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o2blea o2blea
wrote...
Posts: 124
Rep: 1 0
12 years ago
In a tractor-pull competition, a tractor
applies a force of 1.3 kN to the sled, which
has mass 1.1 × 104 kg. At that point, the coefficient
of kinetic friction between the sled
and the ground has increased to 0.80. What
is the acceleration of the sled? Explain the
significance of the sign of the acceleration
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1 Reply

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Replies
wrote...
12 years ago
I assume the tractor pulls completely horizontal

Draw a FBD of the sled.  Include forces from weight (down), from normal force (up), from tractor (right), and from friction (left).

Weight and normal force are equal and opposite, since the sled doesn't rise.  Friction is the coefficient times the normal force.

Standard value of g = 9.8 N/kg

We can conclude the following formulas for each force:
T = given tractor force, convert to regular newtons
W = m*g
N = m*g

Resulting:
Ff = mu*m*g

The net force is Fnet = T - mu*m*g

Fnet = -84940 Newtons

Use Newton's 2nd law:
Fnet = m*a
a = Fnet/m

Resulting acceleration:
a = -7.72 m/sec^2

Negative sign indicates that the sled is SLOWING DOWN.
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