What is the acceleration of the block?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 50.0-kg block being pulled up a 16.0° slope by a force of 250 N, with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.200. Participants are discussing how to determine the acceleration of the block, focusing on the forces acting on it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to understand the forces acting on the block, questioning the presence of normal force versus tension. There is discussion about the need for a free body diagram to identify all forces involved, including gravitational force, normal force, friction, and the applied force.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem setup. Some guidance has been offered regarding the identification of forces and the importance of sketching a free body diagram, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach to solving the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating assumptions about the forces acting on the block, particularly regarding the normal force and the nature of the pulling force. There is an emphasis on understanding the orientation of axes before applying trigonometric functions.

Angela_vaal
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Homework Statement


A 50.0-kg block is being pulled up a 16.0° slope by a force of 250 N that is parallel to the slope. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the slope is 0.200. What is the acceleration of the block?

Homework Equations


FkkN
F=MA

The Attempt at a Solution


answer is .412 m/s2. I know the answer I just don't know the steps to solve this equation.
It is saying it is being pulled up, does that mean it has tension instead of normal force? it is not sitting on anything so it can not have a normal force right?
 
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Angela_vaal said:
answer is .412 m/s2. I know the answer I just don't know the steps to solve this equation.
You don't even have an equation to solve, and how do you know that is the right answer?
It is saying it is being pulled up, does that mean it has tension instead of normal force? it is not sitting on anything so it can not have a normal force right?
Surely the block is sittig on a slope? A tension is a force. Is the block being pulled by a rope or has someone just grabbed it and pulled it? Does it matter to the question?

Your first step is to sketch a free body diagram ... you will have course notes about this: so how many forces are on the block, and what are they?
 
Simon Bridge said:
Surely the block is suittig on a slope?
Your first step is to sketch a free body diagram ... you will have course notes about this: so how many forces are on the block, and what are they?

In that case, there is a normal force. So the forces on the block are the Normal force, MG and 250cos16, 250 sin16
 
Identify the forces themselves - you have a normal force to the slope, gravity, friction, and the pulling force.
GIve them names - so you have ##F_g=mg## pointing vertically down, ##N## points upwards at 90deg to the slope, ##f=\mu N## points down the slope and ##F=250##N points up the slope. F is only one force, not two like you wrote. Don't do the cosine and sine stuff untilyou decide how to orient your axes - hint: point x-axis up the slope.
 

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