PHY 101

Practice Problems
Newtons Laws of Motion
Summer 2013
Instructor: Asad Hasan

37) A 1 000-N crate is being pushed across a level floor at a constant speed by a force F of
300 N at an angle of 20.0 below the horizontal, as shown in Figure P4.37a. (a) What is the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the floor? (b) If the 300-N force is
instead pulling the block at an angle of 20.0 above the horizontal, as shown in Figure
P4.37b, what will be the acceleration of the crate? Assume that the coefficient of friction is
the same as that found in (a).

k=0.256;a=0.509m/s2
(a)

ax a y 0

Since the crate has constant velocity,

Applying Newtons second law:

Fx F cos 20.0 f k max 0

and

Fy n F sin 20.0 w 0

, or

f k 300 N cos 20.0 282 N

, or

n 300 N sin 20.0 1000 N 1.10 10 3 N

The coefficient of friction is then

(b) In this case,

fk
282 N

0.256
n 1.10 10 3 N

Fy n F sin 20.0 w 0

so n w F sin 20.0 897 N

The friction force now becomes

Therefore,

f k k n 0.256 897 N 230 N

w
Fx F cos 20.0 f k max ax
g

and the acceleration is

F cos 20.0 f g 300 N cos 20.0 230 N 9.80 m s

a
2

1000 N

0.509 m s 2

The coefficient of static friction between the 3.00-kg crate and the 35.0 incline of

Figure P4.41 is 0.300. What minimum force F must be applied to the crate perpendicular
41.

to the incline to prevent the crate from sliding down the incline?

F=32.1N

Figure P4.41
The normal force acting on the crate is given by
n F mg cos
. The net force tending to move the crate down
f
mg sin f s
the incline is
, where s is the force of static
friction between the crate and the incline. If the crate is in
f Fg sin
mg sin f s 0
equilibrium, then
, so that s
But, we also know

f s s n s F mg cos

mg sin s F mg cos
Therefore, we may write
, or
sin

sin 35.0

F
cos mg
cos 35.0
3.00 kg 9.80 m s 2 32.1 N

0.300
s

48.
Objects of masses m1 = 4.00 kg and m2 = 9.00 kg are connected by a light string that
passes over a frictionless pulley as in Figure P4.48. The object m1 is held at rest on the floor,
and m2 rests on a fixed incline of = 40.0. The objects are released from rest, and m2 slides
1.00 m down the incline in 4.00 s. Determine (a) the acceleration of each object, (b) the
tension in the string, and (c) the coefficient of kinetic friction between m2 and the incline.
a=0.125m/s2
T=39.7N
k=0.235

Figure P4.48

(a)

Both objects start from rest and have accelerations of the same magnitude, a. This
y v0 y t 12 ay t 2
magnitude can be determined by applying
to the motion of m1 :
a

2y 2 1.00 m

0.125 m s 2
2
2
t
4.00s

(b) Consider the free-body diagram of m1 and apply Newtons 2nd law:

Fy may
or

T m1 g m1 a

T m1 g a 4.00 kg 9.80 m s 2 0.125 m s 2 39.7 N

(c) Considering the free-body diagram of m2 :

Fy may

so

n m2 g cos 0

or

n m2 g cos

n 9.00 kg 9.80 m s 2 cos 40.0 67.6 N

Fx max m2 g sin T f k m2 a

Then

f k m2 g sin a T

or

f k 9.00 kg 9.80 m s 2 sin 40.0 0.125 m s 2 39.7 N 15.9 N

The coefficient of kinetic friction is

f k 15.9 N

0.235
n 67.6 N

A 2.00-kg block is held in equilibrium on an incline of angle = 60.0 by a

horizontal force F applied in the direction shown in Figure P4.50. If the coefficient of
50.

static friction between block and incline is s = 0.300, determine (a) the minimum value of

the force F to prevent the crate from sliding down the incline, and (b) the normal force
exerted by the incline on the block.
F=18.5N
N=25.8N

r
When the minimum force F is used, the block tends to
r
f
slide down the incline so the friction force, s is directed
up the incline.
While the block is in equilibrium, we have

Fx F cos60.0 f s 19.6 N sin 60.0 0

(1)

Fy n F sin 60.0 19.6 N cos 60.0 0

(2)

and

ffs

For minimum F (impending motion),

Equation (2) gives

s n 0.300 n

s max

n 0.866 F 9.80 N

(a) Equation (3) becomes:

(4)

f s 0.260 F 2.94 N

0.500 F 0.260 F 2.94 N 17.0 N 0

(3)

, or

, so Equation (1) gives

F 18.5 N

(b) Finally, Equation (4) gives the normal force

n 25.8 N

53.
In Figure P4.53, the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two blocks shown is
0.30. The surface of the table and the pulleys are frictionless. (a) Draw a free-body diagram
for each block. (b) Determine the acceleration of the system. (c) Find the tension in the
strings.
a=5.7m/s2
T1=17N
T2=41N

T1
T2

Figure P4.53

(a)

(b) For the 10-kg object:

Fy may T2 98 N 10 kg a
For the 2.0-kg object:
so
Also,

Fy may n1 20 N 0

or

T2 98 N 10 kg a

or

n1 20 N

or

T1 6.0 N 2.0 kg a

(2)

or

T2 T1 6.0 N 3.0 kg a

(3)

(1)

f k k n1 0.30 20 N 6.0 N
Fx max 6.0 N T1 2.0 kg a

Finally, for the 3.0-kg object:

Fx max T2 T1 6.0 N 3.0 kg a

Substituting Equations (1) and (2) into Equation (3) yields:

98 N 10 kg a 6.0 N 2.0 kg a 6.0 N 3.0 kg a

or

86 N
5.7 m s 2
15 kg

(c) Substituting the computed value for the magnitude of the acceleration into Equations
T 6.0 N 2.0 kg 5.7 m s 2 17 N
(1) and (2) gives: 1
T 98 N 10 kg 5.7 m s 2 41 N
and 2

60.
A 4.00-kg block is pushed along the ceiling with a constant applied force of 85.0 N
that acts at an angle of 55.0 with the horizontal, as in Figure P4.60. The block accelerates
to the right at 6.00 m/s2. Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between block and
ceiling.
k=0.814

Consider the vertical forces acting on the block:

Fy 85.0 N sin 55.0 39.2 N n may 0

so the normal force is n 30.4 N

Now, consider the horizontal forces:

Fx 85.0 N cos 55.0 f k max 4.00 kg 6.00 m s 2

or

f k 85.0 N cos 55.0 24.0 N 24.8 N

The coefficient of kinetic friction is then

63.

f k 24.8 N

0.814
n 30.4 N

A 2.00-kg aluminum block and a 6.00-kg copper block are connected by a light string over a
frictionless pulley. The two blocks are allowed to move on a fixed steel block wedge (of
angle = 30.0) as shown in Figure P4.63. Making use of Table 4.2, determine (a) the
acceleration of the two blocks and (b) the tension in the string.

Use: kAluminumsteel=0.47;kCoppersteel=0.36

a=0.232m/s2
T=9.68N
Figure P4.63

(a)

Free-body diagrams for the two blocks are given at

the right. The coefficient of kinetic friction for
aluminum on steel is 1 0.47 while that for copper

a 0
on steel is 2 0.36 . Since y
for each block,
n1 w1 and n2 w2 cos 30.0 . Thus,
f1 1 n1 0.47 19.6 N 9.21 N

and

f 2 2 n2 0.36 58.8 N cos 30.0 18.3 N

For the aluminum block:

Fx max T f1 m a or T f1 ma
giving

T 9.21 N 2.00 kg a

(1)

For the copper block:

Fx max 58.8 N sin 30.0 T 18.3 N 6.00 kg a
11.1 N T 6.00 kg a

or

(2)

Substituting Equation (1) into Equation (2) gives

11.1 N 9.21 N 2.00 kg a 6.00 kg a

or

1.86 N
0.232 m s 2
8.00 kg

T 9.21 N 2.00 kg 0.232 m s 2 9.68 N

(b)
FromEquation(1)above,
65.
Two boxes of fruit on a frictionless horizontal surface are connected by a light string
as in Figure P4.65, where m1 = 10 kg and m2 = 20 kg. A force of 50 N is applied to the 20-kg
box. (a) Determine the acceleration of each box and the tension in the string. (b) Repeat the
problem for the case where the coefficient of kinetic friction between each box and the
surface is 0.10.
a) a=1.7m/s2
T=17N
b) a=0.69m/s2
T=17N
Figure 1 is a free-body diagram for the system
consisting of both blocks. The friction forces are
f1 k n1 k m1 g
f k m2 g
and 2
. For this
system, the tension in the connecting rope is an
internal force and is not included in second
law calculations. The second law gives
Fx 50 N ff1 2 m1 m2 a
, which reduces to

50 N
k g
m1 m2

(1)

Figure 2 gives a free-body diagram of m1 alone. For

this system, the tension is an external force and
must be included in the second law. We find:
Fx T f1 m1 a
, or
T m1 a k g

(2)

(a) If the surface is frictionless, k 0 . Then, Equation (1) gives

50 N
50 N
0
1.7 m s 2
m1 m2
30 kg

and Equation (2) yields

T 10 kg 1.7 m s 2 0 17 N

(b) If k 0.10 , Equation (1) gives the acceleration as

50 N
0.10 9.80 m s 2 0.69 m s 2
30 kg

while Equation (2) gives the tension as

T 10 kg 0.69 m s 2 0.10 9.80 m s 2 17 N

69.
Three blocks of masses 10.0 kg, 5.00 kg, and 3.00 kg are connected by light strings
that pass over frictionless pulleys as shown in Figure P4.69. The acceleration of the 5.00-kg
block is 2.00 m/s2 to the left, and the surfaces are rough. Find (a) the tension in each string
and (b) the coefficient of kinetic friction between blocks and surfaces. (Assume the same
k for both blocks that are in contact with surfaces.)
T1 78.0 N

T2 35.9 N

k 0.656

Figure P4.69

a 2.00 m s 2
The magnitude of the acceleration is
for all three blocks and applying Newtons
second law to the 10.0-kg block gives

10.0 kg 9.80 m s T 10.0 kg 2.00 m s , or T

2

78.0 N

Applying the second law to the 5.00-kg block gives:

T1 T2 k 5.00 kg 9.80 m s 2

5.00 kg 2.00 m s
2

T 68.0 N- 49.0 N k
With T1 78.0 N , this simplifies to: 2
For the 3.00-kg block, the second law gives
With

(1)

T2 k n mg sin 25.0 ma

m 3.00 kg, a 2.00 m s 2 , g 9.80 m s 2 , and n mg cos 25.0

T2 26.6 N k 18.4 N

, this reduces to:

(2)

Solving Equations (1) and (2) simultaneously, and using the value of T1 from above, we
find that

(a)

T1 78.0 N

T2 35.9 N

, and

(b)

k 0.656