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Problem: A flatbed truck is carrying a heavy crate. The coefficient of static friction between the crate and the bed of the truck is 0.75.What is the maximum rate at which the driver can decelerate and still avoid having the crate slide against the cab of the truck?

FREE Expert Solution

We're asked for the maximum deceleration the truck can have without the box slipping.

We'll follow the usual steps for a forces problem:

1. Draw a free body diagram (FBD)
2. Set up Newton's 2nd Law equations ( Fma )
3. Solve!

We calculate the maximum static friction by using

$\overline{){{\mathbit{f}}}_{{\mathbit{s}}{\mathbf{,}}{\mathbit{m}}{\mathbit{a}}{\mathbit{x}}}{\mathbf{=}}{{\mathbit{\mu }}}_{{\mathbit{s}}}{\mathbit{N}}}$

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Problem Details

A flatbed truck is carrying a heavy crate. The coefficient of static friction between the crate and the bed of the truck is 0.75.

What is the maximum rate at which the driver can decelerate and still avoid having the crate slide against the cab of the truck?