Two block friction incline problem with rope

AI Thread Summary
Block A, weighing 60N, rests on block B, which weighs 80N on a 30-degree incline, with a mass-less rope restraining block A. The problem seeks the force F required to initiate movement of block B, with the expected answer being 40.3N. The original poster calculated F as 17.7N, questioning the correctness of the provided answer and their own free body diagrams. Other participants in the discussion also expressed skepticism about the 40.3N answer, indicating potential errors in the professor's solution. The conversation concludes with a suggestion for a more complex incline problem for further exploration.
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Homework Statement


Block A weighs 60N and rests on top of block B which weighs 80N and rests on an incline plane with angle of elevation 30 degrees. Block A is restrained by a mass-less rope as shown. What force F will cause block B to start moving down the plane? Assume all surfaces have a coefficient of friction of 1/3.
The answer is printed as F = 40.3N

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/802/an0g.jpg

According to what's printed, the answer is supposed to be F = 40.3 N
But that's not what I'm getting.

Homework Equations


Free body diagrams for both blocks with y-axis perpendicular to incline plane.
Newton's 2nd Law after free body diagrams to form equations.
Newton's 3rd Law for normal forces and friction forces between blocks.

fs=μNB and fAB=fBA=μNA

Block B
1. μNB+μNA-F-WBcosθ=0 x-direction
2. NB-NA-WBcosθ=0 y-direction

Block A
3. NA-WAcosθ=0 y-direction
4. T-μNA-WAsinθ=0 x-direction

The Attempt at a Solution



I created free body diagrams and set up equations based off Newtons 2nd law. fAB is the force block B is pulling block A with (maximum static friction) and fBA is the maximum force block A is restraining block B with.3. → NA=WAcosθ
2. → NB=(WA+WB)cosθ
1. → F=μ(WA+WB)cosθ+μWAcosθ-WBsinθ
or F= μ(2WA+WB)cosθ-WBsinθ = 17.7N

I solved the systems and finally got F = 17.7N. I'm thinking the answer F = 40.3N is wrong (the professor made a mistake). Or did I make a mistake somewhere? Are my free body diagrams and forces correct? I appreciate any help thanks.P.S. I collect physics problems and try to solve them for fun (like this one). Does anyone know of another good block incline problem?
 
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Your work looks OK to me.
 
I agree, the given answer is wrong. I've not been able to figure out what mistake would lead to that answer. Halving the angle gets close.
If you want a challenging question, try this (warning: I haven't worked it through myself, so it might not do what my intuition says)
Two identical rectangular blocks sit at rest at different heights on an inclined plane. (Make up labels for angles, coefficients of friction, masses, block dimensions...) A third identical block sits squarely on top of the lower block. All surface contacts have the same coefficients of friction, but static exceeds kinetic.
The upper block is nudged down the slope, and kinetic friction is not enough to hold it. Under what circumstances, if any, will the third block end up sitting squarely on the nudged block, at rest relative to it?
 
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