Question

A rock is thrown upward from the top of a 30 m building with a velocity of 5 m/s. Determine its velocity (a) When it falls back past its original point, (b) When it is 15 m above the street, and (c) Just before it hits the street. A horse drags a 100 kg sled a distance of 4 km in 20 minutes. The horse exerts one horsepower, of course. What is the coefficient of sliding friction between the sled and the ground?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) 5 m/s downwards

b) 17.86 m/s

c) 24.82 m/s

d) 0.228

Explanation:

We can set the frame of reference with the origin on the top of the building and the X axis pointing down.

The rock will be subject to the acceleration of gravity. We can use the equation for position under constant acceleration and speed under constant acceleration:

X(t) = X0 + V0 * t + 1/2 * a * t^2

V(t) = V0 + a * t

In this case

X0 = 0

V0 = -5 m/s

a = 9.81 m/s^2

To know the speed it will have when it falls back past the original point we need to know when it will do it. When it does X will be 0.

0 = -5 * t + 1/2 * 9.81 * t^2

0 = t * (-5 + 4.9 * t)

One of the solutions is t = 0, but this is when the rock was thrown.

0 = -5 + 4.69 * t

4.9 * t = 5

t = 5 / 4.9

t = 1.02 s

Replacing this in the speed equation:

V(1.02) = -5 + 9.81 * 1.02 = 5 m/s (this is speed downwards because the X axis points down)

When the rock is at 15 m above the street it is 15 m under the top of the building.

15 = -5 * t + 1/2 * 9.81 * t^2

4.9 * t^s -5 * t - 15 = 0

Solving electronically:

t = 2.33 s

At that time the speed will be:

V(2.33) = -5 + 9.81 * 2.33 = 17.86 m/s

When the rock is about to reach the ground it is at 30 m under the top of the building:

30 = -5 * t + 1/2 * 9.81 * t^2

4.9 * t^s -5 * t - 30 = 0

Solving electronically:

t = 3.04 s

At this time it has a speed of:

V(3.04) = -5 + 9.81 * 3.04 = 24.82 m/s

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Power is work done per unit of time.

The work in this case is:

L = Ff * d

With Ff being the friction force, this is related to weight

Ff = μ * m * g

μ: is the coefficient of friction

L = μ * m * g * d

P = L/Δt

P = (μ * m * g * d)/Δt

Rearranging:

μ = (P * Δt) / (m * g * d)

1 horsepower is 746 W

20 minutes is 1200 s

μ = (746 * 1200) / (100 * 9.81 * 4000) = 0.228