A hamster of mass m is placed on a massless wedge whose upper frictionless surfa

Question

A hamster of mass m is placed on a massless wedge whose upper frictionless surface is angled at theta with respect to the horizontal. Its lower surface has enough friction so that the wedge does not slip with respect to the scale which measures the weight of the hamster. a)What reading will the scale give in terms of m, g, and theta. b)Suppose instead that the upper surface has a non-zero coefficient of kinetic friction k ,and that the hamster is placed on it already moving down the incline. Now what weight will the scale read in terms of m, g, theta and k

Explanation / Answer

a) The force F needed to overcome friction and set a body of weight W in motion on a flat surface is given by F = sW

mgSinTheta = s*W

So, W = m*g*Sin(Theta)/s

b) Once the body is in motion, the force needed to keep it in motion is F = kW.

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