now I am working on the ramp problem... I drew a free body diagram, but it doesn't give me any idea what to do.
 
  • #19
Not to quibble, but why did you multiply acceleration and force? once you have the acceleration velocity=initial velocity+acceleration*time.

As for the ramp, what are the components of the forces that are acting parallel to the ramp (there are 3)?
 
  • #20
Sorry! I did v= v(knot) + at

Gravity, Friction, and the constant force from the rope?
 
  • #21
I have Fr, Fn, Fgx, Fgy, and FG Is that all the forces?
 

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