Sprinter resultant force question

[Molly1235]

Question:

Just after the gun a sprinter of mass 65kg is pushing against the starting block with a force of 800N. The force acts at an angle of 65 degrees to the horizontal.

Calculate:
- the resultant horizontal force acting on her
- the resultant vertical force acting on her
- the forward acceleration of her centre of gravity
- the upward acceleration of her centre of gravity

My attempt:

I'm guessing the resultant horizontal force is 0, as the starting block would exert an equal force on the runner?

Then resultant vertical force would be mass x gravity (65 x 9.8 = 637N).

But I don't know how to attempt the other two questions??

 

[Tanya Sharma]

My attempt:

I'm guessing the resultant horizontal force is 0, as the starting block would exert an equal force on the runner?

Why are you guessing ? If the sprinter exerts a force on the block ,the block exerts an equal and opposite force on the sprinter (Newtons 3rd law) .The two forces are acting on different bodies,so they do not cancel.You should be concerned only with forces acting on sprinter alone.

Draw a FBD of the sprinter with all the forces acting on him .What is the net horizontal force on him ?What is the net vertical force on him ?

 

[Molly1235]

Why are you guessing ? If the sprinter exerts a force on the block ,the block exerts an equal and opposite force on the sprinter (Newtons 3rd law) .The two forces are acting on different bodies,so they do not cancel.You should be concerned only with forces acting on sprinter alone.

Draw a FBD of the sprinter with all the forces acting on him .What is the net horizontal force on him ?What is the net vertical force on him ?

So if the forces don't cancel out would the horizontal resultant just be 800N then??

 

[Tanya Sharma]

So if the forces don't cancel out would the horizontal resultant just be 800N then??

Is the force acting horizontally ?

 

[Molly1235]

Is the force acting horizontally ?

No, it's at a 65 degree angle...so would you use trig to figure out the components?

 

[Tanya Sharma]

No, it's at a 65 degree angle...so would you use trig to figure out the components?

Yes...

 

[Molly1235]

Yes...

Aaah thank you! Think I've got it now!

 

[Tanya Sharma]

What are the answers you are getting ?

 

[Molly1235]

What are the answers you are getting ?

I'm getting horizontal as 338.1N and vertical as 725.04N, however this could be wrong because I never know where to put the angle on the diagram...

 

[Tanya Sharma]

I'm getting horizontal as 338.1N and vertical as 725.04N, however this could be wrong because I never know where to put the angle on the diagram...

Look at the figure I have attached.

If a force F acts at an angle θ with the horizontal .

1) What is the horizontal component of the force?
2) What is the vertical component of the force ?

 

[Molly1235]

Look at the figure I have attached.

If a force F acts at an angle θ with the horizontal .

1) What is the horizontal component of the force?
2) What is the vertical component of the force ?

Horizontal would be the one touching the 65 degree angle wouldn't it? I calculated the horizontal to be cos65 x 800 and the vertical to be sin65 x 800..

 

[Tanya Sharma]

Yes...Horizontal component would be Fcosθ and vertical component Fsinθ .

So,the net horizontal force on the sprinter would be Fcosθ (800cos65).

The vertical force on the sprinter by the block would be Fsinθ .But what will be the net vertical force on the sprinter ?

 

[Molly1235]

Yes...Horizontal component would be Fcosθ and vertical component Fsinθ .

So,the net horizontal force on the sprinter would be Fcosθ (800cos65).

The vertical force on the sprinter by the block would be Fsinθ .But what will be the net vertical force on the sprinter ?

Would you take away the force of gravity to get the net vertical force? Vertical force downwards would be 9.8 x 65 = 637.
725-637 = 68N would be the net vertical force?

 

[Molly1235]

Sorry that was meant to be 88 not 68!

 

[Tanya Sharma]

The vertical forces acting on the sprinter would be Normal force from the ground(N) acting upwards, force due to gravity (mg) acting downwards , and component of force by block in vertical direction(800 sin65) upwards.

Is the body accelerating in the vertical direction ?

 

[Molly1235]

The vertical forces acting on the sprinter would be Normal force from the ground(N) acting upwards, force due to gravity (mg) acting downwards , and component of force by block in vertical direction(800 sin65) upwards.

Is the body accelerating in the vertical direction ?

Yes, I would say it is accelerating? As there is a larger force acting upwards than downwards?

 

[Tanya Sharma]

Yes, I would say it is accelerating? As there is a larger force acting upwards than downwards?

Are you sure ?

 

[Molly1235]

Are you sure ?

Haha, not now! I'm so confused?!

 

[Molly1235]

They must be accelerating though, as the second part of the question asks what her upward acceleration is...

 

[Tanya Sharma]

Well..The sprinter accelerates only in the horizontal direction .

The net vertical force is zero .The sum of all the forces in vertical direction will add up to zero.

 

[Molly1235]

I thought that the normal force from the ground and the force of gravity would be equal, and then you have the upward component of the force from the block?

 

[Tanya Sharma]

I thought that the normal force from the ground and the force of gravity would be equal, and then you have the upward component of the force from the block?

Why do you think like this ?

If the net acceleration in vertical direction is zero,then the net force in vertical direction has to be zero .

Consider positive direction upwards .

N + Fcosθ -mg =0

 

[Chestermiller]

The vertical forces acting on the sprinter would be Normal force from the ground(N) acting upwards, force due to gravity (mg) acting downwards , and component of force by block in vertical direction(800 sin65) upwards.

Is the body accelerating in the vertical direction ?

Tanya,
Isn't the Normal force from the ground acting upwards the same thing as the component of force by the block in the vertical direction? In the starting block designs that I am familiar with, the sprinter's feet are pressing entirely on the blocks.

chet

 

[Tanya Sharma]

Tanya,
Isn't the Normal force from the ground acting upwards the same thing as the component of force by the block in the vertical direction? In the starting block designs that I am familiar with, the sprinter's feet are pressing entirely on the blocks.

chet

Hi Chet

I think you are right.Thanks for correcting