Understanding Friction: Tension & Coefficient of N & T

[Warwick]

I was looking at how a problem was solved and what I did not get was why T was put in this equation or n. I'm a little confused on the tension stuff. I do get how friction works and it's coefficiant. n and T is confusing me. The n is the weight of the object on the surface, I know, but why is it in these equations.

Sum of Fx=T-fk=ma
Sum of Fy=n-m1g=0

Thanks

 

[NiteCrawler]

you need to ask a more specific question ... Problems solving for this kind of problems mostly depend on a free body diagram. T usually stands for tension eg. tension of a string, and n is the normal force acting on an object. The weight of an object W is the mass times gravitational accleration (-g = -9.8m/s^2, Earth system). Hope this answer your question

 

[wais]

for your question! I can understand how the concept of tension and the coefficient of friction can be confusing. Let's break it down.

First, let's define what tension and coefficient of friction are. Tension is the force that is transmitted through a string, rope, cable, or similar object when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends. It is usually represented by the symbol "T" and is measured in units of force, such as newtons (N). On the other hand, the coefficient of friction is a dimensionless quantity that represents the amount of friction between two surfaces. It is usually denoted by the symbol "μ" and has no units.

Now, let's look at the equations you mentioned. In the first equation (Sum of Fx=T-fk=ma), "T" represents the tension in the string or rope that is pulling the object. This tension is equal to the force of kinetic friction (fk) acting in the opposite direction, plus the mass of the object (m) multiplied by its acceleration (a). This equation is used to calculate the net force acting on the object in the horizontal direction.

In the second equation (Sum of Fy=n-m1g=0), "n" represents the normal force exerted by the surface on the object. This normal force is equal to the weight of the object (m1g) acting in the downward direction, but since the object is not accelerating in the vertical direction, the sum of forces in the y-direction must equal zero. This equation is used to calculate the normal force exerted by the surface on the object.

So, in summary, tension and the coefficient of friction are used in these equations to help us understand the forces acting on an object and how they affect its motion. Tension helps us understand the pulling force on the object, while the coefficient of friction helps us understand the resistance to motion between two surfaces.

I hope this explanation helps clarify the role of tension and the coefficient of friction in these equations. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Keep up the good work in understanding friction!