Solution of HW4

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9. REASONING AND SOLUTION The magnitude of the gravitational force between
any two of the particles is given by Newton's law of universal
gravitation: F = Gm1 m2 / r 2 where m1 and m2 are the masses of the particles and r
is the distance between them. Since the particles have equal masses, we can arrange
the particles so that each one experiences a net gravitational force that has the same
magnitude if we arrange the particles so that the distance between any two of the
particles is the same. Therefore, the particles should be placed at the corners of an
equilateral triangle with all three sides of equal length.
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15. REASONING AND SOLUTION If the elevator were at rest, or moving with a
constant velocity, the scale would read the true weight of mg = 98 N. When the
elevator is accelerating, the scale reading will differ from 98 N and will display the
apparent weight, FN, which is given by Equation 4.6: FN = mg + ma where a, the
acceleration of the elevator, is positive when the elevator accelerates upward and
negative when the elevator accelerates downward.

a. When the apparent weight is FN = 75 N, the apparent weight is less than the true
weight (mg = 98 N) so a must be negative. The elevator is accelerating downward.

b. When the apparent weight is FN = 120 N, the apparent weight is greater than the
true weight (mg = 98 N) so a must be positive. The elevator is accelerating upward.
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18. REASONING AND SOLUTION Since the sled moves with constant velocity, the
force of kinetic friction is present. The magnitude of this force is given by µ k FN ,
where µ k is the coefficient of kinetic friction and FN is the magnitude of the normal
force that acts on the sled. Furthermore, the horizontal component of the applied
force must be equal in magnitude to the force of kinetic friction, since there is no
acceleration.
When the person pulls on the sled, the vertical component of the pulling force
tends to decrease the magnitude of the normal force relative to that when the sled is
not being pulled or pushed. On the other hand, when the person pushes on the sled,
the vertical component of the pushing force tends to increase the normal force
relative to that when the sled is not being pulled or pushed. Therefore, when the
sled is pulled, the magnitude of the force of kinetic friction, and therefore the
magnitude of the applied force, is less than when the sled is pushed.
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26. REASONING AND SOLUTION There are three forces that act on the ring as
shown in the figure below. The weight of the block, which acts downward, and two
forces of tension that act along the rope away from the ring. Since the ring is at rest,
the net force on the ring is zero. The weight of the block is balanced by the vertical
components of the tension in the rope. Clearly, the rope can never be made
 horizontal, for then there would be no vertical components of the tension forces to
balance the weight of the block.

T T

23. SSM REASONING AND SOLUTION

a. Combining Equations 4.4 and 4.5, we see that the acceleration due to gravity
on the surface of Saturn can be calculated as follows:

M Saturn (5.67 × 10 26 kg ) =
g Saturn = G 2
rSaturn
(
= 6.67 × 10 –11 2
N ⋅ m /kg 2
)(6.00 × 10 7 m) 2 10.5 m/s 2

b. The ratio of the person’s weight on Saturn to that on earth is

WSaturn mgSaturn gSaturn 10.5 m/s 2

= = = = 1.07
Wearth mg earth g earth 9.80 m/s 2

36. REASONING AND SOLUTION

a. The apparent weight of the person is

FN = mg + ma

= (95.0 kg)(9.80 m/s2 + 1.80 m/s2) = 1.10 X 103 N

b. FN = (95.0 kg)(9.80 m/s2) = 931 N

c. FN = (95.0 kg)(9.80 m/s2 – 1.30 m/s2) = 808 N

41. REASONING In each of the three cases under consideration the kinetic frictional
force is given by fk = µkFN. However, the normal force FN varies from case to case. To
determine the normal force, we use Equation 4.6 (FN = mg + ma) and thereby take into
account the acceleration of the elevator. The normal force is greatest when the elevator
accelerates upward (a positive) and smallest when the elevator accelerates downward (a
negative).
 SOLUTION
a. When the elevator is stationary, its acceleration is a = 0 m/s2. Using
Equation 4.6, we can express the kinetic frictional force as

f k = µ k FN = µ k (mg + ma) = µ k m (g + a )

[( ) (
= ( 0.360 )(6.00 kg ) 9.80 m/s 2 + 0 m/s 2 )]= 21.2 N

b. When the elevator accelerates upward, a = +1.20 m/s2. Then,

f k = µ k FN = µ k (mg + ma) = µ k m (g + a )

[( ) (
= ( 0.360 )(6.00 kg ) 9.80 m/s 2 + 1.20 m/s 2 )]= 23.8 N

c. When the elevator accelerates downward, a = –1.20 m/s2. Then,

f k = µ k FN = µ k (mg + ma) = µ k m (g + a )

[( ) (
= ( 0.360 )(6.00 kg ) 9.80 m/s 2 + –1.20 m/s 2 )]= 18.6 N

51. REASONING The book is kept from falling as long as the total static frictional
force balances the weight of the book. The forces that act on the book are shown in the
following free-body diagram, where P is the pressing force applied by each hand.

fsMAX fsMAX

P P

In this diagram, note that there are two pressing forces, one from each hand. Each
hand also applies a static frictional force, and, therefore, two static frictional forces are
shown. The maximum static frictional force is related in the usual way to a normal force
FN, but in this problem the normal force is provided by the pressing force, so that FN = P.

SOLUTION Since the frictional forces balance the weight, we have

2 f sMAX = 2 (µ s FN )= 2 (µ s P ) = W

Solving for P, we find that

54. REASONING The free-body diagram in the drawing at FN
the right shows the forces that act on the clown (weight = W). P
In this drawing, note that P denotes the pulling force. Since the
rope passes around three pulleys, forces of magnitude P are P fsMAX
applied both to the clown’s hands and his feet. The normal
force due to the floor is FN , and the maximum static frictional
force is fsMAX. At the instant just before the clown’s feet move,
W
the net vertical and net horizontal forces are zero, according to
Newton’s second law, since there is no acceleration at this
instant.

SOLUTION According to Newton’s second law, with upward and to the right
chosen as the positive directions, we have

FN + P – W = 0 and f sMAX – P = 0
Vertical forces Horizontal forces

From the horizontal-force equation we find P = fsMAX. But fsMAX = µsFN . From
the vertical-force equation, the normal force is FN = W – P . With these substitutions, it
follows that
P = f sMAX = µ s FN = µ s ( W – P )
Solving for P gives
µs W (0.53 )(890 N )
P= = = 310 N
1+ µ s 1 + 0.53
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58. REASONING AND SOLUTION Let the tension in wire 1 be T1 and the tension
in wire 2 be T2. The sum of the vertical forces acting on the point where the wires join
must be zero.

T1 sin 43.0° + T2 sin 55.0° – mg = 0 (1)

Similarly, the horizontal forces must add to zero so

– T1 cos 43.0° + T2 cos 55.0° = 0 (2)

Solving Equation (2) for T1, substituting into Equation (1), and rearranging yields

T2 = 317 N
 Using this result in Equation (2) gives T1 = 249 N
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67. REASONING AND SOLUTION

Newton's second law applied to block 1
(422 N) gives Object 1 Object 2

N1 T
T = m1a1
T
Similarly, for block 2 (185 N)
W1
T – m2g = m2a2 W
2

If the string is not to break or go

slack, both blocks must have
accelerations of the same magnitude.

Then a1 = a and a2 = –a. The above equations become

T = m1a (1)
T – m2g = – m2a (2)

a. Substituting Equation (1) into Equation (2) and solving for a yields

m2 g
a= = 2.99 m/s 2
m1 + m2

b. Using this value in Equation (1) gives

79. SSM REASONING The box comes to a halt because the kinetic frictional
force and the component of its weight parallel to the incline oppose the motion and cause
the box to slow down. The distance that the box travels up the incline can be can be
2 2
found by solving Equation 2.9 ( v = v0 + 2ax ) for x. Before we use this approach,
however, we must first determine the acceleration of the box as it travels along the
incline.

SOLUTION The figure above shows the free-body diagram for the box. It
shows the resolved components of the forces that act on the box. If we take the direction
up the incline as the positive x direction, then, Newton's second law gives

∑ Fx = –mgsin θ – fk = max or – mgsin θ – µ k FN = max

where we have used Equation 4.8, f k = µk FN . In the y direction we have

 ∑ Fy = FN – mg cos θ = 0 or FN = mg cosθ

since there is no acceleration in the y direction. Therefore, the equation for the
motion in the x direction becomes

–mg sin θ – µk mg cosθ = max or ax = –g(sin θ + µk cosθ )

According to Equation 2.9, with this value for the acceleration and the fact that
v = 0 m/s, the distance that the box slides up the incline is

v2 v02 (1.50 m/s) 2

x=– 0 = = = 0.265 m
2a 2g(sin θ + µk cosθ ) 2(9.80 m/s 2 )[sin 15.0° + (0.180)cos 15.0°]

76. REASONING AND SOLUTION If the +x axis is taken to be parallel to and up

the ramp, then ∑Fx = max gives
T – fk – mg sin 30.0° = max
where fk = µkFN . Hence,
T = max + µkFN + mg sin 30.0°
(1)
Also, ∑Fy = may gives
FN – mg cos 30.0° = 0

since no acceleration occurs in this direction. Then

FN = mg cos 30.0°
(2)

Substitution of Equation (2) into Equation (1) yields

T = max + µkmg cos 30.0° + mg sin 30.0°

T = (205 kg)(0.800 m/s2) + (0.900)(205 kg)(9.80 m/s2)cos 30.0°

+ (205 kg)(9.80 m/s2)sin 30.0° =
2730 N
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