Answer: 0.16
Explanation:
Newton's second law states that the resultant of the forces exerted on the bookcase is equal to the product between the mass (m) and the acceleration (a):
[tex]F-F_f = ma[/tex]
where
F = 58 N is the force applied
Ff is the frictional force
Substituting, we find the frictional force
[tex]F_f = F-ma=58 N-(35 kg)(0.12 m/s^2)=53.8 N[/tex]
The frictional force has the form:
[tex]F_f = \mu mg[/tex]
where [tex]\mu[/tex] is the coefficient of kinetic friction. Re-arranging the formula, we can find the coefficient:
[tex]\mu=\frac{F_f}{mg}=\frac{53.8 N}{(35 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)}=0.16[/tex]
