Sliding Ramp and Freefall problem

[haruspex]

I assume you meant:

ay = Sin(30)*\sqrt{(((FnCos(30)/m) - g)^2 + (FnSin(30)/m))^2)}
ax = Cos(30)*\sqrt{(((FnCos(30)/m) - g)^2 + (FnSin(30)/m))^2)}

Well, yes, but all I was looking for was a_y=-a sin(30), a_x = a cos(30).
So what is a_y/a_x as a function of theta?
What equation does that give you if you equate it to a_y/a_x from these equations:
ay = (FnCos(30)/m) - g
ax = FnSin(30)/m

 

[Shaku]

I assume you meant: ...

Oops, hahaha! I noticied when I first wrote it down I had them backwards, so I just switched the first letters without realizing what I did!

So what is a_y/a_x as a function of theta?
What equation does that give you if you equate it to a_y/a_x from these equations:
ay = (FnCos(30)/m) - g
ax = FnSin(30)/m

I'm not sure what you're mean by "as a function of theta"...

So you're saying to set each of the two ay/ax expressions equal to each other and then solving for a variable? Wouldn't that still leave me with either mass or Fn that didn't cancel out?

 

[haruspex]

I'm not sure what you're mean by "as a function of theta"...

If ay=-a sin(30) and ax = a cos(30), what is ay/ax?

So you're saying to set each of the two ay/ax expressions equal to each other and then solving for a variable? Wouldn't that still leave me with either mass or Fn that didn't cancel out?

It will allow you to work out Fn/m. You don't need to know the individual values.

 

[Shaku]

If ay=-a sin(30) and ax = a cos(30), what is ay/ax?

So you're saying:
30 = Tan^-1(-aSin(30)/aCos(30)) and then somehow solve for a...? (Since to find an angle given two sides, you take the inverse tan of the two sides).

It will allow you to work out Fn/m. You don't need to know the individual values.

Ah, okay.

 

[haruspex]

So you're saying:
30 = Tan^-1(-aSin(30)/aCos(30)) and then somehow solve for a...? (Since to find an angle given two sides, you take the inverse tan of the two sides).

No, that would just give 30=30.
We have:
ay/ax = -aSin(30)/aCos(30) = -tan(30)
ay = (FnCos(30)/m) - g
ax = FnSin(30)/m
Combine those three equations, eliminating ay and ax. That will give you one equation that will tell you the value of Fn/m.