Question #7a2db

1 Answer
Jul 19, 2017

#v_x = 7.60# #"m/s"#

Explanation:

We're asked to find the speed of the wagon after it travels a distance of #5.0# #"m"#.

To to this, we need to find the net horizontal force #sumF_x# acting on the wagon.

We're given the coefficient of kinetic friction #mu_k# is #0.6#, and we have the equation

#f_k = mu_kn#

where

  • #f_k# is the magnitude of the kinetic friction force (opposes motion)

  • #n# is the magnitude of the normal force exerted by the surface on the wagon

The child is pulling the wagon at an angle #30^"o"# from the horizontal, so the magnitude of the normal force is

#n = overbrace(mg)^"weight" - overbrace(Fsin30^"o")^"vertical component of applied force" = sumF_y#

The magnitude of its weight #mg# is

#(15color(white)(l)"kg")(9.81color(white)(l)"m/s"^2) = 147# #"N"#

So we have

#n = 147color(white)(l)"N" - (150color(white)(l)"N")sin30^"o" = color(red)(72.2# #color(red)("N"#

So the magnitude of the friction force is

#f_k = (0.6)(color(red)(72.2color(white)(l)"N")) = color(green)(43.3# #color(green)("N"#

The net horizontal force #sumF_x# is

#sumF_x = overbrace(Fcos30^"o")^"horizontal component of applied force" - overbrace(f_k)^"opposing friction force"#

#= (150color(white)(l)"N")cos30^"o" - color(green)(43.3color(white)(l)"N") = color(purple)(86.6# #color(purple)("N"#

Now that we have the net horizontal force acting on the wagon, we can use Newton's second law to find its acceleration:

#sumF_x = ma_x#

#a_x = (sumF_x)/m = color(purple)(86.6color(white)(l)"N")/(15color(white)(l)"kg") = color(orange)(5.77# #color(orange)("m/s"^2#

We finally have the object's horizontal acceleration, so we can now use kinematics equations to find the speed after it covers #5.0# #"m"#:

#(v_x)^2 = (v_(0x))^2 + 2a_x(Deltax)#

In this case,

  • #v_x# is the speed (we're trying to find this)

  • #v_(0x)# is the initial speed, which is #0# since it started from rest

  • #a_x# is #color(orange)(5.77# #color(orange)("m/s"^2#

  • #Deltax# is the distance covered, which will be #5.0# #"m"#

Plugging in known values, we have

#(v_x)^2 = 0 + 2(color(orange)(5.77color(white)(l)"m/s"^2))(5.0color(white)(l)"m")#

#v_x = sqrt(2(color(orange)(5.77color(white)(l)"m/s"^2))(5.0color(white)(l)"m")) = color(blue)(7.60# #color(blue)("m/s"#