- #1
L_0611
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Homework Statement
A child is tobogganing down a hillside. The child and the toboggan together have a mass of 50.0kg. The slope is at an angle of 30.0° to the horizontal.
Assume that the positive y-direction is pointing in the direction of the normal force. Assume that the positive x-direction is down the incline.
Find the acceleration of the child
a) in the case where there is no friction
b) if the coefficient of friction is 0.15
The Attempt at a Solution
a) Fn + FgI = mgcosθ
= (50)(9.8)cos 30°
= 424N
Fnet = FgII = mgsinθ
= (50)(9.8)sin 30°
= 245 N (+ x-direction)
Fnet = ma
a = Fnet/m
= 245/50
= +4.9m/s/s
Therefor the child's acceleration in the case where there is no friction is 4.9 m/s/s.
b) FgI = 424 (- y-direction)
FgII = 245 (+ x-direction)
Fnet = FgII (+ x-direction) + Fk (- x-direction)
Fn = FgI = 424N (down)
Fk = μkFn
= (0.15)(424)
= 63.6N (- x-direction)
Fnet = FgII + Fk
= (+245)+(-63.6)
= +181.4N
Fnet =ma
a = Fnet/m
= 181.4/50
= +3.63m/s/s
Therefore the child's acceleration is +3.63 m/s/s if the coefficient of friction is 0.15.