Masses in contact with each other

  • Thread starter Thread starter e-zero
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Contact
AI Thread Summary
When three masses are in contact and a force is applied to the first mass, they all experience the same acceleration due to Newton's second law. However, the net force acting on each mass is not the same if their masses differ. The net force on each object depends on its individual mass and the common acceleration. Therefore, while the acceleration is uniform, the net forces vary according to the mass of each object. This distinction is crucial in understanding the dynamics of the system.
e-zero
Messages
58
Reaction score
0
If 3 masses are in contact with each other I understand that the acceleration is the same for all if a force is applied to the first mass. Is the net force on each object also the same? Assume no friction.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
e-zero said:
If 3 masses are in contact with each other I understand that the acceleration is the same for all if a force is applied to the first mass.
OK. I imagine you're thinking of something like 3 blocks in a row being pushed along a frictionless surface.

Is the net force on each object also the same?
Is the mass of each object the same?
 
No, and hence net force cannot be the same. I see! :)
 
Consider an extremely long and perfectly calibrated scale. A car with a mass of 1000 kg is placed on it, and the scale registers this weight accurately. Now, suppose the car begins to move, reaching very high speeds. Neglecting air resistance and rolling friction, if the car attains, for example, a velocity of 500 km/h, will the scale still indicate a weight corresponding to 1000 kg, or will the measured value decrease as a result of the motion? In a second scenario, imagine a person with a...
Scalar and vector potentials in Coulomb gauge Assume Coulomb gauge so that $$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}=0.\tag{1}$$ The scalar potential ##\phi## is described by Poisson's equation $$\nabla^2 \phi = -\frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}\tag{2}$$ which has the instantaneous general solution given by $$\phi(\mathbf{r},t)=\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\int \frac{\rho(\mathbf{r}',t)}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}d^3r'.\tag{3}$$ In Coulomb gauge the vector potential ##\mathbf{A}## is given by...
Dear all, in an encounter of an infamous claim by Gerlich and Tscheuschner that the Greenhouse effect is inconsistent with the 2nd law of thermodynamics I came to a simple thought experiment which I wanted to share with you to check my understanding and brush up my knowledge. The thought experiment I tried to calculate through is as follows. I have a sphere (1) with radius ##r##, acting like a black body at a temperature of exactly ##T_1 = 500 K##. With Stefan-Boltzmann you can calculate...
Back
Top