Question

A cardboard box sits on top of an asphalt driveway. The coefficient of static friction is 0.8 and the coefficient of friction is 0.2. The mass of the box is 6kg and a horizontal force of 8N is applied. What is the gravitational force? What is the frictional force? What is the acceleration?

Answer 1

Given

A cardboard box sits on top of an asphalt driveway.

The coefficient of static friction is

`\mu_s=0.8`

and the coefficient of friction is

`\mu_k=0.2`

. The mass of the box is m=6kg and a horizontal force of F=8N is applied.

To find

The gravitational force

The frictional force

The acceleration

Step-by-step explanation

The gravitational force is

`F=mg=6*9.8=58.8\text{ N}`

The static frictional force is

`f=\mu_smg=0.8*6*9.8=47.04\text{ N}`

Since the static frictional force is greater than the applied force so the body doesnot move. So the acceleration is zero.

However , frictional force is equal to applied force till the frictional force reaches its maximum value.

Thus the frictional force is 9N.

Conclusion

The gravitational force is 58.8 N.

The acceleration is zero.

The frictional force is 9 N.