PHY–302 K. Solutions for Problem set # 5.

Textbook problem 4.37:

Let’s draw the free-body diagram for the box.

~
N

~ ext
F
(1)
~f

m~g

~ ext is the external force pulling the box forward and ~f is the friction force resisting its
Here F
motion. In part (a) the box does not move so f is the static friction force while in part (b)
the box moves forward and f is the kinetic friction force,

(a) v = 0 f = fs ≤ fsmax = µs × N,
(2)
(b) v 6= 0 f = fk = µk × N.

The Second Law equations for the box are

max = Fext − f,
(3)
may = N − mg,

and since the box does not move vertically we must have N = mg = 49 N.

(a) When the box does not move, ax = 0 requires f ≡ fs = Fext . According to eq. (2)(a),
this is possible only for

Fext ≤ fsmax = µs × N. (4)

When the external force exceeds this limit, the static friction ‘gives up’ and the box starts
to move. If the external force increases slowly, the motion starts when the inequality (4)

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saturates,
motion starts
Fext = µs × N. (5)

Consequently, the static friction coefficient for the box at hand is

motion starts
Fext 48.0 N
µs = = = 0.98. (6)
N = mg 49 N

(b) Once the box starts moving, the friction force is kinetic rather than static, f = fk =
µk × N. Consequently

max = Fext − fk = Fext − µk × N (7)

and all we need to do now is to solve this equation for the kinetic friction coefficient µk .
Thus,
Fext − max (48.0 N) − (5.0 kg) × (0.70 m/s2 )
µk = = ≈ 0.91. (8)
N = mg 49 N
Note µk < µs !

Textbook problem 4.61:

Here’s the free-body diagram for the climber:

~f1 ~ ~f2
T (9)
~2
N
~1
N

m~g

~ 1 and N
Note that the rock walls are vertical, so the normal forces N ~ 2 at the walls are vertical

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while the static friction forces ~f1 and ~f2 are horizontal. The climber is resting, so by the
Second Law

~0 = m~a = N ~ 2 + ~f1 + ~f2 + T

~1 + N ~ − m~g, (10)

or in components

N1 − N2 = 0 =⇒ N1 = N2 = N,
(11)
f1 + f2 + T − mg = 0 =⇒ f1 + f2 = mg − T.

The static friction forces are limited by the respective normal forces,

f1 ≤ µs1 × N1 , f2 ≤ µs2 × N2 , (12)

hence for the climber in question

f1 + f2 ≤ (µs1 + µs2 ) × N (13)

and therefore

(µs1 + µs2 ) × N ≥ mg − T. (14)

In other words, the climber must push the two walls with normal forces no weaker than

mg − T
N ≥ Nmin = . (15)
µs1 + µs2

In particular, if he does not pull on the rope and T = 0, then the minimal normal force he
has to exert with his feet and his back is

(75 kg) × (9.8 m/s2 ) − (0 N)

Nmin = = 525 N ≈ 120 lb. (16)
0.80 + 0.60

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Non-textbook problem #1:
Once Bob hits the brakes, there is a friction force f between the car’s tires and the road,
and that’s what decelerates the car. Indeed, there are no other horizontal forces on the car,
thus
f
|acar | = (17)
mcar
and hence car’s stopping distance is

v02 mv02
Lstop = = . (18)
2|a| 2f

The vertical forces on the car are the normal force N and the weight W = mg; since the car
does not move vertically, these two forces must cancel each other, thus N = mg. But the
way this normal force controls the friction force f depends on whether the car is skidding or
not.

Skidding happens when the brakes are pushed so hard they lock and the wheels stop
rotating; instead, the tires’ bottom surfaces slide on the road. In this case, the friction
between the tires and the road is kinetic, and the friction force is

f skid = fk = µk × N = µk × mg. (19)

Consequently, the stopping distance is

mv02 v02 (12 m/s)2

Lskid
stop = = = ≈ 92 m ≈ 300 feet. (20)
2µk mg 2µk g 2 × 0.08 × (9.8 m/s2 )

Now suppose the breaks do not lock and the wheels continue to roll along the road. In
this case, at the bottom of each tire, the velocity of the tire’s surface due to tire’s rotation
is equal to the road’s velocity relative o the car, so there is no sliding between the tire and
the road. Consequently, the friction force between the tire and the road is static rather that
kinetic and

f no skid = fs ≥ fsmax = µs × (N = mg). (21)

Note that we have an inequality here: depending how hard the breaks are pushed, the friction
force can be anything between zero and µs × mg. Hence, the stopping distance can be as

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long as Bob wants it to be, but there is a lower limit:

mv02 mv02 v02

Lno skid
stop ≥ Lmin
stop = = =
2fsmax 2µs mg 2µs g
(22)
(12 m/s)2
= ≈ 61 m ≈ 200 feet.
2 × 0.12 × (9.8 m/s2 )

Note that the shortest stopping distance for breaking without skidding is significantly
shorter than the skidding-to-stop distance, so the answer to this problem is (22) rather
than (20).

Non-textbook problem #2:

The kinetic friction between the box and the conveyor belt depends no their relative motion
rather that on their motions in the ground frame. When the box drops with zero initial
velocity (relative to the ground) onto the moving conveyor belt, the box slides backward
relative to the belt. Consequently, the kinetic friction force on the box pulls it forward — in
the direction opposite to the relative motion — and it will continue to pull the box forward
until its velocity catches up with the belt’s and the relative motion ceases.

Besides the kinetic friction force f, there are two more forces acting on the box: its
weight W = mg, and the normal force N from the belt. On a horizontal belt, N is vertical
while f is horizontal, hence by the Second Law of Newton

f = max ,
(23)
N − mg = may = 0,

where the second equality on the second line reflects the fact that once the box drops onto
the belt, its subsequent motion is purely horizontal. Consequently

N = mg =⇒ f = µk × N = µk × mg (24)

and therefore
f
ax = = µk × g = 0.40 × 9.8 m/s2 = 3.92 m/s2 . (25)
m
The box accelerates forward at this constant rate until its velocity vb = ax × t catches up

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with the belt’s velocity vc , which happens when

vc 8 m/s
ax × t = vc =⇒ t = = = 2.04 s , (26)
ax 3.92 m/s2

i.e., approximately 2 seconds after the box drops on the conveyor belt.

Non-textbook problem #3:

The forces acting on the book are its own weight mg, the normal force N from the incline,
and the static friction force f . As long as the book does not slide, these forces must balance
each other,

mg + N + f = ma = 0. (27)

Here is the force diagram for this balance:

(28)
N f
f

N
mg
θ

mg

where the right picture shows the three force vector adding up to zero. Solving the right
triangle made from the three vectors, we immediately see that

N = mg × cos θ and f = mg × sin θ. (29)

Unlike the kinetic friction force whose magnitude is always equal to µk N, the static

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friction force can take any value it needs to prevent the relative motion, as long as

|f| ≤ µs × |N|. (30)

Substituting the normal and friction forces from eqs. (29) into this inequality, we have

mg × sin θ ≤ µs × mg × cos θ, (31)

or equivalently,

tan θ ≤ µs . (32)

As long as the incline angle satisfies this bound, the book can rest on the incline, but when
this bound is exceeded, the static friction “gives up” and the book slides down. The critical
angle of repose θc is the point where the bound (32) is saturated, so

tan θc = µs (33)

In part (a) we are given the critical angle θc = 37◦ , hence the static friction coefficient is
simply µs = tan 37◦ ≈ 0.75.

In part (b) we want to find the friction force for a smaller angle θ = 30◦ . Naturally, this
angle is below the limit (32), so the static friction force is determined by the second equation
(29) rather than by the normal force and the friction coefficient. Thus,

f = mg × sin θ = 2 kg × 9.8 m/s2 × sin 30◦ = 9.8 N ≈ 10 N. (34)

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Non-textbook problem #5:
Let’s start with the force diagrams for the carton:
~
N ~
N
~v
~f

~v
~f

m~g m~g

(35)
Note that the direction of the kinetic friction force ~f depends on the direction of motion:
When the box slides up the ramp (left diagram) ~f points down along the ramp, but when
the box slides down (right diagram) ~f points up along the ramp.

Let’s use the coordinate system where x axis is parallel to the ramp (positive direction
down-the ramp) and y axis is ⊥ to the ramp. In such coordinates

Nx = 0, Ny = +N,
fx = ±f, fy = 0
(36)
(mg)x = +mg sin θ, (mg)y = −mg cos θ,
ax = a, ay = 0,

where on the second line the sign of fx = ±f is +f for sliding up and −f for sliding down.
The Second Law equations for the x and y directions are

ma = max = mg sin θ ± f,
(37)
0 = may = N − mg cos θ.

From the y equation we obtain the normal force N = mg cos θ and hence the kinetic friction
force

f ≡ fk = µk × N = µk mg cos θ. (38)

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Plugging this formula into the x equation gives us

ma = mg sin θ ± µk mg cos θ (39)

and consequently
aup = g sin θ + µk g cos θ,
(40)
adown = g sin θ − µk g cos θ.

Eqs. (40) were derived in class. What we need to do in this problem is solve them for the
angle θ and the kinetic friction coefficient µk . To find the angle, let’s add the two eqs. (40)
together,

aup + adown = g sin θ + µ + kg cos θ + g sin θ − µ + kg cos θ = 2g sin θ. (41)

Consequently,

aup + adown (7 m/s2 ) + (3 m/s2 )

sin θ = = ≈ 0.51 (42)
2g 2(9.8 m/s2 )

and hence θ ≈ arcsin(0.51) ≈ 31◦ .

Now consider the difference of the two eqs. (40):

   
aup − adown = g sin θ + µk g cos θ − g sin θ − µk g cos θ = 2µk g cos θ, (43)

which gives us the kinetic friction coefficient as

aup − adown (7 m/s2 ) − (3 m/s2 )

µk = = ≈ 0.24. (44)
2g cos θ 2(9.8 m/s2 ) × cos(31◦ )

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Textbook problem 5.17:
A particle at a distance r from the axis of a centrifuge rotating at rate f revolutions per
second moves in a circle at speed v = 2πr × f , so its centripetal acceleration is

v2 (2πrf )2
ac = = = (2πf )2 × r. (45)
r r

If we want a = 115, 000 × g = 1.13 · 106 m/s2 at distance r = 9.00 cm = 0.0900 m, then we
need
ac 1.13 · 106 m/s2
(2πf )2 = = ≈ 1.25 · 107 s−2 (46)
r 0.0900 m
and hence
√
1.25 · 107 s−2
f ≈ ≈ 563 s−1 ,
2π
i.e., f = 563 revolutions per second or 33,800 revolutions per minute.

Textbook problem 5.13:

At the top of the circular loop, the centripetal acceleration

v2
ac = (47)
R

is directed down, because that’s the direction towards the circle’s center. For a passenger in
a roller coaster, this acceleration is due to two vertical forces, the weight W = mg and the
normal force N from the seat. Note that the roller coaster goes through the top of the loop
in upside-down position, so the seat is above the passenger’s butt and the normal force is
directed down rather than up, thus

N
may = −mac = −N − mg =⇒ ac = g + . (48)
m

Since the normal force is non-negative — the seat can push but it cannot pull — the roller
coaster should have ac ≥ g and hence

v2 p
≥ g =⇒ v ≥ vmin = Rg. (49)
R

At slower speeds, a passenger can follow the roller coaster only if there is an upward force

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— for example, from a seat-belt — T = mg − mac . If there is no such force, the passenger
will have acceleration a = g instead of a = ac < g and fall out from the roller coaster.

The loop in the problem has curvature radius R = 7.4 m (about 24 feet), so the minimal
speed to go through this loop is

p q
vmin = Rg = 7.4 m × 9.8 m/s2 ≈ 8.5 m/s ≈ 19 MPH. (50)

Textbook problem 5.14:

Similar to the previous problem, the car at the top of the hill has a downward centripetal
acceleration (47). But this time, the car is on top of the hill, so the normal force N points
up rather than down, hence

−mac = may = N − mg =⇒ N = mg − mac . (51)

For a car traveling at speed v = 22 m/s = 50 MPH over a hill of curvature radius R = 95 m,
the centripetal acceleration is

v2 (22 m/s)2
ac = = = 5.1 m/s2 , (52)
R 95 m

so the normal force on the car of mass Mc = 950 kg is

Nc = Mc × (g − ac ) = 950 kg × (9.8 m/s2 − 5.1 m/s2 ) = 4470 N ≈ 1000 lb. (53)

The driver moves with the same centripetal acceleration as the car, do the upward normal
force on the driver is given by eq. (51) for m being the driver’s mass, thus

Nd = md × (g − ac ) = 72 kg × (9.8 m/s2 − 5.1 m/s2 ) = 338 N ≈ 76 lb. (54)

At higher speeds of the car, the centripetal acceleration would be higher and the normal
force on the driver would be lower. This force will vanish altogether when ac = g, which

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requires

v2 p p
= g =⇒ v = Rg = 95 m × 9.8 m/s = 30.5 m/s ≈ 110 km/h ≈ 68 MPH.
R
(55)
Note that at this speed, the normal force on the car from the road would also vanish, leading
to zero friction between the tires and the road and no way to control the car’s motion. And
at speeds higher than (55), the car would not be able to follow the road over the hill (without
N < 0, which is impossible). Instead, the car would leave the road and fly in a parabolic
trajectory with ay = −g — until it eventually falls down and crashes.

Textbook problem 5.9:

A car moving at constant speed v on a horizontal road of curvature radius R has acceleration

v2
ac = (47)
R

in a horizontal direction ⊥ to the road. This acceleration requires a sideways horizontal force
F = mac , but the only horizontal force acting on the car on a flat road is the static friction
force fs between the car’s tires and the road. Thus, making the curve requires friction force

v2
fs = mac = m × . (56)
R

But this static friction force is limited by the normal force N on the tires,

fs ≤ µs × N, (57)

and since on the flat road N − mg, the car must have

v2
m× = fs ≤ µs × N = µs × mg. (58)
R

Consequently,
v2 p
≤ µs g =⇒ v ≤ µs gR . (59)
R

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Thus, the maximal speed at which the car can take this curve without skidding outward is
p p
vmax = µs gR = 0.80 × 9.9 m/s × 77 m = 24.5 m/s ≈ 55 MPH. (60)

PS: If the car’s speed is not constant — i.e., the car speeds up or slows down while going
around the curve — then in addition to the sideways acceleration (47) there is also a forward
or backward tangential acceleration at and the net horizontal acceleration is
q
|a| = a2c + a2t > ac . (61)

This whole acceleration is due to the static friction force, which gives us a limit

m|a| = fs ≤ µs × mg =⇒ |a| ≤ µs g. (62)

This limit is tighter than (59), so if the car needs to change its speed in the middle of the
turn, its maximal speed is even less than 55 MPH.

Textbook problem 5.18:

A person riding the rotor has circular speed v = 2πf × R and centripetal acceleration

v2
ac = = (2πf )2 × R = (2π × 0.50 RPS)2 × 4.6 m ≈ 45 m/s2 . (63)
R
There are 3 forces acting on the rider, his weight mg, the normal force from the rotor’s wall
N, and the static friction force fs . (The friction is static rather than kinetic because the
person does not move relative to the wall.) Here is the force diagram:
fs
rotation axis

ac
N
(64)

mg

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Note that since the rotor’s wall is vertical, the normal force N is horizontal while the static
friction force fs is vertical. By the Second Law,

N = Fxnet = max = mac ,

(65)
fs − mg = Fynet = may = 0,

thus N = mac while fs = mg. But the static friction force cannot be larger than µs × N,
which means that

mg = fs ≤ µs × N = µs × mac (66)

and consequently
g
µs ≥ . (67)
ac

For the rotor in question, we need the static friction coefficient to be larger than

g 9.8 m/s2
µmin
s = = ≈ 0.22. (68)
ac 45 m/s2

Now consider why do the riders of the rotor feel a force pressing them against the wall
even though there is no such force? What they feel is the artificial gravity due to the
centripetal acceleration. Remember that a parson in an accelerating elevator feels not his
true weight mg but rather his apparent weight

~ app = m~g − m~a.

W (69)

When the elevator accelerates upward, the apparent weight Wapp = mg + ma is greater
than the true weight, while when the elevator accelerates downward the apparent weight
Wapp = mg − ma is less than the true weight. In the rotor, the acceleration is horizontal,
so the apparent weight is no longer directed straight down but has a horizontal component
Waapp = −mac . Note the minus sign here — the horizontal component of the apparent
weight has opposite direction from the ac — it pushes a rider away from the rotation axis,
i.e. into the rotor’s wall.

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Textbook problem 5.79:
The train rounding a curve has a centripetal acceleration

v2
ac = (47)
R

and the lamp moving with the train also has this acceleration. The lamp is suspended on
the wire, so there are only two forces acting on it, the wire’s tension T and the lamp’s weight
mg. Here is the force diagram:

θ
T

ac
(70)

mg

By the Second Law,

T sin θ = Fxnet = mac , T cos θ − mg = Fynet = 0 =⇒ T cos θ = mg, (71)

which allows us to relate the centripetal acceleration of the lamp to the angle θ between the
wire and the vertical:

T sin θ T cos θ
ac = = × tan θ = g × tan θ
m m (72)
= 9.8 m/s2 × tan(17.5◦ ) = 3.1 m/s2 .

In light of eq. (47), this centripetal acceleration obtains for train’s speed

p q
v = R × ac = 235 m × 3.1 m/s2 ≈ 27 m/s ≈ 60 MPH. (73)

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