Question

A wind is blowing a small ice fishing shed along the ice to the east with a 800N force. The shed weighs 2,200N. What would the largest coefficient of friction need to be to keep the small house moving?

Answer 1

Answer:

0.36

Explanation:

The maximum force of friction exerted by the surface is given by:

$F_f = \mu N$ (1)

where

$\mu$ is the coefficient of friction

N is the normal reaction

The shed's weight is 2200 N. Since there is no motion along the vertical direction, the normal reaction is equal and opposite to the weight, so

N = 2200 N

The horizontal force that is pushing the shed is

F = 800 N

In order for it to keep moving, the force of friction (which acts horizontally in the opposite direction) must be not greater than this value. So the maximum force of friction must be

$F_f = 800 N$

And substituting the values into eq.(1), we can find the maximum value of the coefficient of friction:

$\mu = \frac{F_f}{N}=\frac{800}{2200}=0.36$