Question

If a force of 1.0 N pulled up and parallel to the surface of the incline is required to raise the mass back to the top of the incline, how much work is done by that force?

Answer 1

The question is incomplete! The complete question along with answer and explanation is provided below.

Question:

A 0.5 kg mass moves 40 centimeters up the incline shown in the figure below. The vertical height of the incline is 7 centimeters.

What is the change in the potential energy (in Joules) of the mass as it goes up the incline?  

If a force of 1.0 N pulled up and parallel to the surface of the incline is required to raise the mass back to the top of the incline, how much work is done by that force?

Given Information:  

Mass = m = 0.5 kg

Horizontal distance = d = 40 cm = 0.4 m

Vertical distance = h = 7 cm = 0.07 m

Normal force = Fn = 1 N

Required Information:  

Potential energy = PE = ?

Work done = W = ?

Answer:

Potential energy = 0.343 Joules

Work done = 0.39 N.m

Explanation:

The potential energy is given by

PE = mgh

where m is the mass of the object, h is the vertical distance and g is the gravitational acceleration.

PE = 0.5*9.8*0.07

PE = 0.343 Joules

As you can see in the attached image

sinθ = opposite/hypotenuse

sinθ = 0.07/0.4

θ = sin⁻¹(0.07/0.4)

θ = 10.078°

The horizontal component of the normal force is given by

Fx = Fncos(θ)

Fx = 1*cos(10.078)

Fx = 0.984 N

Work done is given by

W = Fxd

where d is the horizontal distance

W = 0.984*0.4

W = 0.39 N.m