Solving Energy Work Problem: Joe's Car, 300N, 10000N, 200m, 3min

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the work done by Joe as he exerts a force to move his car over a distance. The context includes the force applied, the weight of the car, and the distance moved, along with a time factor that may or may not be relevant to the calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the work formula and question the relevance of the car's weight and the time taken to the calculation of work done. There is an exploration of how to incorporate these factors into the problem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided numerical answers based on their interpretations of the problem, while others express uncertainty about the role of the car's weight and the time duration in the context of the work calculation. There is no explicit consensus on the relevance of all factors involved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes questions about the definitions and implications of work in physics, particularly regarding the relationship between force, distance, and other variables like weight and time.

cheerspens
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Homework Statement



Joe exerts a force of 300 Newtons to move his car, which has run out of gas. How much work has he done if he moves the car 200 meters in 3.0 minutes?
Note that the car weighs 10000 Newtons.


Homework Equations



W=F[tex]\Delta[/tex]Xcos[tex]\theta[/tex]

W=work
F=force
[tex]\Delta[/tex]X=change in location
cos [tex]\theta[/tex]= cos of angle

The Attempt at a Solution



I have solved similar problems by plugging in the force given but I do not know how the weight of the car plays into solving the problem. I know that there is no angle so you just do the cos of zero which is one and delta x would be 200m.
So what my main question is, as I stated before, is how the weight of the car comes into solving the problem and also the 3 minutes?
 
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cheerspens said:

Homework Statement



Joe exerts a force of 300 Newtons to move his car, which has run out of gas. How much work has he done if he moves the car 200 meters in 3.0 minutes?
Note that the car weighs 10000 Newtons.


Homework Equations



W=F[tex]\Delta[/tex]Xcos[tex]\theta[/tex]

W=work
F=force
[tex]\Delta[/tex]X=change in location
cos [tex]\theta[/tex]= cos of angle

The Attempt at a Solution



I have solved similar problems by plugging in the force given but I do not know how the weight of the car plays into solving the problem. I know that there is no angle so you just do the cos of zero which is one and delta x would be 200m.
So what my main question is, as I stated before, is how the weight of the car comes into solving the problem and also the 3 minutes?
Using your correct definition of work, maybe they don't?
 
Well in that case you get an answer of 60000 Joules?
 
cheerspens said:
Well in that case you get an answer of 60000 Joules?

Yes!
 
Much simpler than I made it out to be. Thank you!
 

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