What is the Formula for Calculating Power and Accounting for Friction?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating power in the context of dragging a load while considering the effects of friction. The original poster presents a scenario involving a 40kg load being dragged over a distance of 10 meters in 5 seconds, leading to questions about the appropriate force to use in the power calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between work, force, and power, with some questioning the validity of using gravitational force for calculating work done against friction. There are discussions about the role of friction and how it affects the force needed to drag the load.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different interpretations regarding the calculation of work and the forces involved. Some participants have offered insights into the role of friction and the need to consider coefficients of friction, while others are clarifying their understanding of the formulas being used.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of frictional forces and their impact on the calculations, with some expressing uncertainty about the formulas and concepts involved. The original poster's question hints at a potential limitation in the scope of the problem, as they mention not needing to delve deeply into friction yet.

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Ok,

So, let's say I was to drag a 40kg load in a set distance of 10 meter. I record the time, it was 5 secs.

Now I find power, P=work/t. We know work=force x distance.

SO my question is, is force just mass of load x acceleration due to gravity? 9.81m/s^2.

So P= ((40kg x 9.81) * 10 meters)/5 seconds,

so 784 watts or so. Thanks guys. What about force of friction? I guess this question doesn't want me to go that far in yet.

Thanks guys. :smile:
 
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I don't quite agree with the way you get work and force.
The work you done is against the friction force, not the weight of the load.
Hence force = mg is not applicable.
In fact, work needed to drag an object for different surface is different due to difference in coefficient of friction.
Greater mass do need greater force to drag, but that is because the friction is higher, as the frictional force is greater for a heavier object.
 
Harmony said:
I don't quite agree with the way you get work and force.
The work you done is against the friction force, not the weight of the load.
Hence force = mg is not applicable.
In fact, work needed to drag an object for different surface is different due to difference in coefficient of friction.
Greater mass do need greater force to drag, but that is because the friction is higher, as the frictional force is greater for a heavier object.

So how does one do it in terms of the equation?
 
a = (v-u)/t

given u = 0, and v = s/t

a = s/t^2

= 0.4 ms^-2

(assuming non-frictional planar flat surface, linear acceleration)

thats what i think, at least
 
Last edited:
perfect! so the force is 40 * 0.4...and that by 5 gives you the power!
 
I see. So V=d/t, then use that as a final V in a=Vf-Vi/t, a=.4 m/s^2 on a non frictional surface.

Sorry, I just didn't get the formulas Xiankai was using.

I see! so if I had a coefficient of friction then I all I would do is go (40kg x 0.4 m/s^2) - u (mu) x F normal (m x g)? Excellent. Then I'll probably have to consider the static or kinetic friction too... lol, lucky I don't have to do this.
 

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