Physics word Problem???!?

Question

A 5 kilogram wooden block, is placed on an adjustable wooden inclined plane.
a.) What is the angle of inclination above which the block will start to slide down the plane.
b.) At what angle of inclined will the block then slide down the plane at a constant speed.

Thanks

Answer 1

I think there is some crucial information missing, namely the coefficient of friction between the block and plane (static and moving). If there is no friction then the block will start to slide down the plane at any inclination other than zero, and will continue to accelerate indefinitely.

Note added later: I believe if you draw a force diagram and equate the frictional force with the component of the weight that's acting down the plane, you'll find the answer is that the tangent of the angle equals the coefficient of static friction for part (a) and the coefficient of sliding friction for part (b). I recommend checking this but I think it's correct.

Answer 2

Yea, there are some pieces of info missing, and technically because of gravity, it will never fall constantly untill it hits its terminal velocity. And seeing as how it takes thousands of feet of vertical travel to finally arrive at the terminal velocity, it would never happen unless u dropped it out of an air plane.