What Are the Solutions to This Two-Block System Problem?

[mayeh]

Homework Statement

two blocks CONNECTED by a cord over a frictionless planes, (for illus. see the fig. below) (a) which way will the system move when the blocks are released from rest?
(b)what is the acceleration of the blocks
(c)what is the tension in the cords?

<a href="http://www.imagevimage.com/gallery.php?entry=images/sa.JPG"><img src="http://www.imagevimage.com/thumbs/sa.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>

http://www.imagevimage.com/images/sa.JPG

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I still don't have any attempted solutions since i can't figure out which direction will the system go.. pls help..

 

[chaoseverlasting]

Well, you can try finding the force applied by tension along the slope of the wedge, and then comparing with the force of gravity on the blocks along the slope. Since the string is the same, the tension along the string will be uniform.

 

[Doc Al]

I still don't have any attempted solutions since i can't figure out which direction will the system go.. pls help..

You don't need to know the direction of the acceleration ahead of time. Just guess a direction, call the acceleration "a", and then solve for it. If it comes out positive, you guessed correctly; if negative, it's opposite to what you assumed.

(You can also figure out the direction by comparing the force pulling each mass down the plane.)

 

[mayeh]

thanks! i'll try that..