How do I accurately calculate work done against friction?

In summary: Because the work done by a force is just ##W=\vec F\cdot\vec s##, where ##\vec s## is the displacement.
  • #1
Elara04
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Homework Statement
An object on an inclined plane of weight W=20kN is acted on by a force of 10.1 kN parallel to an inclined plane. The object travels up the slope at a constant speed and travels over a distance s = 37 m, also gaining h = 9 m in height.
How much work is done against friction (i.e. energy dissipated as heat)? Give your
answer in kilo-joules (kJ)
Relevant Equations
𝑊 = 𝐹 ∙ ∆ 𝑠 = 𝐹 ∥ ∆ 𝑠
I'm unsure on where to begin with this question, i've tried many different formulas that aren't giving me the right answer. I believe to start I need to convert the kilo newtons to newtons.
I tried w = fs + mgh
w = 10500 x 8.9/sin(13.9)+(1845.69 x 9.8 x8.9) = 549986.46 J
and then convert to kilo joules = 549.99 kJ

But this isn't correct
any help would be appreciated
 
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  • #2
Elara04 said:
w = 10500 x 8.9/sin(13.9)+(1845.69 x 9.8 x8.9) = 549986.46 J
Please explain all the parts of that.
Where do 10500, 1845.69 and 8.9 come from?
Why are you dividing by sin(13.9°)?

Your work would be much easier to follow if you were to refrain from plugging in numbers straight away. There are many benefits in working symbolically as far as possible.
 
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  • #3
haruspex said:
Please explain all the parts of that.
Where do 10500, 1845.69 and 8.9 come from?
Why are you dividing by sin(13.9°)?

Your work would be much easier to follow if you were to refrain from plugging in numbers straight away. There are many benefits in working symbolically as far as possible.
Sorry, 10500 is force in newtons instead of kilonewtons, 8.9m is the height, 13.9 is theta. I was using w = F x H / sin theta + mgh, although i'm not entirely certain whether that equation is correct
 

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  • #4
Elara04 said:
10500 is force in newtons instead of kilonewtons
It says 10.1kN
Elara04 said:
8.9m
It says 9m
Elara04 said:
w = F x H / sin theta
Why H / sin theta when you are given s?
But your big problem there is being clear about what force F is.
What forces act on the object?
 
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  • #5
What are the forces acting on the mass in the direction parallel to the slope? Please name them from your free-body diagram. What direction are they pointing (upslope or downslope)?
 
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  • #6
The work dissipated by friction has nothing to do with the weight of the body or any other forces. You just need the force, the displacement and the angle between them.
 
  • #7
The work done against friction sometimes goes by the name "the work done by friction". So find the force of kinetic friction, find the cosine of the angle between it and the displacement and multiply the three quantities.
 
  • #8
Elara04 said:
Hey, so the formula would be w=fd cos theta, but after using that formula I need to find the work done against friction and im not entirely sure how to do that
Please try to answer my questions in post #4.
What forces act on the object?
Which of them is f in your w = fs + mgh in post #1?
 
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  • #9
kuruman said:
The work done against friction sometimes goes by the name "the work done by friction". So find the force of kinetic friction, find the cosine of the angle between it and the displacement and multiply the three quantities.
Only true for constant velocity?
 
  • #10
String theory guy said:
Only true for constant velocity?
No, it doesn’t depend on time in any way.
 
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  • #11
haruspex said:
No, it doesn’t depend on time in any way.
Sorry, why?
 
  • #12
String theory guy said:
Sorry, why?
Because the work done by a force is just ##W=\vec F\cdot\vec s##, where ##\vec s## is the displacement.
Time, velocity, acceleration do not appear in the formula.
 
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FAQ: How do I accurately calculate work done against friction?

What is the formula for calculating work done against friction?

The formula for calculating work done against friction is: Work = Friction Force × Distance × cos(θ), where θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion. For most practical purposes, θ is 0 degrees, making the formula Work = Friction Force × Distance.

How do I determine the friction force?

The friction force can be determined using the formula: Friction Force = Coefficient of Friction × Normal Force. The coefficient of friction is a dimensionless value that depends on the materials in contact, and the normal force is the perpendicular force exerted by the surface on the object.

What is the coefficient of friction and how do I find it?

The coefficient of friction is a measure of how much frictional force exists between two surfaces. It can be found experimentally by measuring the forces involved or looked up in reference tables for common material pairs. There are two types: static (for objects at rest) and kinetic (for objects in motion).

How do I calculate the normal force?

The normal force is generally equal to the weight of the object if it is on a horizontal surface and there are no additional vertical forces. It can be calculated using the formula: Normal Force = Mass × Gravitational Acceleration (9.8 m/s² on Earth).

How do I account for varying angles in the work done calculation?

When the force is applied at an angle, the work done against friction can be calculated using the component of the force parallel to the direction of motion. The formula becomes: Work = Friction Force × Distance × cos(θ), where θ is the angle between the applied force and the direction of motion.

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