What is the equilibrium condition for a double inclined plane?

[pooface]

Homework Statement

two boards of length 5m and 8m are hinged together and the hinge supported 4m above the ground, thus forming a double inclined plane 13m long measured along the slopes. Two blocks of equal weight are placed on the boards and connected by a cord passing over a frictionless pulley at the apex. If the coefficent of friction between blocks and boards is 0.3

a) show that the system is in equilibrium.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3209/q10fs0.jpg diagram

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Block A: The left one.
FN=mgcos53.13deg
Frictionforce=mgcos53.15deg*(0.3)
=0.18mg
Force=mgsin53.13deg
=0.8mg

Block B: The right one.
FN=mgcos30deg
Frictionforce=mgcos30deg*(0.3)
=0.2598mg
Force=mgsin30deg
=0.5mg

If these calculations are correct then I don't see how they are in equilibrium.

 

[PhanthomJay]

Remember that the static friction force on each block is less than or equal to uN.

 

[pooface]

it doesn't state that the coefficient is static(implying equilibrium).

it only gives a coefficient of friction. After calculating the forces and friction forces and finding the net result it doesn't seem they are in equilibrium.

Can someone show where I am going wrong in my calculations?

 

[Vijay Bhatnagar]

What about mgsin(theta) component on each block? Further on one of the blocks the frictional force will be up the incline and on the other down.

 

[pooface]

yup i have accounted for all those factors.

If I use block A I get:

0.8(downwards force along slope) - 0.18(friction force) + 0.2598(friction force of block B) - 0.5(force of block B along slope) = 0.48

 

[pooface]

There must be some fundamental thing I am leaving out or that the system is not in equilibrium at all.

According to the professor it is.

 

[learningphysics]

The way I do these problems is to first assume that the system is in equilibrium (ie a = 0)... then see if the frictional forces come out to < uN... if they do, then they are indeed in equilibrium... if they don't, or can't... then the system isn't in equilibrium...

don't assume the frictional force is uN... just let the frictional forces be f1 and f2...

The system tends to try to accelerate to the left... so the left side has the fricion upward... right side has the friction downward...

for the left block.

mgsin(theta1) - T - f1 = 0
mg*4/5 - T - f1 = 0.

f1 = T - mg*4/5

what is the equivalent equation for the right block? what is f2?

 

[pooface]

T-mg*4/8 - f2=0
f2=T-mg*4/8

I think I see what is going on though.

If we assume the system accelerates to the left: The net force will be
mg*4/5 - f1(which is 0.18mg) - f2(which is 0.2598mg) - mg*4/8 = Negative answer!

By F=ma we get a negative acceleration.

If we assume the system accelerates to the RIGHT the net force will also be negative! This also gives negative acceleration. Therefore the system must be in equilibrium. I was just getting my signs mixed up which you cleared up. I was thinking the right side friction was going upwards.

Thanks lot learningphysics!

 

[learningphysics]

Ah... good. I was actually not thinking that way exactly. But that's better than what I was thinking! :)