Homework Help: Physics

Posted by Alex on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 11:42pm.

A sled is pulled with a horizontal force of 17 N along a level trail, and the acceleration is found to be 0.40 m/s2. An extra mass m = 4.4 kg is placed on the sled. If the same force is just barely able to keep the sled moving, what is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled and the trail?

Physics - drwls, Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 1:08am
Let the friction force be f without the added mass. It increases to
f (M+4.4)/M with the added mass.
You have two unknowns (f and M) and need two equations.
17 - f = M*a = M*0.40
17 - f*(M+4.4)/M = (M+4.4)*0 = 0 (zero acceleration with added mass)
f*(M+4.4)/M -Ff = 0.4 M
f*4.4/M = 0.4M
f = M^2/11
17-f = 17 - M^2/11 = 0.4M
Solve for M and use that to solve for f. Take the postitive root when solving for M.

The coefficient of kinetic friction is
muk = f/(M*g)
Physics - Alex, Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 1:17am
That makes a lot more sense now. Thanks!

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