- #1
EthanVandals
- 55
- 2
Homework Statement
A block is placed on a ramp that is inclined to 60 degrees to the horizon. If the block weighs 10kg and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.3, how fast does the block accerlate down the ramp?
Homework Equations
Theta=60 degrees
m=10kg
g=10m/s^2
mu=0.3
The Attempt at a Solution
So far, all I have is the diagram that he gave us in class. I can somewhat tell why we're using the trig functions, but what I'm curious about is why mgsin(theta) is the block sliding down the ramp and mgcos(theta) is the reactionary force of gravity. Why not the other way around?