Final answer:
To determine the force f required to drag the suitcase, we use equilibrium conditions and calculate the horizontal component of the applied force, which must balance the frictional force caused by the kinetic friction coefficient and normal force.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the force f with which you drag the suitcase, we need to use the principles of physics that apply to bodies in equilibrium, specifically, Newton's laws of motion and the concept of friction. Since the suitcase is moving with constant velocity, the net force acting on it is zero (Newton's first law). The only forces acting in the horizontal direction are the horizontal component of the applied force and the frictional force.
First, we'll find the horizontal component of the applied force, which is f cos(38.1 degrees). The frictional force is given by the product of the kinetic coefficient of friction (0.44) and the normal force. The normal force is the suitcase's weight minus the vertical component of the applied force, i.e., (6.5 kg × 9.8 m/s²) - f sin(38.1 degrees).
Setting the horizontal component of the applied force equal to the frictional force (since the net force is zero), we get:
f cos(38.1 degrees) = 0.44 × [(6.5 kg × 9.8 m/s²) - f sin(38.1 degrees)].
We can then solve this equation for f, yielding f = (0.44 × 6.5 kg × 9.8 m/s²) / (cos(38.1 degrees) + 0.44 sin(38.1 degrees)).