Friction Force on a System at Rest

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 3K views
odie5533
Messages
58
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2514/diagramfn4.png

The Attempt at a Solution


[tex]\sum F_{x} = w_{x} - T = m_{x}a[/tex]
[tex]T = (6.9)g - (6.9)a[/tex]

[tex]\sum F_{a} = T - w_{a} - f_{s} = m_{a}a[/tex]
[tex]T - m_{a}g - m_{a}a = f_{s}[/tex]
[tex](6.9g - 6.9a) - m_{a}g - m_{a}a = f_{s}[/tex]
I don't see a 5kg block with friction, but I do see a 3kg block with friction:
[tex]6.9g - 6.9a - 3g - 3a = f_{s}[/tex]
[tex]3.9g - 9.9a = f_{s}[/tex]

Since the system is at rest, [tex]a = 0[/tex]
[tex]38N = f_{s}[/tex]
So the answer is B

But I have two problems with my answer:
1) [tex]f_{s-max} = (0.40)(50) = 20N < 38N[/tex] in my answer
2) Using the "5kg" block, [tex]f_{s} = 19N[/tex]

Am I missing something?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Looks to me like the 3 kg was a typo and they meant to write 5 kg. (Otherwise the problem doesn't work, as you point out.)