Question

New ships are often built on small-angle inclines in
drydock so that when they are completed, they can be slid
down the incline into the water of the harbor or bay. At a particular
drydock, a 58,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) handymax
is being built. (Handymax is a naval architectural term
used for bulk carriers with a DWT between 35,000 and 60,000
tons.) If the ship is built on a 5o incline, (a) what is the maximum
coefficient of static friction (reduced to one significant
figure) between the ship’s hull and the incline that would still
allow the ship to break free and slide down the incline when
she is released? (b) If the coefficient of kinetic friction between
the the ship’s hull and the incline is 0.070, what will be
her acceleration as she slides to water? (c) If this new carrier is
released to slide stern first to the water and her stern is 40 m
up the incline from the water line when she is released, what is
her speed when she hits the water?

Answer 1