Question

A 50-kg man is driving his snowmobile at a constant speed. The engine applies a force of 360 N and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the snowmobile and the snow is 0.2. What is the mass of the snowmobile?

Answer 1

134 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

The snowmobile is moving at constant speed, so the acceleration is 0.

Sum of the forces in the x direction:

∑F = ma

F − 360 = 0

F = 360

Friction force equals the normal force times the coefficient of friction:

Nμ = 360

On level ground, the normal force equals the combined weight:

(m + 50)g μ = 360

m + 50 = 360 / (gμ)

m = -50 + 360 / (gμ)

m = -50 + 360 / (9.8 × 0.2)

m ≈ 134 kg

Round as needed.