- #1
MissEuropa
- 20
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Homework Statement
A small block with mass 0.0400 is moving in the xy-plane. The net force on the block is described by the potential- energy function (5.80 )-(3.50 ).
Homework Equations
inverse tangent of Fy/Fx = angle of acceleration
The Attempt at a Solution
The question initially asked for the magnitude of the acceleration when it was at point x=0.25m y=0.63m which I derived from the equation of potential energy then finding the magnitude of the force, and finally dividing by the mass to give me the acceleration of 1.26.92 m/s^2
The final question is asking for the direction of the acceleration of the block when it is at the same points: x=0.25m y=0.63m.
I approached this by plugging in the magnitude of the force in the y direction (-4.167) and the magnitude of the force in the x direction (2.9) into the inverse tangent.
So: θ=inversetangent (-4.1674/2.9) to calculate an angle of -55.167.
It's asking for: What is the direction of the acceleration of the block when it is at the point 0.25 , 0.63 ? in degrees counterclockwise from the positive x axis. Naturally I subtracted the value for θ from 360° to get a value of 304.833°
Unfortunately, the angle is incorrect somehow. Suggestions? Thanks!