- #1
Siracuse
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Homework Statement
I'll describe this without the numbers, values and such. The issue here is to understand the logic worked on this problem...well any problem is like that. Anyhow, this is the situation:
A block of mass m1 is stacked on the surface of another block of mass m2 of width L, where m2>>m1. There is kinetic friction between those two blocks, static friction coefficient is not given. Block m2 is on a frictionless surface. An horizontal, constant force F is applied on block m1. The whole system of blocks moves.
Homework Equations
Sum of forces in x,y components;
The Attempt at a Solution
First thing: since there is a friction force, calculating the normal force in this case is important. For block m1,
Fn_m1 - Fg_m1 + Fn_m2 = 0 -> Fn_m1 = Fg_m1 - F_m2;
For block m2,
Fn_m2 - Fg_m1 - Fg_m2 = 0 -> Fn_m2 = Fg_m1 + Fg_m2;
The rest should just involve basic algebra, to obtain Fn_m1 and, therefore, the value of the kinetic friction force.
Now, to work on the second part, the x-axis. Block m1:
F - F_kin = m.a
For block m2...here's where I think I don't know what I am doing. The picture of my Halliday book shows block m2 moving, so what kind of forces are acting on m2 in the x-axis? Is there a resulting force derived from the friction between the blocks? I've thought about this for a while and I'm just clueless. Not even sure if my logic for the forces on the y-axis is correct...