- #1
Nicolaus
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Homework Statement
Two boxes each of mass 12kg are raised 1.8m to a shelf. The first one is lifted and the second is pushed up a smooth ramp. If the applied force on the second box is 48N, calculate the angle between the ramp and the ground.
Homework Equations
W = Eg = mgh for first (lifted) box
Trig to calculate angle
The Attempt at a Solution
I first calculated the gravitational energy on the first box that is lifted:
Eg = (12kg)(9.8m/s^2)(1.8m) = 211.7N
Then, knowing that, used trig to calculate the angle between ramp and ground:
Sin (theta) = opposite (211.7N)/hypoteneuse(48N)
and, naturally, this does not compute, so where did I go wrong?