Question

peter and paul are pulling a heavy crate across the floor to the right at an increasing speed. for this to occur, the force of friction must be ____________ the applied force and the normal force must be ____________ the weight force. which choice below correctly completes the sentence? less than / equal to less than / less than equal to / greater than equal to / less than

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze horizontal forces

According to Newton's second - law $F = ma$. For the crate to move with increasing speed (accelerating), the net force in the horizontal direction must be non - zero and in the direction of motion. Let the applied force be $F_{app}$ and the frictional force be $F_f$. The net force $F_{net,x}=F_{app}-F_f = ma_x$. Since $a_x>0$, then $F_f

Step2: Analyze vertical forces

In the vertical direction, the forces acting on the crate are the normal force $F_N$ and the weight $F_g$. There is no acceleration in the vertical direction ($a_y = 0$). According to Newton's second - law in the vertical direction $F_{net,y}=F_N - F_g=0$, so $F_N = F_g$.

Answer:

less than / equal to