A small battery-powered robot of mass is designed to carry supplies across a smooth…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A small battery-powered robot of mass 5.0kg is designed to carry supplies across a smooth laboratory floor. The drive motors can deliver a maximum horizontal driving force of 14N. While moving, the robot experiences a constant 4.0N resistive force due to internal friction in the wheel bearings. Engineers would like the robot to accelerate from rest at 3.0ms−2 so that it quickly reaches cruising speed.
(a) Calculate the net horizontal force required to achieve the desired acceleration.
(b) Determine whether the robot’s motors are capable of producing this acceleration. Support your answer with quantitative justification.
(c) Describe two feasible design changes that could enable the robot to meet the acceleration specification, explaining the physics behind each suggestion.