What is the mass of this car based on given forces?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ace.
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Car Mass
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the mass of a car based on the forces acting on it, including the forces exerted by the wheels, driving force, and frictional resistance. The subject area includes dynamics and force analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the net forces acting on the car and question the relationship between normal force and the forces from the wheels. There is uncertainty about whether the normal force is simply the sum of the forces from all wheels and how horizontal forces might affect vertical weight distribution.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the forces involved. Some have raised questions about the adequacy of the information provided to determine the mass of the car, while others are considering the implications of horizontal acceleration on vertical forces.

Contextual Notes

Participants note a potential lack of information necessary to find the mass and are examining the assumptions regarding the normal force and its relationship to the weight of the car.

Ace.
Messages
52
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Each of the four wheels of a car pushes on the road with a force of 4.0 x 103 N [down]. The driving force on the car is 8.0 x 103 N [west]. The frictional resistance on the car is 6.0 x 103 N [east]. Calculate the mass of the car.

Homework Equations



F = ma
Fnet = F1 + F2


The Attempt at a Solution



Fnet = F1 + F2
Fnet = FA - Ff
= 8.0 x 103 - 6.0 x 103
= 2000 N [west]​

Total force of all four wheels:
(4.0 x 103 N [down]) x 4
= 16000 N [down]​

FN = 16000 N[up]
But this is only part of the Normal Force, because the rest is coming from the weight of the car.

It seems to me that there isn't enough info to find mass?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Wait, is the normal force simply the force of all the wheels ?
 
Ace. said:

Homework Statement



Each of the four wheels of a car pushes on the road with a force of 4.0 x 103 N [down]. The driving force on the car is 8.0 x 103 N [west]. The frictional resistance on the car is 6.0 x 103 N [east]. Calculate the mass of the car.

Homework Equations



F = ma
Fnet = F1 + F2


The Attempt at a Solution



Fnet = F1 + F2
Fnet = FA - Ff
= 8.0 x 103 - 6.0 x 103
= 2000 N [west]​

Total force of all four wheels:
(4.0 x 103 N [down]) x 4
= 16000 N [down]​

FN = 16000 N[up]
But this is only part of the Normal Force, because the rest is coming from the weight of the car.

It seems to me that there isn't enough info to find mass?

Ace. said:
Wait, is the normal force simply the force of all the wheels ?

That would be my answer. The horizontal movement forces in this case would not seem to affect the vertical weight.
 
Actually, it looks from the sum of the horizontal forces that the car is accelerating, which will unbalance the weight on the front and back tires, but the sum of all 4 should be the same as at rest, I would think.

Hmm, need to think more about that...
 

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
8K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
7K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K