Does the book hold on the wall?

A book of mass M M is pressed against the wall by an external force F \vec F , which according to the sketch is inclined downwards by an angle of 30 degrees. The coefficient of friction between the book and the wall is μ = 0.5 \mu = 0.5 .

Does the book hold on the wall?

Cannot be determined Yes No

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2 solutions

Laszlo Mihaly
Mar 21, 2018

Let us first look at what happens if the weight is zero, F g = 0 F_g=0 . The normal force (that pushes the book to the wall) is N = F cos 30 = 0.866 F N=F \cos 30= 0.866 F . The friction force F f μ N = ( 0.5 ) ( 0.866 ) F = 0.433 F F_f \le \mu N= (0.5)(0.866) F= 0.433 F has to balance the force parallel to the wall, F sin 30 = 0.5 F F \sin 30 =0.5 F . Since the maximum value of the friction force is 0.433 F 0.433F , there is no way to have stable equilibrium. Adding the weight destroys the stabilty even more.

Markus Michelmann
Mar 21, 2018

The force F can be divided into tangential and normal components: F = F + F = F sin ( 3 0 ) e z + F cos ( 3 0 ) e x \vec F = \vec F_\parallel + \vec F_\perp = - F \sin(30^\circ) \vec e_z + F \cos(30^\circ) \vec e_x The normal component of the force determines the maximal frictional force: F f μ F F_f \leq \mu |\vec F_\perp| Together with gravitation, a net force results in the vertical direction to ( F g + F + F f ) e z M g F sin ( 3 0 ) + μ F cos ( 3 0 ) = M g 1 2 F + 1 2 3 2 F = M g 2 3 4 F < 0 \begin{aligned} (\vec F_g + \vec F + \vec F_f) \cdot \vec e_z &\leq - M g - F \sin(30^\circ) + \mu F \cos(30^\circ) \\ &= - M g - \frac{1}{2} F + \frac{1}{2} \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} F \\ &= - M g - \frac{2 - \sqrt{3}}{4} F\\ &< 0 \end{aligned} Since the total force is always negative, the book fall towards regardless of the strength of the force F \vec F .

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