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Use the diagram and information below to answer the following question. Assume all surfaces are frictionless. Jason pushes a 10 kg box to the right along a straight path. Then he pushes the box up a 15 m long ramp to a height of 5 m. How much power is generated if Jason uses a horizontal force of 20 N to push the box at a velocity of 1.5 m/s over the frictionless surface?

User Brilliand
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Final answer:

Jason generates 30 watts of power by pushing a 10 kg box with a 20 N force at a velocity of 1.5 m/s, since the work done per second is 30 joules and power is work per unit time.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the power generated by Jason as he pushes the box, we must use the formula for power: Power (P) = Work done (W) / Time (t). Work done is calculated as the force applied multiplied by the distance moved in the direction of the force. Since the surface is frictionless, the work done by Jason is equal to the horizontal force multiplied by the distance moved in the direction of the force over the given time.

Jason is pushing the box with a 20 N horizontal force, and the box is moving at a constant velocity of 1.5 m/s, indicating that the net work done on the box is continuously applied (no acceleration). Given that velocity (v) = distance/time, we can calculate the distance (d) Jason pushes the box in one second as: d = v * t = 1.5 m/s * 1 s = 1.5 m. Hence the work done per second is: W = F * d = 20 N * 1.5 m = 30 J.

The power Jason generates is therefore 30 J/s, because power is work done per unit time and we've calculated the work done in one second. Since one watt (W) is equivalent to one joule per second, Jason's power output is 30 watts.

User YAtOff
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