Newton's 2nd Law and drawing forces

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the equation a = g sin(alpha) using Newton's 2nd Law in the context of a block on a frictionless surface. The force acting along the hypotenuse, denoted as Fm, is calculated as Fm = sin(alpha) * mg. By applying Newton's 2nd Law, the net force is equated to the mass times acceleration, leading to the conclusion that acceleration a equals g multiplied by sin(alpha).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
  • Basic knowledge of trigonometric functions, specifically sine
  • Familiarity with free-body diagrams
  • Concept of forces acting on objects on frictionless surfaces
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of Newton's Laws in various physical scenarios
  • Learn about free-body diagram techniques for analyzing forces
  • Explore the implications of frictionless surfaces in physics problems
  • Investigate the role of trigonometric functions in physics calculations
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding the application of Newton's Laws in real-world scenarios.

Manni
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Hey guys, how would I show that a = g sin(alpha) for the following diagram?

Fig.1.jpg
 
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You could start by drawing the forces on the block.
 
Yeah, I just figured it out.

I determined the Force acting about the hypotenuse, Fm

So, Fm = sin(alpha)*mg

Then, according to Newton's 2nd Law,

Fnet = Fm
ma = sin(alpha)*mg
a = g*sin(alpha)

N.B. The mass is assumed to be on a frictionless surface
 

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