Question

after pushing the couch onto the carpet danielle and ramone took a break. after the break danielle started pushing with 180 n of force and ramone helped. about how hard did ramone have to push to help get the couch to start moving?

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the concept

The force required to start moving an object is the static - friction force. When the couch starts moving, the applied force equals the maximum static - friction force.

Step2: Analyze the situation

Before Ramone helps, Danielle is pushing with 180 N of force and the couch is not moving. When Ramone helps, the couch starts moving. So the force Ramone needs to apply to make the couch start moving is the amount that, when added to Danielle's 180 N, overcomes the static - friction force. But if we assume that just as Ramone starts pushing, the couch starts moving, the minimum extra force Ramone needs to apply is the amount that makes the total force equal to the maximum static - friction force. Since we have no information about static - friction other than that Danielle's 180 N was not enough, the minimum force Ramone needs to apply is a non - zero value. Let's assume the minimum value is just enough to overcome the remaining resistance. So Ramone needs to apply a force greater than 0 N. If we assume the couch starts moving with the minimum additional effort, and we know Danielle's force was not enough, Ramone's force should be such that the total force exceeds the static - friction limit. If we assume the static - friction force is just slightly more than 180 N, Ramone might need to apply 1 N (a very minimum non - zero value) to get the couch moving.

Answer:

A non - zero force, at least 1 N.