How Do You Calculate Acceleration and Speed of a Block on an Incline?

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In summary, the conversation is about a problem involving a block on a tilted plane with a given angle and starting position. The task is to determine the block's acceleration and speed as it slides down the incline, with the given information that friction should be ignored and the coefficient of friction is 0.20. The person also asks for help with part a and provides a diagram and free body diagram. The expert advises using trigonometry to find the component of force acting parallel to the incline, and using algebra to solve for acceleration and speed.
  • #1
DLxX
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I need help with the following problem:

The block shown in fig 4-48 lies on a smooth plane tilted at an angle 22 degrees to the horizontal. (a)Determine the acceleration of the block as it slides down the plane. (b) If the block starts from rest 9.10m up the plane from its base, what will be the block's speed when it reaches the bottom of the incline? I'll attach a paint picture of the diagram I have. I really need help with part a, so if you are strapped for time I would really appreciate it if you could help me with a, I'm pretty sure I could figure out b. Btw it also says Ignore friction and that the coefficient of friction is .20 between the block and the incline plane. In the picture that I have attached I've also drawn what I think the free body diagram for this problem is, please correct it if it is wrong. It says nothing about the mass of the block so I am pretty sure some substituting formulas is going to be done and that's where I am having problems.
 

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  • #2
on your digram use the bit on the left to work out (using trig) what the component of force acts parallel to the incline. So you know the force, find the acceleration :)

Always work in algebra right until the end, the mass will cancel.
 
  • #3
Acceleration down the plane is "gsin22"
to calculate speed at the bottom,
V^2 = U^2 + 2a*s U initial velocity s distance covered
 

FAQ: How Do You Calculate Acceleration and Speed of a Block on an Incline?

What is an incline problem?

An incline problem involves calculating the forces acting on an object on a sloped surface. This is commonly encountered in physics and engineering problems.

How do I solve an incline problem?

To solve an incline problem, you need to break down the forces acting on the object into components parallel and perpendicular to the incline. Then, use trigonometry and Newton's laws of motion to calculate the net force and acceleration of the object.

What factors affect the solution of an incline problem?

The solution of an incline problem is affected by the mass and dimensions of the object, the angle and surface of the incline, and any external forces or friction acting on the object.

What are some common mistakes when solving incline problems?

Some common mistakes when solving incline problems include forgetting to consider all the forces acting on the object, using incorrect trigonometric ratios, and failing to convert units properly.

How can I check if my solution to an incline problem is correct?

You can check your solution by using the equations of motion to calculate the expected values for acceleration, velocity, and displacement of the object. If your calculations match these values, then your solution is likely correct.

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