A curved ramp, as shown in the following figure is used to transfer mangoes between the packaging
site to the loading bay. Each box weighs 5 kg, and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and
the ramp is µk = 0.2. At the instant the box reaches A, it has a speed of 2 m/s. Determine the normal
force on the box and the rate of increase of its speed.
a) Which approach will you choose to solve this problem (EoM, principle of work & energy or principle of
impulse & momentum) and why?
b) What is meant by an increase in speed as stated in the question?
[6 marks]
Without an understanding of the curve on the ramp, and where A is, difficult it is to understand. I dont know what EoM means. Mechanics?
If one knows the principle of Calculus, the use of work and energy is very helpful, and such things as the deriviative of kinetic energy with respect to time can yield rate of speed change directly. Increases in speed mean increases in Kinetic Energy, and it has to come from changes in Potential energy.
eom is equation of motion
a) To solve this problem, I would choose the principle of work and energy approach. This is because we are given information about the box's speed and the coefficient of friction between the box and the ramp, and we need to determine the normal force and the rate of increase of its speed. The principle of work and energy allows us to analyze the mechanical energy changes of the system.
b) In this context, an increase in speed refers to the change in velocity of the box as it moves along the ramp. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both magnitude (speed) and direction. If the box's speed is increasing, it means that it is gaining speed or moving faster on the ramp.