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11 grade physics others

If a pushing force at an angle α with horizontal is applied on a block of mass m placed on a horizontal table and angle of friction is β, then what is the minimum magnitude of force required to move?

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
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1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

To find the minimum magnitude of the force required to move the block, we need to consider the forces acting on the block when a force is applied at an angle.

Given:
Mass of the block = m
Angle of the applied force with horizontal = α
Angle of friction = β (the angle of the frictional force relative to the normal force)
Coefficient of friction = μ (not explicitly given, but it is assumed to be related to the angle of friction)
Approach:
Force Components:

The pushing force has two components:
Horizontal component: F * cos(α)
Vertical component: F * sin(α)
Normal Force: The normal force (N) is the reaction force that balances the vertical forces. The vertical forces acting on the block are:

The weight of the block: mg (acting downward)
The vertical component of the applied force: F * sin(α)
Therefore, the normal force is: N = mg - F * sin(α)

Frictional Force: The frictional force (f) is given by: f = μ * N Since the angle of friction is β, the coefficient of friction (μ) can be written as: μ = tan(β)

Thus, the frictional force becomes: f = tan(β) * N = tan(β) * (mg - F * sin(α))

Condition for Motion: For the block to start moving, the horizontal component of the applied force must overcome the frictional force. This gives the condition: F * cos(α) = f

Substituting the expression for f, we get: F * cos(α) = tan(β) * (mg - F * sin(α))

Solve for F: Rearranging the equation: F * cos(α) + F * tan(β) * sin(α) = tan(β) * mg

Factor out F: F * (cos(α) + tan(β) * sin(α)) = tan(β) * mg

Solving for F: F = (tan(β) * mg) / (cos(α) + tan(β) * sin(α))

Final Answer:
The minimum magnitude of the force required to move the block is:

F = (tan(β) * mg) / (cos(α) + tan(β) * sin(α))