How to Calculate Forces and Acceleration of Boxes on a Frictionless Shelf?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a system of boxes with different masses connected by strings over frictionless pulleys on a shelf. The original poster seeks to calculate forces and acceleration after releasing the system from rest.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relevant forces of gravity acting on the boxes and question the setup, particularly the arrangement of the boxes on the shelf. There are suggestions to draw free-body diagrams and apply Newton's laws.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of the system's configuration and considering how to approach the problem using free-body diagrams. There is no explicit consensus yet on the next steps.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of incomplete information regarding the diagram, which may affect the understanding of the problem setup. Participants are also clarifying the positions of the boxes relative to the shelf.

makerfeldt
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Homework Statement



A box of mass m2 = 3.7 kg rests on a frictionless horizontal shelf and is attached by strings to boxes of masses m1 = 1.2 kg and m3 = 2.1 kg as shown below. Both pulleys are frictionless and massless. The system is released from rest. After it is released, find the following.


The Attempt at a Solution



I found the relevant forces of gravity to be 18.62 on m1, and 27.44 on m3, but I have little clue of where to go from there. Any idea would be greatly appreciated.
 
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makerfeldt said:

Homework Statement



A box of mass m2 = 3.7 kg rests on a frictionless horizontal shelf and is attached by strings to boxes of masses m1 = 1.2 kg and m3 = 2.1 kg as shown below.
missing diagram?

Both pulleys are frictionless and massless. The system is released from rest. After it is released, find the following.
incomplete information.
Are m1 and m3 hanging off opposite sides of the shelf?

The Attempt at a Solution



I found the relevant forces of gravity to be 18.62 on m1, and 27.44 on m3, but I have little clue of where to go from there. Any idea would be greatly appreciated.
Draw a free-body diagram for each box and apply Newton's laws: ƩF=ma
 
My apologies; the boxes m1 and m3 are indeed hanging off opposite sides of the shelf.
 

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OK - so did you draw a free body diagram for each box?
 

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