Calculating Net External Force in a Two-Body System with Gravity

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the net external force acting on the two-body system, first establish the forces on each mass, considering gravity's effect on the hanging mass. The gravitational force on the 4.1kg mass is 40.18N, while the tension in the rope is 15.592N. Use these values to derive the acceleration of the system and the net external force acting on the 2.6kg mass on the table. The net external force can be calculated by applying Newton's second law, F=ma, to the system as a whole. This approach will yield the correct magnitude of the net external force in the two-body system.
missyjane
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
Mass of 2.6kg lies on a frictionless table, pulled by another mass of 4.1kg under the influence of gravity (mass 4.1kg is hanging off the edge of the table). The acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s^2. What is the magnitude of the net external force (gravitational) acting on the two masses?


I thought I'd get the answer by using F=g(m1)(m2), but that was wrong. I don't know where to go from here. :confused:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Try a diagram first, develop and equation for each of the masses. Solve for Tension on the second mass and plug it into first equation. From there solve for g.
 
I figured out that the tension of the hanging force is 40.18 and the tension of the rope is 15.592...where do I go from here?
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'Calculation of Tensile Forces in Piston-Type Water-Lifting Devices at Elevated Locations'

Thread 'Calculation of Tensile Forces in Piston-Type Water-Lifting Devices at Elevated Locations'

Figure 1 Overall Structure Diagram Figure 2: Top view of the piston when it is cylindrical A circular opening is created at a height of 5 meters above the water surface. Inside this opening is a sleeve-type piston with a cross-sectional area of 1 square meter. The piston is pulled to the right at a constant speed. The pulling force is（Figure 2）： F = ρshg = 1000 × 1 × 5 × 10 = 50,000 N. Figure 3: Modifying the structure to incorporate a fixed internal piston When I modify the piston...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Find the acceleration of the system (2 blocks sliding on a table)
Replies
23
Views
2K
Magnitude of net Gravitational Force
Replies
1
Views
5K
Distribution of Energy when work is done on a system of 2 masses connected by a spring
Replies
17
Views
1K
Why used $\cos\theta$ for $\text{y}$ axis or, gravitational force?
Replies
2
Views
2K
Center of mass and momentum- A question about systems
Replies
25
Views
1K
How to find the equilibrium position of three masses (two of them fixed)?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Finding the net gravitational force with Vector Notation
Replies
2
Views
2K
Work of gravity on an object sliding down a frictionless sphere
Replies
12
Views
2K
Finding the net gravitational force on a rocket....
Replies
5
Views
2K
Forces and laws of motion -- Big gorilla hanging from two vines
Replies
3
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top