# Newton's Second Law - Machine Problem

#### JeYo

A machine has an 760g steel shuttle that is pulled along a square steel rail by an elastic cord . The shuttle is released when the elastic cord has 16.0N tension at a 45º angle. What is the initial acceleration of the shuttle?

Here is the only photo associated with this problem:knight_Figure_05_59.jpg [Broken]

Now I think the only equations necessary are $$\Sigma$$F_x = n_x + T_x + F_Gx + f_kx = ma_x and $$\Sigma$$F_y = n_y + T_y +F_Gy + f_ky = ma_y.

I thought that I could use those two equations in tandem and use the values for a_x and a_y as the a and b sides of a the right triangle whose hypotanuse of which is the answer to the problem and lies along the cord that pulls the shuttle.

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#### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
I think all you'll need to do for this problem is resolve the force and use the component acting along the steel rail to find the acceleration after the cord is released.

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