Using SUVAT and Newton's Second Law

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a block of mass 10kg being pulled up a smooth inclined plane at a 45-degree angle. The block starts from rest and reaches a velocity of 2.0 m/s at the top of the incline, with the task of calculating the force required to pull it up the plane.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use kinematic equations to find acceleration and then applies Newton's second law to calculate force. Some participants question whether the calculated acceleration is correct and clarify the distinction between net force and the force pulling the block up the incline.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the problem with some guidance provided regarding the distinction between net force and the force required to pull the block. There is an ongoing examination of the forces acting on the block along the incline, and some participants are considering the use of free body diagrams to clarify the situation.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of explicit information regarding other forces acting on the block along the incline, which is a point of discussion among participants. The original question does not specify these forces, leading to uncertainty in the calculations.

Apothem
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Homework Statement



"A block of mass 10kg is pulled 20m up a smooth plane inclined at 45 degrees to the horizontal. The block is initially at rest and reaches a velocity of 2.0m/s at the tope of the plane. Calculate the magnitude of the force required, assuming it acts parallel to the plane."

Homework Equations



I am unsure about the question answer, but for my attempt I used v2=u2+2as, and rearranged it to find a, then used f=ma, to find the force.

The Attempt at a Solution



I drew a diagram with a horizontal line and a line at 45 degrees to that, I then used the equation as above, rearranged to find a as 0.1ms-2 (v=2 , u=0 , s=20, so I used the rearranged formula and got a=0.1ms-2). I then substituted this value for a into F=ma, with m being the mass of 10kg, however, the only thing I am unsure about is whether I have calculated the value of a correctly to begin with, then I can easily use F=ma. All help appreciated! EDIT: So the final force I calculated was 1N.
 
Last edited:
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Hi Apothem...

Welcome to PF!

Your value of acceleration is correct,assuming constant acceleration .But using F=Ma will give you F which is net force acting on the block,not the force which pulls the block up the inclined plane.

What are the forces acting on the block along the inclined plane ?

Edit:Are you required to calculate the net force or the force which pulls the block up the inclined plane ?
 
Last edited:
Tanya Sharma said:
Hi Apothem...

Welcome to PF!

Your value of acceleration is correct,assuming constant acceleration .But using F=Ma will give you F which is net force acting on the block,not the force which pulls the block up the inclined plane.

What are the forces acting on the block along the inclined plane ?

Thanks for the nice welcome Tanya!
That is all the question says word for word, which I put up in the first post. So...
EDIT: I think it is the force which pulls the block up the inclined plane.
 
Apothem said:
Thanks for the nice welcome Tanya!
That is all the question says word for word, which I put up in the first post. So...
EDIT: I think it is the force which pulls the block up the inclined plane.

How did you get 0.05N ?
 
Tanya Sharma said:
How did you get 0.05N ?

Sorry, I didn't mean 0.05, used a figure from a different question, so using F=ma (m=10kg , a =0.1ms-2, F=1N)
 
Apothem said:
Sorry, I didn't mean 0.05, used a figure from a different question, so using F=ma (m=10kg , a =0.1ms-2, F=1N)

Okay..Now F=1N is the net force on the block .The net force is the resultant of all the forces acting on the block along the incline i.e parallel to the incline . But you need the force (assuming constant) that pulls the block .

So what are the forces acting on the block along the incline ?
 
Tanya Sharma said:
Okay..Now F=1N is the net force on the block .The net force is the resultant of all the forces acting on the block along the incline i.e parallel to the incline . But you need the force (assuming constant) that pulls the block .

So what are the forces acting on the block along the incline ?

Sorry I think all I need to know is, the force parallel to the incline (because the question says: "Calculate the magnitude of the force required, assuming it acts parallel to the plane), because the question does not give you any forces acting on the block along the incline, so that means the only force we could calculate is 1N, so is this right? (for the force which acts parallel to the plane?).
 
What have you studied in the class about "Force" ? Have you touched upon FBD's (Free Body Diagrams) ?
 
Tanya Sharma said:
What have you studied in the class about "Force" ? Have you touched upon FBD's (Free Body Diagrams) ?

Would it show all the forces acting upon the block?. So the weight would be vertically down the slope etc.
 
  • #10
Weight(Force due to gravity) always acts vertically downwards ,not vertically down the slope.

Anyways...You didn't answer my question - Have you studied FBD's ?
 
  • #11
Tanya Sharma said:
Weight(Force due to gravity) always acts vertically downwards ,not vertically down the slope.

Anyways...You didn't answer my question - Have you studied FBD's ?

I meant the component of weight down the slope sorry, we did one question which used a FBD, however it was not explained.
 
  • #12
Well..in that case,it looks like the question is asking for net force . F=1N is the correct answer .
 
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  • #13
Tanya Sharma said:
Well..in that case,it looks like the question is asking for net force . F=1N is the correct answer .

Thank you for all the help Tanya! I have given you a "Thanks" point, if that is even what they are called!
 
  • #14
Apothem said:
Thank you for all the help Tanya! I have given you a "Thanks" point, if that is even what they are called!

You are welcome !

Thanks for the "Thanks" :smile:
 

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