Universal Gravitation Problem?

Question

A force of 40 N is required to pull a 10 Kg wooden block at a constant velocity across a smooth glass surface on Earth. What force would be required to pull the same wooden block across the same glass surface on the planet Jupiter?

How would you go about solving this problem? Help please.

Answer 1

Apply Newton's Second law both vertically and horizontally.

Vertical: mg = N where N is the normal force.

Horizontal: 40 Newtons = u N where u is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the surface.

Combine to get 40 Newtons = u m g. Solve for u.

For Jupiter, you'd first have to pretend that Jupiter has a surface, then find the value of g at that location (hint: look up the mass and radius of Jupiter and use Newton's Law of Gravity). Then use the previous value of u and determine the appropriate pulling force u m g.