Work-Energy: Find the angle of the inclined plane

AI Thread Summary
To find the angle of the inclined plane for a block sliding down, the net work equation is used, incorporating gravitational work and frictional work. The calculations involve the mass, height, coefficient of friction, and final speed of the block. The attempt at a solution leads to the expression for cotangent of the angle in terms of these variables. The calculated angle is approximately 41.186 degrees. Confirmation of this result is sought to ensure accuracy in the calculations.
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Homework Statement


A block with mass 5 kg slides down and inclined plane with height 1.5 m and coefficient of kinetic friction .35. The final speed of the block is 4.2 m/s. Find the angle of the inclined plane.

Homework Equations


{W^{{\rm{net}}}} = {W^{{\rm{grav}}}} - {W^{{\rm{fric}}}} = {K_2} - {K_1}

The Attempt at a Solution


This has taken me forever and i still don't think it's right but here it goes.

I have

{W^{{\rm{net}}}} = mg(\Delta y) - {\mu _k}mgd\cos (\varphi ) = \frac{1}{2}mv_2^2 - \frac{1}{2}mv_1^2

Then since initial velocity is 0

{W^{{\rm{net}}}} = mg(\Delta y) - {\mu _k}mgd\cos (\varphi ) = \frac{1}{2}mv_2^2

I'm sure there is another way to find d but i couldn't think of any besides the law of sines.

\frac{d}{{\sin (90)}} = d = \frac{{\Delta y}}{{\sin (\varphi )}}

So now I have

{W^{{\rm{net}}}} = mg(\Delta y) - {\mu _k}mg(\Delta y)\cot (\varphi ) = \frac{1}{2}mv_2^2

And solving

\cot (\varphi ) = \frac{{mg(\Delta y) - \frac{1}{2}mv_2^2}}{{{\mu _k}mg(\Delta y)}}

I am using the calculator on my phone so I don't know if it is right but

\varphi = 41.186^\circ

Would anyone care to help me out and tell me if I'm at least in the ballpark?
 
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Looks good to me.
 
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