Question

A 62 pound box is on an incline. Determine the minimum force P that would result in the box starting to slide up the incline. (include units with answer)

Answer 1

Answer:

F > W * sin(α)

Explanation:

The force needed for the box to start sliding up depends on the incline (α).

The external forces acting on the box would be the weight, the normal reaction and the lifting force that is applied to make it slide up.

These forces can be decomposed on their normal and tangential (to the slide plane) components.

The weight will be split into

Wn = W * cos(α) (in normal direction)

Wt = W * sin(α) (in tangential direction)

The normal reaction will be alligned with the normal axis, and will be equal to -Wn

N = -W* cos(α) (in normal direction)

To mke the box slide up, a force must be applied, that is opposite to the tangential component of the weight and at least a little larger

F > |-W * sin(α)| (in tangential direction)