Find the Range of Forces for Which Block Does Not Slide

[diablo_slayer]

Homework Statement

A block of mass .5 kg is on a wedge of mass 2.00 kg. The inclined surface makes an angle of 40 degrees with the horizontal. The wedge is subjected to a horizontqal force F and slides on a frictionless horizontal surface. The coefficient of static friction between the block and the wedge is .6 Find the range of values of F for which the block does not slide.

 

[Wesleytf]

... did you start by making a free-body diagram?

Try that see if you can sum forces...

 

[diablo_slayer]

... did you start by making a free-body diagram?

Try that see if you can sum forces...

I've tried with the axes being x down the incline and y perpendicular to the incline.

sum of the forces in the x for the block is zero. The forces down the incline is gravity, which is mgsin 40 and coefficient of static friction*normal. I'm not sure what the normal is, and how the force applied to the wedge affects it.

 

[Wesleytf]

The normal force is what keeps the block on the wedge. The component of g that is along your new y-axis will be equal in magnitude to the normal force. does that help?