General Question

derfsetag's avatar

Formula to calculate the effort needed to pull a weight on two wheels up an incline?

Asked by derfsetag (4points) August 24th, 2007

Assume no friction and incline surface is smooth. Knowing the % or degree of incline, how can one determine the pounds of force needed to hold or pull a given weight up a slope with the load on two wheels of known diameter? USE: letting a boat down a ramp to a lake, need for pulleys or winches, wheel stops, number of helpers, use of vehicle, or other aids. Searches in areas of education, science, Newton, physics, wheels, tools, inclines, levers and wheel sellers fails to find any response other than general dialogue without means to calculate this common activity.

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5 Answers

Hawaiiguy's avatar
isn't the formula the same as escape velocity?
Hawaiiguy (316points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
Perchik's avatar

I know this was a common problem in high school physics. Sadly my memory is long gone.

Here’s my thoughts though:

I’m not sure the wheels are an issue.
Which direction is the force coming from?
If you can find the component right word? force in the horizontal direction, couldn’t you use some form of trigonometry to find the force in the slope direction ?
Horiz force/ cos( angle) =slope force?

Don’t take any of this as scientific fact, these are just my thoughts.

Perchik (5007points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
Perchik's avatar

[if you are actually looking at pulling a boat out of the water…we usually can do it with a truck and a person or so to help guide the boat/rope. But that depends on the size of the boat]

Perchik (5007points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
Hawaiiguy's avatar

check out machine head software uk power calculations, can’t copy and paste link but its similar to what your inquiry is

Hawaiiguy (316points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
mvgolden's avatar

Force = Weight / cos (theta)

That would give you the force needed to hold the boat in place were theta is the angle of the angle of the slope below horizontal.

The wheels do not play a part in the force needed to hold it there

I think, but then again it is late and I am sleepy

mvgolden (824points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…

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