Find Force of Friction for 990 kg Car on 4° Incline

In summary, using Newton's second law of motion, we can determine the force of friction acting on a parked 990 kg car on a 4 degree incline. By setting the total force in the direction parallel to the incline to be 0, we can solve for the force of friction using the equation F=ma. Choosing a system of coordinate parallel to the incline can facilitate this calculation.
  • #1
kimikims
36
0
Any help?

A(n) 990 kg car is parked on a 4 degrees incline.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.
Find the force of friction keeping the car
from sliding down the incline. Answer in
units of N.
 
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  • #2
Newton's second law of motion states that the force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration.

[tex]F=ma[/tex]

This means that if there is no (net!) force on an object (F=0), it has no acceleration either (a=0). This means that it's velocity doesn't change. This means that if the object is moving at a certain speed, it keeps doing so. And if the object is standing still, it keeps standing still.

With this in mind, if there is a force on our car (namely the force of gravity) and we want our car to stay still on the incline, this means we want the total force on it in the direction parallel to the incline to be 0.

You go from there.

(Hint: chose your system of coordinate parallel to the incline.)


P.S. It's A car :wink:
 
Last edited:
  • #3


To find the force of friction on the car, we can use the formula Ff = μmgcosθ, where μ is the coefficient of friction, m is the mass of the car, g is the acceleration of gravity, and θ is the angle of the incline. In this case, we have μ = 0.3 (assuming a typical value for the coefficient of friction between tires and pavement), m = 990 kg, g = 9.8 m/s^2, and θ = 4 degrees.

Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

Ff = (0.3)(990 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(cos 4°)

= 2,886.4 N

Therefore, the force of friction keeping the car from sliding down the incline is approximately 2,886.4 N. It is important to note that this is the maximum possible friction force, as it assumes the car is on the brink of sliding down the incline. The actual force of friction may be slightly lower depending on the specific conditions of the car and the incline.
 

Related to Find Force of Friction for 990 kg Car on 4° Incline

1. How do you calculate the force of friction for a car on an incline?

The force of friction can be calculated using the formula F = μN, where F is the force of friction, μ is the coefficient of friction, and N is the normal force. For a car on an incline, the normal force would be equal to the weight of the car, while the coefficient of friction can be determined based on the surface of the incline and the type of tires on the car.

2. What factors affect the force of friction for a car on an incline?

The force of friction for a car on an incline can be affected by several factors, including the weight of the car, the angle of the incline, the type of tires on the car, and the coefficient of friction of the surface the car is on. Additionally, any external forces acting on the car, such as wind or gravity, can also affect the force of friction.

3. Can the force of friction for a car on an incline be greater than the weight of the car?

No, the force of friction cannot be greater than the weight of the car. The maximum force of friction that can be exerted on an object is equal to the weight of the object. This is because the force of friction is caused by the normal force, which is equal to the weight of the object.

4. How does the angle of the incline affect the force of friction for a car?

The force of friction for a car on an incline is directly proportional to the angle of the incline. This means that as the angle of the incline increases, the force of friction also increases. This is because a steeper incline will have a greater component of the weight of the car acting against the surface, resulting in a higher normal force and therefore a higher force of friction.

5. What is the significance of finding the force of friction for a car on an incline?

Calculating the force of friction for a car on an incline is important for understanding and predicting the motion of the car. It can also help in determining the amount of force needed to move the car up or down the incline, as well as the amount of force required to keep the car from sliding down the incline. This information can be useful in designing and operating vehicles on inclined surfaces.

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