Day 4 Forces at An Angle

FORCES APPLIED AT AN ANGLE &
INCLINED PLANES
FORCES APPLIED AT AN ANGLE
When forces are applied at angles other than
90o, we need to resolve the force into its
component vectors.
Then, we find the net force in each direction,

write our force equations (Fnet = ma), and
solve.
FORCES AT AN ANGLE – WE DO
Luke Skywalker starts to pull a sled with Princess Leia
across a large ice pond with the force of 100 N at an
angle of 30.0° with the horizontal. Find normal force
and initial acceleration if the weight of sled and
Princess Leia is 800 N and the friction force is 40 N.
What do we do first?
What do we do first?
Draw a free-body diagram.
Now what?
Now what?
Resolve F into
components
What next?
Add the forces in each direction. What should the

forces equal in the horizontal? In the vertical?
Add the forces in each direction. What should the

forces equal in the horizontal? Unbalanced  Fnet = ma
In the vertical? F = 0.
mg = 800 N m = 80 kg F = 100 N Ffr

= 40 N direction:vertical direction :
Horizontal
F cos θ – Ffr = ma F sin θ + Fn - mg = 0
86.6 – 40 = 80 a 50 + Fn = 800
a = 0.58 m/s2 Fn = 750 N
FORCES AT AN ANGLE – YOU DO
1. A box of books weighing 325 N moves with a
constant velocity across the floor when it is pushed
with a force of 425 N exerted downward at an angle
of 35.2 degrees below the horizontal. Find the
coefficient of friction between the box and the floor.
2. Two forces act on a 4.5-kg block resting on a

frictionless surface as shown. What is the
magnitude of the horizontal acceleration of the
block?
1. A box of books weighing 325 N moves with a constant
velocity across the floor when it is pushed with a force of 425
N exerted downward at an angle of 35.2 degrees below the
horizontal. Find the coefficient of friction between the box
and the floor.
Constant velocity means no acceleration, which means that

the forces in ALL directions are balanced.
Ff = 425 cos (35.2) = 361.7 N

F f = μ sF n
Fn = mg + 425 sin (35.2) = 325 N + 425 sin(35.2) Fn =

548.2 N
μs = 0.61
2. Two forces act on a 4.5-kg block resting on a
frictionless surface as shown. What is the magnitude
of the horizontal acceleration of the block?
Resolve into components, Add the forces, then find

Fnet = ma.
3.7 N + 5.9 N cos 43 = Fnet = 8.3 N
a = Fnet / m = 8 .3 N / 4.5 kg = 1.8 m/s2

INCLIN
E
Draw a free-body diagram
for a block accelerating
down a ramp.
FORCES ON AN INCLINED PLANE
Fn
Ffr
Oh no!
a This will be ugly!
We will have to resolve

Fn, Ffr, Fnet, and a into
components!!!
Or … will we?
Fn
y
Ffr
Solution:
Choose a more convenient
x coordinate system!
a
Make x be parallel to incline

and y be perpendicular.
Now, only mg has to be

resolved into components.
Motion and all the other forces

will be in the x or y direction.
The only
force that
we have to Fn
resolve into
components Ffr
is weight a
x
The only Notice that the
force that angle for
we have to resolving mg is Fn
resolve into the same as
components the angle of Ffr
is weight the inclinea
y
x
Resolve vector mg into two components. Now
instead of three forces, we have four forces
Fn
Ffr direction perpendicular to the
incline:
Fnet = ma = 0
Fn = mg cos θ
Fn
Write the Fnet equations
Ffr
direction perpendicular to the
incline:
Fnet = ma = 0
Fn = mg cos θ
force pressing the object into the surface is not full

weight mg, but only part of it,
So the normal force acting on the object is only part

of full weight mg: Fn = mg cos θ
Fn direction parallel to the
Ffr incline:
Fnet = ma
Fnet = Ff – mg sin θ =
ma
The force that causes acceleration downward is only

part of the full force of gravity.
Greater acceleration the steeper the slope.

If the incline = 0, then there is no horizontal
movement due to gravity.
INCLINED PLANE – WE DO
A cute bear, m = 60 kg, is sliding down an iced incline
300. The ice can support up to 550 N. Will bear fall
through the ice?
If the coefficient of the friction is 0.115, what is the
acceleration of the bear?
What’s my strategy??
through the ice?
What’s my strategy??
1) Draw the free-body diagram
2) Choose a coordinate system with x parallel to incline
3) Resolve mg into components
4) Add vectors perpendicular to plane and set Fnet = ma
= 0.
5) Add vectors parallel to plane and set Fnet = ma.
through the ice?
m = 60 kg
θ = 300
= 0.115
g = 10
m/s2
Perpendicular direction: Parallel direction:
Fnet = ma
Fnet = ma mg sin θ – Ffr = ma Ffr = μ Fn
a=0 = 60 N
Fn - mg cos θ = 0 300 – 60 = 60 a
Fn = 520 N < 550 N a = 4 m/s2
INCLINED PLANE – YOU DO
3. A block weighing 15.0 newtons is on a ramp inclined
at 40.0° to the horizontal. A 3.0 Newton force of friction,
Ff , acts on the block as it is pulled up the ramp at
constant velocity with force F, which is parallel to the
ramp.
Find F.
4. A 75 kg box slides down a ramp inclined at 25O with

an acceleration of 3.60 m/s2.
a) Find the coefficient of friction.
b) What acceleration would a 175 kg box have on
this
ramp?
3. A block weighing 15.0 newtons is on a ramp inclined at
40.0° to the horizontal. A 3.0 Newton force of friction, Ff ,
acts on the block as it is pulled up the ramp at constant
velocity with force F, which is parallel to the ramp.
Find F.
Constant velocity = no acceleration. This means that

forces in parallel to the inclined plane are also balanced.
Ff = F
F = 12.6 N
4. A 75 kg box slides down a ramp inclined at 25O with
an acceleration of 3.60 m/s2.
a) Find the coefficient of friction.
b) What acceleration would a 175 kg box have on
this
ramp?
Fnet = mg sin 25 – Ff = ma
Ff = mg sin 25 – ma = 40.6 N
Ff = μs Fn μs = Ff / Fn = 40.6 / mgcos25 = 0.06
a = (mg sin 25 – Ff ) / m = 3.6 m/s2

EXIT TICKET
Using pictures, words, and equations,

describe how to solve an inclined plane
force problem.

Day 4 Forces at An Angle

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FORCES APPLIED AT AN ANGLE &

Then, we find the net force in each direction,

Add the forces in each direction. What should the

Add the forces in each direction. What should the

mg = 800 N m = 80 kg F = 100 N Ffr

2. Two forces act on a 4.5-kg block resting on a

Constant velocity means no acceleration, which means that

Ff = 425 cos (35.2) = 361.7 N

Fn = mg + 425 sin (35.2) = 325 N + 425 sin(35.2) Fn =

Resolve into components, Add the forces, then find

3.7 N + 5.9 N cos 43 = Fnet = 8.3 N

a = Fnet / m = 8 .3 N / 4.5 kg = 1.8 m/s2

We will have to resolve

Make x be parallel to incline

Now, only mg has to be

Motion and all the other forces

force pressing the object into the surface is not full

So the normal force acting on the object is only part

The force that causes acceleration downward is only

Greater acceleration the steeper the slope.

4. A 75 kg box slides down a ramp inclined at 25O with

Constant velocity = no acceleration. This means that

a = (mg sin 25 – Ff ) / m = 3.6 m/s2

Using pictures, words, and equations,

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