Acceleration on an Inclined Plane

AI Thread Summary
Two blocks weighing 3.6N and 7.2N slide down a 30-degree inclined plane, connected by a massless string. The lighter block experiences a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.10, while the heavier block has a coefficient of 0.20. The problem requires finding the magnitude of acceleration, but the initial confusion stems from the lack of explicit forces provided in the question. The participant recognizes that gravitational force affects both blocks and contemplates the role of tension in the string. The discussion highlights the need to consider both vertical and horizontal forces to solve for acceleration accurately.
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Homework Statement


Two blocks of wieghts 3.6N and 7.2N are connected by a massless string and slide down a 30 degree inclined plane. The coefficient of kinetic friction b/t the lighter block and the plane is 0.10, that b/t the heavier block and the plane is 0.20. Assuming the lighter block leads, find magnitude of acceleration of the blocks.


Homework Equations



F=ma
Fcos(O)-fk-T=ma

The Attempt at a Solution



I dunno, I just guessed at the above equations. Anyway, I'm pretty stuck on this problem (meaning I don't even know where to begin). It's the fact that the question didn't give any forces that threw me off, they just gave masses (and in N too).
 
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The force causing them to slide will be the force due to gravity.

F = ma -> F = mg
 
Well, yeah, I thought of that, but wouldn't that just be the force in the y direction? Like, shouldn't there also be a force in the x direction, since it's on an inclined plane and all? That's the acceleration I'm having trouble finding. See, it's that that I was guessing at in the above equations.

Oh, and since they're connected on a string, wouldn't F=mg be Fy=T-mg, since there's supposedly some tension in the string as well?
 

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