Using Newton's 2nd Law to find acceleration

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on using Newton's second law to determine the acceleration of a snowboarder on an incline and a flat surface. The snowboarder, weighing 75 kg and starting at 5.0 m/s on a 28-degree incline, experiences forces including gravity and kinetic friction. The participant successfully calculated the acceleration on the incline as 3.04 m/s² using the formula a = 9.8sin(28) - (0.18)(9.8)cos(28). They encountered challenges in calculating the acceleration on the flat surface but realized it is similar to an incline with a 0-degree angle. Ultimately, they confirmed their understanding and arrived at the correct answer with assistance.
PerpetuallyConfused
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So this is my first time posting on here and I hope I'm doing right!

1. Homework Statement

A 75-kg snowboarder has an initial velocity of 5.0 m/s at the top of a 28 ∘ incline. After sliding down the 110-mlong incline (on which the coefficient of kinetic friction is μk = 0.18), the snowboarder has attained a velocity v. The snowboarder then slides along a flat surface (on which μk = 0.15) and comes to rest after a distance x.

Use Newton's second law to find the snowboarder's acceleration while on the incline and while on the flat surface.

Homework Equations


F_net = ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I already drew a free body diagram when the snowboarder is on the incline with the normal force perpendicular to the slope, the force of gravity is pointing downwards, and the force of kinetic friction is pointing parallel to the slope. I know I need to use F_net = ma but I'm still very confused on how to set it up. I'm also having trouble deciding the coordinate system to use and how it relates to finding F_net.
 
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PerpetuallyConfused said:
So this is my first time posting on here and I hope I'm doing right!

1. Homework Statement

A 75-kg snowboarder has an initial velocity of 5.0 m/s at the top of a 28 ∘ incline. After sliding down the 110-mlong incline (on which the coefficient of kinetic friction is μk = 0.18), the snowboarder has attained a velocity v. The snowboarder then slides along a flat surface (on which μk = 0.15) and comes to rest after a distance x.

Use Newton's second law to find the snowboarder's acceleration while on the incline and while on the flat surface.

Homework Equations


F_net = ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I already drew a free body diagram when the snowboarder is on the incline with the normal force perpendicular to the slope, the force of gravity is pointing downwards, and the force of kinetic friction is pointing parallel to the slope. I know I need to use F_net = ma but I'm still very confused on how to set it up. I'm also having trouble deciding the coordinate system to use and how it relates to finding F_net.

It sounds like you have set it up. What do you have for the forces on the snowboarder? Can you calculate those?

You don't need a coordinate system as such.
 
PeroK said:
It sounds like you have set it up. What do you have for the forces on the snowboarder? Can you calculate those?

You don't need a coordinate system as such.
Ok, I actually figured out how to find the acceleration while on the incline.
It was a = 9.8sin(28) - (0.18)(9.8)cos(28) which equaled 3.04 m/s^2

But now I'm having trouble figuring out how to find the acceleration while on a flat surface.
 
You don't necessarily need the acceleration on the flat. At the bottom he will have some velocity or energy that gets dissipated as he slows down.
 
PerpetuallyConfused said:
Ok, I actually figured out how to find the acceleration while on the incline.
It was a = 9.8sin(28) - (0.18)(9.8)cos(28) which equaled 3.04 m/s^2

But now I'm having trouble figuring out how to find the acceleration while on a flat surface.

Isn't the flat surface easier?

In fact, isn't a flat surface just an incline with an angle of 0?
 
PeroK said:
Isn't the flat surface easier?

In fact, isn't a flat surface just an incline with an angle of 0?

Ah, yes. That makes sense haha. I got the right answer. Thanks for your help!
 
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