Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 4 - Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion - Problems - Page 116: 67

Answer

The bicyclist has to apply a force of $405.8N$ to climb the hill.

Work Step by Step

1) The bicyclist goes downhill As shown in image a) below, the force $m\vec{g}\sin\theta$ causes the bicyclist to be able to go downhill. However, this motion is opposed by air resistance force $\vec{R}$. Since the bicyclist is in constant velocity, these 2 forces cancel each other out. $$R=mg\sin\theta=80\times9.8\times\sin15=202.9N$$ 2) The bicyclist goes uphill To be able to go uphill, the bicyclist has to apply a force $\vec{F}$ directed uphill. This force is opposed by both the weight of the bicyclist $m\vec{g}\sin\theta$ and air resistance $\vec{R}$. As the bicyclist remains at the same constant speed, again we have $$F=mg\sin\theta+R=2\times202.9=405.8N$$
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