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Plutonium88
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Homework Statement
a mass z is held on an incline plane with mass P. when the the masses are released, both objects begin to move and accelerate. find accell of the incline plane
GIVEN: z,P,angle A, surfaces are frictionless
solve in terms of these variables.
Homework Equations
f=ma
The Attempt at a Solution
i chose my positive x direction along the ground surface below the incline plane, toward the direction of its motion.
so first i solved for the small mass on top the normal force, which is the force which applied onto the incline plane by the small mass.
fnety=0=FNcosA - zg
FN= zg/cosA
now when i do the FBD of the incline plane the forces acting on it, are the normal (FN) which gives it an unbalanced force in the +X direction.
so i get the expression
fnetx= (z+P)a=FNsinA
subbing in the FN,i get
a= zgtanA/(z+P)
is this correct? if not can you tell me where i am going wrong.
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