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A student holds a physics book in her hands motionless 1.2 meter above the floor

ID: 1425035 • Letter: A

Question

A student holds a physics book in her hands motionless 1.2 meter above the floor as shown to the left. The forces from her hands on the front and the back of the book are perpendicular to the book's cover and are horizontal. The mass of the book is 35 kg. The coefficient of static friction betweent the covers and her hands is s=0.44 and the coefficient of kinetic friction is k=0.32.

1. What is the net force on the book in the x (horizontal) direction?Fx =

2. What is the net force on the book in the y (vertical) direction?Fy =

3.What is minimum normal force that the student can apply from each hand to the cover of the book to keep it from slipping through her hands?

Explanation / Answer

You have not attached the figure but I think I have understood the question without figure

since book is motionless, net force on it must be 0
1.
Net force in x direction,
Fx = 0

2.
Net force in y direction,
Fy = 0

3.
frictional force due to both hand must balance the weight of the book
Let the normal force be N for each hand
then,
f1 + f2 = W
s*N + s*N = m*g
2*s*N = m*g
2*0.44*N = 35*9.8
N = 389.8 N
Answer: 389.8 N