Two movers are attempting to push a couch up a ramp. One mover applies a force of 80 N forward, but the force of friction is providing a force of 110 N in the opposite direction, and the couch slides down the ramp.
At minimum, how much force will the second mover need to apply to help push the couch up the ramp?
Responses
20 N
31 N
80 N
110 N
To push the couch up the ramp, the force applied by the movers needs to overcome the force of friction. The force of friction is acting in the opposite direction of the forward force applied by the first mover, so the net force is the difference between the two forces.
Net force = Force applied by first mover - Force of friction
Net force = 80 N - 110 N
Net force = -30 N
The net force is negative (-30 N), indicating that the force applied by the first mover is not enough to overcome the force of friction and push the couch up the ramp. Therefore, the second mover needs to apply a force of at least 30 N in the forward direction to help push the couch up the ramp.
The correct answer is: 31 N