A 12kg block is pushed 20 m up the sloping surface of a plane inclined at an angle of 37° to the horizontal, by a constant horizontal P of 240 N. The coefficient of friction between the block and plane

0.25

What is the work of the force P?

b What is the work done by the friction force?

What is the work done by gravity?

What is the total work done on the block?

1 answer

To calculate the work done by various forces on the 12-kg block, we need to follow these steps:

Given Data

  • Mass of the block, \( m = 12 , \text{kg} \)
  • Distance moved along the incline, \( d = 20 , \text{m} \)
  • Angle of incline, \( \theta = 37^\circ \)
  • Horizontal force \( P = 240 , \text{N} \)
  • Coefficient of friction \( \mu = 0.25 \)

a. Work done by the force \( P \)

The work done by a force is calculated using the formula:

\[ W = F \cdot d \cdot \cos(\phi) \]

where \( \phi \) is the angle between the force and the direction of motion. Here, since \( P \) is horizontal and the block moves up the incline, we find \( \phi \) as follows:

\[ \phi = 90^\circ - \theta \] \[ \phi = 90^\circ - 37^\circ = 53^\circ \]

Now we can calculate the work done by force \( P \):

\[ W_P = P \cdot d \cdot \cos(53^\circ) = 240 , \text{N} \cdot 20 , \text{m} \cdot \cos(53^\circ) \]

Using \(\cos(53^\circ) \approx 0.6018\):

\[ W_P = 240 \cdot 20 \cdot 0.6018 \approx 2889.12 , \text{J} \]

b. Work done by the friction force

The frictional force \( f \) is calculated as follows:

\[ f = \mu \cdot N \]

Here, \( N \) is the normal force. The normal force on an incline is given by:

\[ N = mg \cos(\theta) \]

First, calculate \( mg \):

\[ mg = 12 , \text{kg} \cdot 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 \approx 117.72 , \text{N} \]

Now calculate the normal force \( N \):

\[ N = 117.72 \cos(37^\circ) \approx 117.72 \cdot 0.7986 \approx 93.83 , \text{N} \]

Now calculate the frictional force \( f \):

\[ f = \mu \cdot N = 0.25 \cdot 93.83 \approx 23.46 , \text{N} \]

The work done by the friction force (which opposes the movement) is:

\[ W_{\text{friction}} = - f \cdot d = -23.46 , \text{N} \cdot 20 , \text{m} \approx -469.2 , \text{J} \]

c. Work done by gravity

The work done by gravity is calculated as follows:

The component of the weight of the block acting along the incline is:

\[ W_{\text{gravity}} = - m g \sin(\theta) \cdot d \]

Calculating \( m g \):

\[ W_{\text{gravity}} = -12 \cdot 9.81 \cdot \sin(37^\circ) \cdot 20 \]

Calculating \( \sin(37^\circ) \approx 0.6018 \):

\[ W_{\text{gravity}} = -12 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 0.6018 \cdot 20 \] \[ W_{\text{gravity}} \approx -12 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 0.6018 \cdot 20 \approx -141.23 , \text{J} \]

d. Total work done on the block

Now we can find the total work done on the block by summing:

\[ W_{\text{total}} = W_P + W_{\text{friction}} + W_{\text{gravity}} \] \[ W_{\text{total}} \approx 2889.12 - 469.2 - 141.23 \] \[ W_{\text{total}} \approx 2278.69 , \text{J} \]

Summary

  1. Work done by the force \( P \): \( \approx 2889.12 , \text{J} \)
  2. Work done by the friction force: \( \approx -469.2 , \text{J} \)
  3. Work done by gravity: \( \approx -141.23 , \text{J} \)
  4. Total work done on the block: \( \approx 2278.69 , \text{J} \)