Solving Newton's Laws Problem: Stopping a Cart w/ Box in Min Time

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a cart with a box on it, moving at an initial velocity of 40 m/s, and the goal is to determine how long before the cart stops the driver should begin to decelerate to minimize stopping time while ensuring the box does not slide off. The static drag coefficient between the box and the cart is given as 0.3.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for deceleration and stopping distance, with one participant expressing confusion over their results compared to expected answers. They explore the relationship between acceleration, time, and distance, questioning how to ensure the box remains stationary relative to the cart during deceleration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their calculations and questioning the assumptions made regarding the box's movement relative to the cart. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of equations for distance and acceleration, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or final answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of ensuring the box does not move while the cart decelerates, and there is a focus on the effects of static friction in this scenario. The discussion includes various interpretations of the problem setup and the relationships between the variables involved.

sedaw
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A box put on a cart with velocity of 40m/s.
The static drag coefficient between the box and the cart is 0.3.
How long (in metes) before the cart stop should the driver start to slow down if he want to stop the cart on minimal time and make the box not move ?

im received 544.2 m but the answer is 227 .

tnx.
 
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sedaw said:
A box put on a cart with velocity of 40m/s.
The static drag coefficient between the box and the cart is 0.3.
How long (in metes) before the cart stop should the driver start to slow down if he want to stop the cart on minimal time and make the box not move ?

im received 544.2 m but the answer is 227 .

tnx.

Please show us your work -- how did you arrive at 544.2m as your answer?
 
sigmaFy=0 ----> mg=N
sigmaFx=ma --->a=-f_s/m

note: f_s = static friction

f_k=y*N = y*mg

recived : a= -yg = -0.3*9.8 ====> a = -2.94m/s^2


vo*t +0.5at^2=x

x will be 0 cause the box not move

X=0
v0=40
a=-2.94
t= ?


received t=27.21s


what`s the way will past ?

vt^2=vo^2=2ax
vt will be 0 cause the cat stop after t seconds.

v0=40
vt=0
t=27.21
x=?

received X=544.2


wts wrong ?
 
Last edited:
sedaw said:
sigmaFy=0 ----> mg=N
sigmaFx=ma --->a=-f_s/m

note: f_s = static friction

f_k=y*N = y*mg

recived : a= -yg = -0.3*9.8 ====> a = -2.94m/s^2vo*t +0.5at^2=x

x will be 0 cause the box not move

X=0
v0=40
a=-2.94
t= ?received t=27.21swhat`s the way will past ?

vt^2=vo^2=2ax
vt will be 0 cause the cat stop after t seconds.

v0=40
vt=0
t=27.21
x=?

received X=544.2wts wrong ?

Isn't the time to stop going to be given by how long at constant deceleration it takes to get to 0? From 40m/s and decelerating at 2.94 m/s isn't that just 40/2.94 for the time?

Using the time you can then determine the distance with 1/2 a t2
 
the deceleration constant .

forgat to mention .

there`s any offer ?
 
LowlyPion said:
Using the time you can then determine the distance with 1/2 a t2

u mean that : vo*t+0.5at^2=X ?
 
sedaw said:
u mean that : vo*t+0.5at^2=X ?

Yes, but I was simplifying it by observing that the final velocity for deceleration was going to be 0 and hence could be represented by just the simple x = 1/2 a t2.

If you prefer you can use the relationship that

[tex]v^2 = v_0^2 + 2 a \Delta x[/tex]

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=905663&postcount=2

Here the final velocity is 0 so that makes it merely (40)2/(2*2.94) = X
 
first for determine distance i can use (V0+Vt)*t/2

but how i can be sure that the not move while the cart decelerate ?

TNX ... :smile:
 
You determined the max acceleration with respect to the ground of the box based on the max available static friction force. Then you set the acceleration of the cart with respect to the ground the same as the acceleration of the box with respect to the ground. Is the box moving with respect to the cart?
 
  • #10
sedaw said:
first for determine distance i can use (V0+Vt)*t/2

but how i can be sure that the not move while the cart decelerate ?

TNX ... :smile:

OK you can use that too. The right answer is the same no matter how you get there.

You know the box is not going to move because you already determined the maximum deceleration the box could tolerate while slowing without it moving.
 

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