Physics - Homework 6

Zenohm
November 28, 2018

1 Introduction
Fa

30◦

We are given a figure of a 20 newton block on an incline of 30◦ . Horizontal to the X-axis, there
is a 10 newton force being applied to the block.
Goal
Determine the force the ramp exerts on the block, and identify where that force is applied
to the block.

2 Physical Concepts
2.1 Force
Allows us to observe and predict the motion in different directions.

2.2 Torque
Allows us to determine where the forces must be acting on the block in order to produce the
rotation we observe. (In this case, that’s 0)

2.3 Newton’s Third Law

This law allows us to deduce the relationships between the applied forces and the resulting opposing
forces.

2.4 Static Equilibrium

Allows us to easily calculate the magnitudes and directions of the different force vectors.

3 Representation of the Situation

3.1 Assumptions
1. The object is in static equilibrium because it does not appear to be moving. This allows the
sum of the forces to equal 0.
2. The sum of the torques in this scenario is equal to 0 because the object is not rotating.
3. The gravitational force is assumed to be constant because the minor variation in the calcu-
lations that would be measured by taking the distance between the center of the object and
the center of the Earth into account is minuscule, and wouldn’t be visible after any kind of
estimation.
4. I’ve assumed we’re on Earth. If we were on Mars it’d be a bad time.

1
3.2 Free body diagram

Fa : Force of Agent on Block

+y Fn : Normal force of Ramp on Block
Ff : Frictional force b/w Ramp and Block
Fg : Force of Earth on Block

Fn
Ff

Fa
+x
Fa

30◦
Fg

3.3 Rotated free body diagram

In order to make the calculations convenient, I rotate the coordinate system by 30◦ clockwise.

+y
Fa : Force of Agent on Block
Fn : Normal force of Ramp on Block
Fn Ff : Frictional force b/w Ramp and Block
Fg : Force of Earth on Block

Ff
+x

Fa
◦
Fg 30

3.4 Torque free body diagram

+y

Reference point Fa : Force of Agent on Block

Fn : Normal force of Ramp on Block
Fay Ff : Frictional force b/w Ramp and Block
Fg : Force of Earth on Block
Fn x: Distance between reference point and normal force

Fax L
x
−x h
Fgx
Ff

Fg y

2
4 Mathematics
4.1 Sum of forces
X
F~ = F~n + F~a + F~f + F~w =0
= Fn (ŷ) + Fa sin(30◦ )(−ŷ) + Fw cos(30◦ )(−ŷ) + Ff (−x̂) + Fa cos(30◦ )(−x̂) + Fw sin(30◦ )(x̂) = 0
√ ! √ !
Fa Fw 3 Fw Fa 3
= Fn − − ŷ + − Ff − x̂ =0
2 2 2 2
√
Fa + Fw 3
=⇒ Fn =
√2
Fa 3 − Fw
=⇒ Ff =
2

4.2 Force between ramp and block

F~c = F~n + F~f = Force between ramp and block.

Fc2 = Fn2 + Ff2
Fa2 + 3Fw2 3F 2 − Fw2
= + a
4 4
2
F
= Fa2 + w
2√
2
= Fa + Fw
2

4.3 Sum of torques

0
*0 τ 
X
~τ = ~τFn + 
~τF
ax + ~

Fay + ~
> τF + ~τF + ~τF

f wx wy =0

h L
= xFn (ẑ) + hFf (ẑ) + Fwx (−ẑ) + Fwy (−ẑ) =0
 2  2
h L
= xFn + hFf − Fwx − Fwy ẑ =0
2 2
−hFf + h2 Fwx + L2 Fwy
=⇒ x =
Fn
√ √
− 2 (Fa 3 − Fw ) + h4 Fw + L 4 3 Fw
h
=
Fn
√ √
− 2 (Fa 3 − 2 Fw ) + L 4 3 Fw
h 3
=
Fn
Fw 3
√ √
L 2 − h(Fa 3 − 32 Fw )
= √
Fa + Fw 3
√ √
Fw 3 (Fa 2 3 − 3Fw )
=L √ −h √
2(Fa + Fw 3) 2(Fa + Fw 3)

3
5 Conclusion
5.1 Force between ramp and block
By plugging in the values for Fa and Fw , we see that the force between the ramp and the block is
approximately 24.14215 newtons.

5.2 Where that force is being exerted

By plugging in the values for Fa and Fw , we see that the distance between the point of reference
and the normal force behaves according to the following function in terms of L and h.
√ √
3 ( 3 − 3)
x=L √ −h √
1+2 3 1+2 3
The resulting value, once the length and height of the box are provided, will be in the same
units as those provided values. This equation could be simplified if certain assumptions are made
as the the values of L and h (E.g they are equal), and it is clear that based on this formula that
as the height increases, the location that the normal force is applied at travels in the positive x
direction at a rate proportional to the increase in height. It is also clear that (x < 0) ∧ (x > L)
are possibilities of this equation, at which points, the torque would become non-zero and the block
would begin to tip.