Question

A rock climber of mass 55 kg is hanging suspended from a rope tied to another climber of mass 65 kg on a horizontal cliff ledge. If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the climber on the ledge and the ledge is 0.45, what is the net acceleration of the climber on the ledge?

Answer 1

65 * 9.81 * .45 = 287 N friction

hanging climber weight = force down = 55 * 9.81 = 539.6 N

net force = 539.6 - 287 = 253 N

total mass being accelerated = 55+65 = 120 Kg

a = F/m = 253/120 = 2.11 m/s^2