What is the Work Done in a Ski Rescue?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving work done in a ski rescue scenario, specifically focusing on a sled and victim being lowered down a slope. The problem includes parameters such as mass, slope angle, and coefficient of friction, prompting participants to explore various aspects of work and forces involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest creating a schematic drawing to visualize forces and consider the normal and friction forces. There are inquiries about how to compute work done by different forces, particularly in relation to the angle of the slope. Some participants express uncertainty about the formulas needed for the calculations, especially regarding the friction work with an inclined plane.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants offering guidance on starting points, such as focusing on friction calculations and the importance of free body diagrams. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, particularly concerning the application of forces and the definition of work.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating constraints related to the angle of the slope and the definitions of forces acting on the sled. There is a mention of homework rules that may limit the type of assistance provided.

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Suppose the ski patrol lowers a rescue sled and victim 30m down a slope at a constant speed as shown below. The victim and sled have a total mass of 90kg. The angle of the slope is 60 degrees.

If the coefficient of friction is 0.100.
a) Find the work done by friction as the sled moves down the hill.
b) how much work is done by the rope on the sled.
c) What is the work done by gravitation.
d) What is the total work done.

Not sure where to start here. Any help with starting would be apprecitated.
 
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Make a schematic drawing with the sled and the slope. Draw all forces. Maybe it can help if you use two different colors for the forces exerted on the sled and the forces exerted by the sled. Compute the normal force and the friction force. Compute work done by the sled on the snow and on the rope. Do not forget, in the definition of mechanical work, the directions of forces and displacements.
 
Start with the first one by actually finding friction. And if you remember the definition of work, you should know to multiply it in the distance moved in that direction.

Same concept applies for the other 2 thought the final one is a bit different,
 
Formulas

Are there any formulas i should know for this particular problem. The thing that confuses me is that I know how to figure friction work, but i do not know how to find this with an angle involved.
 
The force due to friction is the coefficient of friction times the force perpendicular (normal) to the surface between the two things. If you are on the sled, the force to glide the sled over a horizontal snow will be 0.1 times your weight. But in the problem the surface is not horizontal. You must find the component of the weight perpendicular to the slope.
 
Constructing a proper free body diagram can be extremely useful in solving these types of problems. You can get some hints if you click on the first tutorial in my footer and open the pdf called motion3b.pdf
 

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