Blocks on a slant(with friction)

[rphmy]

This is the problem:

Three blocks on a frictionless incline are in contact with each other as shown in the following figure. A force F is applied to block 1 (mass m1), so the whole system moves up the incline.
a) Draw a free body diagram for each block.
b) Determine the acceleration of the system.
c) Determine the net force on each block.
d) What is the force of contact that each block exerts on its neighbor?

I can draw the free body diagram

I tried to determine the acceleration by saying

a=[(g*sin(angle))-(mu*g*cos(angle))]/[(m1+m2+m3)]

I think Fnet= Fp-Ffr

I also think the Fcontact=Fp*number of sides in contact with another block


Please any help would be much appreciated3

 

[Doc Al]

I can draw the free body diagram

Use that to apply Newton's 2nd law to each block.

I tried to determine the acceleration by saying

a=[(g*sin(angle))-(mu*g*cos(angle))]/[(m1+m2+m3)]

Where does this come from? Note that this equation has friction and leaves out the force F. It doesn't even have the right dimensions.

Apply Newton's 2nd law to each block separately. You can also apply it to all three blocks considered as a single system.

 

[ogb p]

a) The free body diagram for each block would show the forces acting on it. Block 1 would have the applied force F, the normal force from block 2, and the force of friction from the incline. Block 2 would have the normal force from block 1, the force of gravity, and the normal force from block 3. Block 3 would have the normal force from block 2 and the force of gravity.

b) To determine the acceleration of the system, we can use Newton's second law, which states that the net force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration (F=ma). We can calculate the net force on the system by adding up all the individual forces acting on the blocks. Once we have the net force, we can use the mass of the system to calculate the acceleration.

c) The net force on each block can be determined by adding up all the forces acting on that particular block. For example, the net force on block 1 would be the applied force F minus the force of friction.

d) The force of contact between each block can be determined by looking at the normal forces acting on each block. For example, the force of contact between block 1 and block 2 would be the normal force from block 2 acting on block 1, and vice versa. Similarly, the force of contact between block 2 and block 3 would be the normal force from block 3 acting on block 2, and vice versa.