Where Did I Go Wrong With the Rope and Ice Force Calculation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mullets1200
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the forces involved in a system where a rope pulls a block of ice across a frictionless surface. The correct force exerted on the ice is determined to be 19.2 N, calculated using the formula F = m * a, where the mass of the block is 8 kg and the acceleration is 2.4 m/s². The initial miscalculation for the force on the rope was 1.152 N, which did not account for the additional force required to accelerate both the rope and the ice. The correct approach involves recognizing that the total force on the rope must include the force needed to overcome the backward pull of the ice.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Second Law (F = m * a)
  • Basic knowledge of force and acceleration concepts
  • Familiarity with frictionless surfaces in physics
  • Ability to analyze systems with multiple interacting components
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of Newton's Second Law in multi-body systems
  • Learn about tension forces in ropes and their applications
  • Explore frictionless motion scenarios in physics problems
  • Investigate how to set up and solve force diagrams for complex systems
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics, as well as educators looking for examples of force calculations in multi-body systems.

mullets1200
Messages
14
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A 1.50 m-long, 480 g rope pulls a 8.00 kg block of ice across a horizontal, frictionless surface. The block accelerates at 2.40 m/s^2. How much force pulls forward on (a) the ice, (b) the rope?


Homework Equations


F=m*a


The Attempt at a Solution


for A i got the right answer by
Acceleration of the block = 2.4 m/s^2
mass of the block = 8kg
Force = 8*2.4 = 19.2 N

but for b i did:
Acceleration of the rope = Acceleration of the block = 2.4 m/s^2
mass of the rope = 0.480kg
Force = 0.480*2.4 = 1.152 N
and it was wrong. anyone know where i messed up?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The pull on the rope must accelerate not only the rope but the ice as well.
Add the 1.152 onto the 19.2

Another way to look at it is that the rope has unknown F pulling it forward, and 19.2 N pulling backward. Using sum of forces = ma, this is
ma = F - 19.2
F = ma + 19.2
 
Force on the rope = Applied force - reaction force by the block.
 
oh! i don't know why i didn't catch that. thank you so much!
 

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
859
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
5K
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K