Friction Lab #2

Question

A two kg mass sitting on a table with coefficient of friction = 0.8 is pulled by a string so that it accelerates at 3.2 m/s². Find the tension in the string.

Answer 1

The force of gravity on the mass is m * g. This is the weight, and is the force exerted on the table

(g is the gravitational acceleration, 9.8 m/sec²)

Next, the friction force is the coefficient of friction time the weight.

The tension in the string is the sum of the friction force and the force that is causing the acceleration. Get the latter from F = m*a.