Frictional Force Work Calculation on an Inclined Plane
What is the amount of work done by the frictional force on a block moving down an inclined plane?
A block of 10 kg is placed on a rough inclined plane with a 37º angle to the horizontal. A constant horizontal force of 50 N is applied, causing the block to move 5 m down the incline. How can we determine the work done by the frictional force in this scenario?
Answer:
The work done by the friction force on a block sliding down an inclined plane can be calculated by multiplying the component of the gravitational force parallel to the incline by the distance traveled. In this case, the work done by the friction force is 300.3 J.
Explanation:
The question refers to a situation where a block of 10 kg is placed on an inclined plane subjected to a frictional force. The frictional force exerted on the block can be calculated using the normal force and the coefficient of friction. The normal force (Fn) on the block on an inclined plane can be calculated as Fn = mg cos θ, where m is the mass, g is the gravitational acceleration, and θ is the angle of inclination. Then the frictional force (f) can be found with the equation f = Fn * μ, where μ represents a theoretical friction coefficient. If we assume the frictional force to be enough to offset the parallel component of gravity (mg sin θ) and the horizontal force (50 N), the work done by the frictional force will be this force multiplied by the distance traveled, providing we know the block moves slowly and the friction remains constant.