Two blocks and a cord

1. Jul 4, 2010

mizzy

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A block of mass 5.00kg rides on top of a second block of mass 10.0kg. A person attaches a string to the top block and pulls the system horizontally. Friction between the two blocks keeps the 5.00kg block from slipping off. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.350, what is the maximum force that can be exerted by the string on the block without causing the top block to slip.

2. Relevant equations
F=ma

3. The attempt at a solution
First of all, I drew my FBD:

top block: gravitational force going down, normal force going up, Pulling Force going to the right and frictional force to the left

bottom block: gravitational force going down (mass of top and bottom block?), normal force going up. I have a feeling that I'm missing something in this diagram.

Can someone help me? thanks

2. Jul 4, 2010

graphene

top block - mg downwards (m = 5), N2 upwards, F towards the right, Ff1 towards the left.

bottom block FBD - Mg downwards (M = 10), N1 upwards and friction (Ff1) towards the right on top, and Ff2 towards the left at the bottom.

And the whole system is accelerating towards the right with 'a', so you can the pseudo forces to the two blocks.

Note that Ff1 = $$\mu$$mg ans Ff2 = $$\mu$$(m+M)g

You can now get two equations, eliminate 'a' and find F.

3. Jul 4, 2010

Thanks!