Final answer:
To find the normal force acting on the sled, resolve the tension force in the rope into its vertical and horizontal components. Then, calculate the weight of the sled and subtract the vertical component of the tension force to find the normal force.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the normal force acting on the sled, we need to analyze the forces acting on it. The normal force is the perpendicular force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object. In this case, it counteracts the force of gravity.
First, resolve the tension force in the rope into its vertical and horizontal components. The vertical component of the tension force cancels out the vertical component of the weight of the sled, leaving only the horizontal component to accelerate the sled. Next, find the weight of the sled using its mass and the acceleration due to gravity. Finally, the normal force is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the vertical component of the weight of the sled.
In this case, the angle of the rope is 15 degrees. The tension in the rope is 122 N. The mass of the sled is 80 kg.
Step 1: Resolve the tension force into vertical and horizontal components.
Tension vertical = Tension * sin(angle) = 122 N * sin(15 degrees)
Tension horizontal = Tension * cos(angle) = 122 N * cos(15 degrees)
Step 2: Calculate the weight of the sled.
Weight = mass * acceleration due to gravity = 80 kg * 9.8 m/s²
Step 3: Find the normal force.
Normal force = Weight vertical - Tension vertical
Plug in the given values to calculate the normal force.