Will the Farmer Move the Stubborn Mule?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a scenario where a farmer attempts to move a stubborn mule that weighs 120 kg by pulling it with a force of 800 N. The discussion centers around the forces of friction acting on the mule, with static and kinetic coefficients provided.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster calculates the static friction force using the coefficient of static friction and questions whether their conclusion about the farmer's inability to move the mule is correct. Other participants confirm the calculation and reference the source of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion appears to be affirming the original poster's calculations, with participants confirming the problem's origin and engaging in light commentary. There is no explicit consensus on the outcome, but the calculations are being validated.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference a textbook source for the problem, indicating a shared familiarity with the material. The context of the problem is framed within a physics homework setting, suggesting constraints related to academic integrity and problem-solving approaches.

ideefixem
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Homework Statement



A stubborn 120 kg mule sits down and refuses to move. To drag the mule to the barn, the exasperated farmer ties a rope around the mule and pulls with his maximum force of 800 N. The coefficients of friction between the mule and the ground are mu,s = 0.8 and mu,k = 0.5. Is the farmer able to move the mule?

The attempt at a solution

friction=μs(normal force)
friction=0.8(120kg)
friction=120(9.8)(.8)
frictionS=940.8
940.8N>800N

The farmer will not be able to get the mule to move.


Does this look correct?
 
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Looks good to me. By the way, is this problem from Knight's book? I know I remember it from somewhere...
 
Haha, quite the memory. Yep, taken right from the book.
 
ideefixem said:
Haha, quite the memory. Yep, taken right from the book.

I tutor intro physics and they use that book at my university, so I must have done it recently at a tutoring session. So, my memory isn't that great.:rolleyes:
 

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