- #1
Rob123456789
- 15
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Homework Statement
A truck with a heavy load has a total mass of 5100 kg. It is climbing a 15∘ incline at a steady 15 m/s when, unfortunately, the poorly secured load falls off! Immediately after losing the load, the truck begins to accelerate at 1.5 m/s2.
What was the mass of the load? Ignore rolling friction.
Express your answer with the appropriate units.
The Attempt at a Solution
Force parallel = 5100 * 9.8 * sin 15 = 12935.78 N
Let m be mass of load. The final mass of the truck is 5100 – m.
Since the truck is accelerating at 1.5 m/s^2, let’s multiply this by 1.5.
F = (5100 – m) * 1.5 = 7650 – 1.5 * m
Set this equal to 12935.78 and solve for m.
7650 – 1.5 * m = 12935.78
1.5 * m = 5285.78
m = 5285.78 ÷ 1.5
This is approximately 3523.853 kg.