Determining magnitudes of forces on a block

In summary, the block of mass 2.20kg was pushed 2.21m along a frictionless horizontal table by a constant 19.5 N force directed 26.4 deg below the horizontal. The work done by the applied force is 3.86 J. To determine the magnitude of the normal force exerted by the table, the force pushing down (19.5 N sin(26.4)) and the force from gravity (22 N) are added together. The net force on the block is the sum of these two forces.
  • #1
tonia0605
2
0
A block of mass (2.20kg) is pushed 2.21m along a frictionless horizontal table by a constant 19.5 N force directed 26.4 deg below the horizontal.

I have found the work done by the applied force, which is 3.86 J


I got stuck after that...I still need help figuring out the following questions

If someone could help show me how to setup my equations, I should be able to get them

1. Determine the magnitude of the normal force exerted by the table.

2. Determine the magnitude of the force of gravity.

3. Determine the net force on the block.
 
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  • #2
How good are you with vector addition and subtraction?

For the first question, your are pushing 'down' by an amount, and 'along' by and amount. If these two amounts were added as vectors (i.e. with magnitudes w/ directions) they would give you the 19.5N at 26.4 deg below the horiz.

So the amount you are pushing down is
19.5 *sin(26.4)= F(down)

then the force from gravity is

F(g)= m*g= 2.2 *10=22N

So both of these two forces (you and from grav.) push down on the table, therefore the table pushes back by the same amount, namely the magnitude of the normal force exerted by the table
 
  • #3
I am not that strong at adding vectors.

Now that I got both of these forces, do I just add Fn and Fg together to get the net force?
 

FAQ: Determining magnitudes of forces on a block

How do you determine the magnitude of forces on a block?

To determine the magnitude of forces on a block, you need to consider the weight of the block, the normal force acting on the block, and any other external forces applied to the block. You can then use the equation F=ma (force equals mass times acceleration) to calculate the magnitude of the forces.

What is the difference between weight and force?

Weight is the measurement of the force of gravity acting on an object, while force is a push or pull that can cause an object to accelerate. Weight is dependent on the mass of an object and the strength of the gravitational field, while force can be applied by any source.

Can the magnitude of forces on a block change?

Yes, the magnitude of forces on a block can change if there is a change in external forces or if the block's mass or acceleration changes. For example, if an additional force is applied to the block, the magnitude of forces will increase.

How do you measure the magnitude of a force?

The magnitude of a force can be measured using a spring scale or a force sensor. These tools measure the amount of force needed to stretch a spring or bend a sensor, which can then be converted to the magnitude of the force using a calibration factor.

How can you use the magnitude of forces on a block to determine its motion?

According to Newton's laws of motion, the net force acting on an object determines its acceleration. By calculating the magnitude of forces on a block and comparing it to the block's mass, you can determine the acceleration of the block and predict its motion.

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