Question

A box of mass 60 kg is at rest on a horizontal floor that has a static coefficient of friction of 0.6 and a kinetic coefficient of 0.25. calculate:
a) The minimum force necessary to start moving the box
b) The friction force and the acceleration of the box if a horizontal force of 400 N is applied

Answer 1

Answer:

a) The minimum force required to start moving the box is 352.86 N

b) i) The friction force for the box in motion is 147.025 N

ii) The acceleration of box is 4.21625 m/s²

Explanation:

The parameters of the box at rest and the floor are;

The mass of the box = 60 kg

The static coefficient friction of the floor = 0.6

The kinetic coefficient friction of the floor = 0.25

Frictional force = Normal force × Friction coefficient

For an horizontal floor and the box laying on the floor, we have;

The normal force = The weight of the box = Mass of the box × Acceleration due to gravity, g

The acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81 m/s²

The weight of the box  = 60 × 9.81 = 588.6 N

a) The static coefficient gives the frictional force observed by the box and which must be surpassed to bring about motion

Therefore;

The minimum force required to start moving the box = The static frictional force = Weight of the box × The static coefficient of friction

The minimum force required to start moving the box = 588.1 × 0.6 = 352.86 N

The minimum force required to start moving the box = 352.86 N

b) i) When an horizontal force of 400 N is applied, the applied force is larger than the static friction force, and the box will be in motion with the kinetic coefficient of friction being the source of friction

The friction force for the box in motion = 588.1 × 0.25 = 147.025 N

ii) The force, F with the box is in motion, is given as follows;

F = Mass of box × Acceleration of box, a = Applied force - Kinematic friction force

F = 60 × a = 400 - 147.025 = 252.975 N

60 × a = 252.975 N

a = 252.975 N/(60 kg) = 4.21625 m/s²

Acceleration of box, a = 4.21625 m/s².