Final answer:
The minimum horizontal force needed to start a 300 kg steel block on steel in motion is 2175.6 N, calculated using the normal force and the coefficient of static friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the minimum horizontal force required to start moving a 300 kilogram steel block on a steel table, we must first determine the normal force exerted by the block. The normal force is simply the weight of the block, which is the product of its mass and the acceleration due to gravity (9.80 m/s2):
N = mg = (300 kg)(9.80 m/s2) = 2940 N
Next, we use the coefficient of static friction between steel on steel, which is typically around 0.74 (though this value can vary and should be given in the problem statement). The maximum force of static friction, which must be overcome to initiate motion, is calculated using:
fs(max) = μs N = (0.74)(2940 N) = 2175.6 N
Therefore, the minimum force needed to start the block moving is 2175.6 N.