Question

At one particular moment, a 19.0 kg toboggan is moving over a horizontal surface of snow at 3.60 m/s. After 6.75 s have elapsed, the toboggan stops. Use a momentum approach to find the magnitude of the average friction force (in N) acting on the toboggan while it was moving.

Answer 1

Answer:

Friction force acting on the toboggan is  10.13 N.

Explanation:

Momentum is defined as the product of mass and its velocity,i.e,

p = m × v

Thus, initial momentum will be :-

p₁ = 19.0 × 3.60

    = 68.4 kg m/s

Final momentum will be ;_

p₂ = 19.0 × 0

   = 0 kg m/s

Now, Force is defined as the rate of change of linear momentum,i.e,

F = dp/dt

Thus, F = $\frac{p_{2} - p_{1} }{t}$

            = $\frac{0 - 68.4}{6.75}$

            = - 10.13 N

Negative sign just signifies that force is acting in a direction opposite to the direction of motion.