Solve Friction Problem: Find What Happens to A & B

AI Thread Summary
In a frictionless environment, two objects, A and B, experience kinetic friction when a force F is applied to A, resulting in a frictional force f acting on A from B. If A accelerates faster than B, B will eventually rotate and fall off the edge of A due to gravity. Conversely, if B accelerates faster than A, it will no longer experience friction, allowing A to catch up to B's center of gravity. The discussion emphasizes that friction opposes relative motion, ensuring both objects eventually move at the same velocity. Overall, the dynamics between A and B hinge on their respective accelerations and the effects of friction.
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Homework Statement


upload_2015-1-18_13-26-53.png

##A## and ##B## are two objects with mass ##m_1## and ##m_2## respectively. The floor is frictionless. The kinetic friction coefficient between ##A## and ##B## is ##\mu## ; A constant force ##F## is applied on ##A##. Assume, ##F## is greater than the limiting static frictional force. So, ##B## will apply a frictional force, ##f = \mu m_2 g## on ##A##. According to Newton's third law, ##A## will also apply the same force ##f## on ##B## in the opposite direction. So, ##A## and ##B## both will be accelarated (Suppose, ##f < F##). Let, the accelaration of ##A## and ##B## be ##a_1## and ##a_2## respectively.
If, ##a_1 > a_2##, at some moment the situation will be like this:
upload_2015-1-18_13-26-31.png
And, if ##a_2 > a_1## , it will be like this:
upload_2015-1-18_13-26-8.png
What will happen afterwards?

Homework Equations


##\mu = \frac {f}{R} ##

The Attempt at a Solution


In the first case, ##B## will rotate and fall down. But what will be the axis of rotation and angular velocity?
In the second case, after a moment, the center of gravity of ##B## will be ahead of the edge of ##A##. So, the normal reaction is ##0## on the surface between ##A## and ##B##, so the frictional force is also ##0##. Hence, B will not be accelerated forward anymore, but ##A## will. And so, ##A## will catch the center of gravity of ##B## again in a moment. So, I think ##B## will not fall in this situation and will remain as it is in the third picture.
 
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In the first case, the upper block would turn over the edge of A, as gravity exerts a positive torque about it as soon as the CM moves over the edge.
You are right about the second case. Friction opposes relative motion of the surfaces in contact. If it happened that a2>a1, block B would move forward with higher speed then block A. Then friction would retard B and would accelerate A, till they moved with the same velocity, and then the friction between them became static.
 
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