Three blocks, two pulleys, on a incline

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a system of three blocks connected by pulleys, with two blocks suspended and one sliding down an incline. The blocks have different masses, and there is friction between the block on the incline and the surface. The objective is to determine the acceleration of the entire system.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on each block, including tension and gravitational forces. There is an emphasis on analyzing the system by isolating each block and applying Newton's laws. Some participants question the correctness of the equations used and suggest corrections to the coordinate system for the block on the incline.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and guidance on how to approach the problem. There is a focus on identifying forces and understanding the relationships between the blocks, but no consensus has been reached regarding the solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the presence of friction on the incline and the assumption that the pulleys are massless and frictionless. There is also a mention of needing to consider the direction of net acceleration and the role of tension in the system.

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Homework Statement


The suspended 2.29 kg mass on the right is
moving up, the 1.3 kg mass slides down the
ramp, and the suspended 7.7 kg mass on the
left is moving down. There is friction between
the block and the ramp.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2 . The
pulleys are massless and frictionless.
[PLAIN]http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/6190/009q.png

What is the acceleration of the three block
system?
Answer in units of m/s2


Homework Equations


The sum of Fx= N-mgcostheta=o => N=mgcostheta
The sum of Fy= mgsintheta-usN=0=> mgsintheta-us(mgcostheta)


The Attempt at a Solution



are these the correct eqations for this?
 
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You'll want to look at each block in isolation. The system will have the same acceleration.

What forces act on the two hanging blocks?
What forces act on the block sliding down the incline?

What direction is the net acceleration?

Hint: there are two tension forces.
 
For the mass on the incline, choose the horizontal axis as the x axis, and the axis perpendicular to the incline as the y axis. In which case you have your Fx and Fy equations reversed. Then once corected , this will give you the normal force acting on that one block on the incline. That's step one...then its free body, free body, free body diagrams! Answer jhae2.718 questions. Look at each block separately, identify alll forces acting, and apply Newton's laws.
 
jhae2.718 said:
You'll want to look at each block in isolation. The system will have the same acceleration.

What forces act on the two hanging blocks?
What forces act on the block sliding down the incline?

What direction is the net acceleration?

Hint: there are two tension forces.

For block on the left... the mass I'll call m1... the forces acting on it are T1 acting up and m1g acting down

For block on incline... the mass I'll call m2... the forces act on it in the y direction of N and m2g and in the x directuon fk and T2

For the block on the right... the mass I'll call m3... the forces acting on it are T1 acting up and m3g acting down

Since m1=7.7 and is bigger than 2.29 the acceleration is pulling m3 up and m1 down...

So if I use the equations I gave before for the block on the incline and just use
sum of Fy=T1-mg=0 => T1=mg

but where does the acceleration come in for m1 and m3?
 

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