Solving for Tension in an Inclined Plane System with Two Connected Blocks

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two connected blocks, one on an inclined plane and the other hanging vertically, with the goal of determining the tension in the connecting rope. The scenario includes a 30 kg block on a frictionless incline at a 30° angle and a 20 kg block hanging down, creating a system influenced by gravitational forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the blocks' motion, questioning the net forces acting on each block and the conditions under which they remain stationary or move. There are attempts to establish equations based on the forces involved, including gravitational components and tension.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some have suggested drawing force diagrams and considering acceleration, while others are questioning the assumptions about motion and the resulting equations. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note ambiguity in the problem regarding whether the blocks are moving or stationary, which affects their reasoning and the equations they propose. There is also uncertainty about the direction of acceleration and gravitational forces in relation to the blocks.

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hi i cannot seem to figure this problem out at all. any help is appreciated.

A 30 kg block (M1) is placed on a frictionless plane that inclines at a 30° angle with respect to the surface of Earth. This block is connected to another 20 kg block (M2) via a weightless rope over a frictionless, ideal pulley. The second block is hanging vertically, as shown in the figure. What is the tension of the rope?


thanks
 

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What are your thoughts on the question? If a mass isn't moving, what can you say about the resultant force on it?
 
i believe that if the mass isn't moving, its net force is 0 because there is no acceleration. I'm just not sure what to use as my equations. this type of problem has always confused me for whatever reason.
 
draw a force diagram for each blocks to see what forces are acting on them. As you said, the sum of these forces must be 0 because the blocks aren't moving.
 
ok well on mass 1 i got the normal force going up, mgcos30 going down, tension going to the right and mgsin30 going left. on mass 2 i got tension up and mg down. so this would mean that T=mgsin30 or T=mg, but those are not right. there's something else that i am not seeing
 
yeah actually i don't see how the blocks aren't moving because they should with those given quantities. problem was a little ambiguous on whether or not the blocks were moving. instead of making the sum of the forces equal to 0, make it equal to what it should be when the blocks are moving, which is mass times the block's acceleration.
 
My advice is to assume acceleration. Let us say that M1 is sliding down the incline plane, so write your equation based off of that. If it turns out that M1 is going up, it shouldn't really matter.
 
ok would the equation be ma+mgsin30=T? I'm not entirely sure. and then how do i know what the acceleration is? thanks
 
yes , I think your equation is right.
but
i want ask futher question , is "a" and "g" in the same direction?
I think M2g+M1gsin30=T would be better.

or I think in a wrong way?
 

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