Question

A force in the +x-direction with magnitude ????(x) = 18.0 N − (0.530 N/m)x is applied to a 6.00 kg box that is sitting on the horizontal, frictionless surface of a frozen lake. ????(x) is the only horizontal force on the box. If the box is initially at rest at x = 0, what is its speed after it has traveled 14.0 m?

Answer 1

Answer:

$v_f=8.17\frac{m}{s}$

Explanation:

First, we calculate the work done by this force after the box traveled 14 m, which is given by:

$W=\int\limits^{x_f}_{x_0} {F(x)} \, dx \\W=\int\limits^{14}_{0} ({18N-0.530\frac{N}{m}x}) \, dx\\W=[(18N)x-(0.530\frac{N}{m})\frac{x^2}{2}]^{14}_{0}\\W=(18N)14m-(0.530\frac{N}{m})\frac{(14m)^2}{2}-(18N)0+(0.530\frac{N}{m})\frac{0^2}{2}\\W=252N\cdot m-52N\cdot m\\W=200N\cdot m$

Since we have a frictionless surface, according to the the work–energy principle, the work done by all forces acting on a particle equals the change in the kinetic energy of the particle, that is:

$W=\Delta K\\W=K_f-K_i\\W=\frac{mv_f^2}{2}-\frac{mv_i^2}{2}$

The box is initially at rest, so $v_i=0$. Solving for $v_f$:

$v_f=\sqrt{\frac{2W}{m}}\\v_f=\sqrt{\frac{2(200N\cdot m)}{6kg}}\\v_f=\sqrt{66.67\frac{m^2}{s^2}}\\v_f=8.17\frac{m}{s}$