Mechanics: Work, Energy and Power
Work, Energy and Power: Audio Guided Solution
Problem 9:
The ski slopes at Bluebird Mountain make use of tow ropes to transport snowboarders and skiers to the summit of the hill. One of the tow ropes is powered by a 22-kW motor which pulls skiers along an icy incline of 14° at a constant speed. Suppose that 18 skiers with an average mass of 48 kg hold onto the rope and suppose that the motor operates at full power.
a. Determine the cumulative weight of all these skiers.
b. Determine the force required to pull this amount of weight up a 14° incline at a constant speed.
c. Determine the speed at which the skiers will ascend the hill.
Audio Guided Solution
Habits of an Effective Problem Solver
- Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
- Identify the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., vo = 0 m/s; a = 4.2 m/s/s; vf = 22.9 m/s; d = ???.
- Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
- Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
- Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.
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