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A truck weighing 8000 kg is parked on a 15-degree slope. What force, parallel to the slope, acts on the truck due to gravity?

A) 20,000 N
B) 20,000 √3 N
C) 20,000 √2 N
D) 20,000 sin(15°) N

User Woodly
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The correct answer is D) 20,000 sin(15°) N.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves calculating the component of the gravitational force acting parallel to the slope on which the truck is parked. The force due to gravity acts vertically downward with a magnitude equal to the weight of the truck. The component of this force along the slope is what causes an object to slide down a slope without friction.

To find the gravitational force parallel to the slope, we use the formula:

F parallel = m × g × sin(θ)

where m is the mass of the truck, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and θ is the angle of the slope.

  • Mass of the truck, m = 8000 kg,
  • Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m/s²,
  • Angle of the slope, θ = 15°.

The gravitational force acting parallel to the slope is:

F parallel = 8000 kg × 9.8 m/s² × sin(15°) = 20,494 N ≈ 20,000 sin(15°) N

Therefore, the correct answer is D) 20,000 sin(15°) N.

User Mittchel
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