Will an Applied Force of 5 N Move a 1 kg Box?

  • Thread starter Thread starter OThePestO
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Box
Click For Summary
An applied force of 5 N is sufficient to move a 1 kg box on a surface with a coefficient of static friction of 0.3. The normal force (Fn) acting on the box is calculated to be 9.8 N, leading to a frictional force (Ff) of 2.94 N. Since the applied force (5 N) exceeds the frictional force (2.94 N), the box will indeed move. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between applied force and friction in determining motion. Overall, the box will move when the applied force is greater than the frictional force.
OThePestO
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Hello people, I just joined up and I have just started to learn Physics by myself. I had originally taken Physics in high school but even though I did not get good marks I really enjoyed the concepts. I am now 28 and have completed a Honours BA in Geography and a Masters in Education. I want to learn Physics for my own personal knowledge and perhaps if possible to teach at the high school level (I think I did bad because I had a poor teacher, but I don't want to make excuses). Well I started looking at resources online and have found a site that provides a good introduction; however, I have stumbled upon a question that is giving me some trouble, here it is:


Homework Statement


http://library.thinkquest.org/10796/

You pushed a 1 kg box on floor where u= 0.3. If the force you applied was 5 N, will the box move?


Homework Equations



http://library.thinkquest.org/10796/formula.htm

Ff=uFn Fn=-mg


The Attempt at a Solution



Well I am not sure exactly what the question is asking, I was able to calculate Fn=9.8 and Ff=2.94, but how does that answer the question? In the previous chapters, I worked with mass, acceleration, time, displacement equations, and understand that I may need to combine one or more equations. Do I need to find displacement>0 in order to answer yes/no or am I looking at it wrong?

Thanks.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
In order for the box to move, your applied force (5N) has to be higher than the box's static friction. How would you express this in mathematical terms?
 
Do you mean F>Ff? If so then 5N>2.94N is true and the box moves. Is that correct?
 
Yes, that's correct.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
3K
Replies
14
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K