Question

A person is pushing a heavy cart with a mass of 1750kg up a ramp at a 15 degree incline. If the person can exert a maximum force of 400N, can they push the cart up the ramp?

Answer 1

Concept:
If a person wants to push a cart up the ramp then it will must exert a force more than the weight of the cart.

Mass of cart=m= 1750 Kg
Angle=θ= 15°
Force=F= 400 N

As, we see in the image below the weight is divided into two components. One component of the weight (wcosθ) is balanced by the normal force N.
Now,
the other component of weight is wsinθ=mgsinθ= (1750)(9.8)sin(15)= 4438.75 N which is far more than the force 400 N exerted by the man.
From this we conclude that person cannot push the cart up the ramp if he/she exerts force of 400 N.