Answer:
a)
Explanation:
- A block sliding down an inclined plane, is subject to two external forces along the slide.
- One is the component of gravity (the weight) parallel to the incline.
- If the inclined plane makes an angle θ with the horizontal, this component (projection of the downward gravity along the incline, can be written as follows:
(taking as positive the direction of the movement of the block)
- The other force, is the friction force, that adopts any value needed to meet the Newton's 2nd Law.
- When θ is so large, than the block moves downward along the incline, the friction force can be expressed as follows:
- The normal force, adopts the value needed to prevent any vertical movement through the surface of the incline:
- In equilibrium, both forces, as defined in (1), (2) and (3) must be equal in magnitude, as follows:
- As the block is moving, if the net force is 0, according to Newton's 2nd Law, the block must be moving at constant speed.
- In this condition, the friction coefficient is the kinetic one (μk), which can be calculated as follows:
