What is the pressure exerted by an ice cube sliding down a frictionless incline?

[briandeblis]

Have a dilemma on this problem:
An ice cube, density = 917 kg/m^3, is sliding down a frictionless incline of 16 degrees. The sides of the cube each have a length of 0.75 m. What pressure does the cube exert on the incline?

Any help out there?

 

[Pyrrhus]

What is the definition of pressure? start with that...

 

[briandeblis]

response

a downward force due to mass and gravity?

 

[Pyrrhus]

What force does the cube exerts on the incline? and what side (surface) in the cube it's in contact with the incline?

 

[briandeblis]

It exerts its weight and it is the bottom side

 

[ZapperZ]

a downward force due to mass and gravity?

You really haven't managed to come up with the exact definition of "pressure". You may want to consider finding this out first.

Zz.

 

[briandeblis]

pressure is the force exerted on a surface divided by the area of the surface to which it is applied

 

[ZapperZ]

pressure is the force exerted on a surface divided by the area of the surface to which it is applied

So, to get pressure, first find the FORCE exerted on the surface in question. You already know the surface area.

Zz.

 

[briandeblis]

Well, FORCE = Mass * gravity , right?

 

[ZapperZ]

Well, FORCE = Mass * gravity , right?

Note that the object is on an INCLINED plane. You need to look back at problems/examples/etc. of mass on inclined plane.

Zz.

 

[briandeblis]

So the FORCE = m*g*cos (theta) right?

 

[Pyrrhus]

Yes., Now find the mass.

 

[briandeblis]

mass = density * volume ?

 

[Pyrrhus]

Yes, Now solve the problem.

 

[briandeblis]

Thanks. I have it now. The class I am taking is an online class and they don't give very good examples to work on before the tests which are very hard problems.

 

[Pyrrhus]

No problem, just remember if there's a word you don't understand, look up its definition, and Welcome to PF!