Acceleration across a floor with friction

In summary, a man pushes a box full of toys with a mass of 12kg across a floor with a force of 60 N. The kinetic coefficient of friction between the box and the floor is 0.5. The net force acting on the box is 1.2 N, calculated by subtracting the friction force of 58.8 N from the pushing force of 60 N. Using the equation F=ma, where the mass is 12kg and the net force is 1.2 N, the acceleration of the box is calculated to be 0.1 m/s^2. It is important to always draw a free body diagram to ensure the accuracy of calculations.
  • #1
djokoman95
7
0

Homework Statement



A man pushes a box full of toys that has a mass of 12kg across a floor with a force of 60 N. The box of toys and the floor have a kinetic coefficient of friction of 0.5.
What is the acceleration of the box?

Homework Equations


F=ma


The Attempt at a Solution



Here's what I have so far. f[itex]\mu[/itex]k=12*9.8*0.5=58.8. So, since the man is pushing with 60 N of force, and the friction force is pushing back with 58.8 N, he is pushing the box with a net force of .2 N. I think, but I"m not sure, that I could just use this 0.2 as the F in F=ma, then solve for a, using 12 as m, and 0.2 as F. I'm not quite sure if this is correct though.
 
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  • #2
Yes,it is correct.
 
  • #3
It's not 0.2 N, it's 1.2 N :)
 
  • #4
1.2 is the net force
and according to Newton's laws its equal to ma ...
 
  • #5
Always draw a free body diagram if your not sure if your correct or not. If you do so you would see that your correct.
 

FAQ: Acceleration across a floor with friction

What is acceleration across a floor with friction?

Acceleration across a floor with friction refers to the change in velocity of an object as it moves across a surface with friction. This change in velocity can be either positive (increasing speed) or negative (decreasing speed).

How does friction affect acceleration across a floor?

Friction acts in the opposite direction of an object's motion, causing it to slow down and therefore decrease its acceleration. This is due to the force of friction, which opposes the motion of the object.

What factors affect acceleration across a floor with friction?

The main factors that affect acceleration across a floor with friction are the mass of the object, the coefficient of friction between the object and the surface, and the force being applied to the object. The surface conditions, such as the roughness of the floor, can also impact acceleration.

How can acceleration across a floor with friction be calculated?

The acceleration across a floor with friction can be calculated using the equation a = (F - μmg)/m, where a is the acceleration, F is the applied force, μ is the coefficient of friction, m is the mass of the object, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Is it possible to have a constant acceleration across a floor with friction?

No, it is not possible to have a constant acceleration across a floor with friction. This is because the force of friction will always act to oppose the motion of the object, causing its acceleration to change over time.

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