Consider the two-body situation at the right. a 300kg crate rests on an inclined plane and is connected by a cable to a 100 kg mass. this second mass is suspended over a pulley. the incline angle is 30.00 and the surface has a coefficient of friction 0.120. determine the acceleration of the system and the tension in the cable

a= 0.578 m/s

T = 1037.8 N

Explanation:

Data

m₁= 300 kg

m₂= 100 kg

inclined plane, θ =  30°

μk = 0.120

Newton's second law to m₁:

We define the x-axis in the direction parallel to the movement of the 300kg (m₁) crate on the ramp and the y-axis in the direction perpendicular to it.

∑F = m₁*a Formula (1)

Forces acting on m₁

W₁: m₁ weight : In vertical direction

N : Normal force : perpendicular to the inclined plane

f : Friction force: parallel to the inclined plane

T:  cable tension : parallel to inclined plane

Calculated of the W₁

W₁=m₁*g

W₁= 300kg* 9.8 m/s² = 2940 N

x-y weight components

W₁x= W₁sin θ =2940 N*sin(30)° =1470 N

W₁y= W₁cos θ =2940 N *cos(30)° =2156.4 N

Calculated of the N

We apply the formula (1)

∑Fy = m*ay    ay = 0

N - W₁y = 0

N = W₁y

N = 2156.4 N

Calculated of the f

f = μk* N= (0.120)*(2156.4 N)

f = 258.77 N

Newton's second law to m₁ in direction  x-axis :

∑Fx = m₁*ax   ,ax  =a

We assume that m₁ descends on the inclined plane and we positively take the direction of movement:

wx-f-T = m*a

wx - f - m*a =T

1470  -258.77 -300*a =T

T= 1211.23-300*a   Equation (1)

Newton's second law to m₂

∑Fy = m₂*ay   ,ay  =a

Forces acting on m₂

W₂: m₂ weight : In vertical direction

T:  cable tension:In vertical direction

Calculated of the W₂

W₂=m₂*g

W₂= 100kg* 9.8 m/s² = 980 N

∑Fy = m₂*a

Because we assume that m₁ descends on the inclined plane, then, m₂ ascends  vertically, we take positive the direction of movement:

T-W₂ = m₂*a

T-980 = 100*a

T = 980 + 100*a Equation (2)

Problem development

Equation (1) =  Equation (2) = T

1211.23-300*a= 980  + 100*a

1211.23- 980 = 100*a + 300*a

231.23 = 400*a

a= 231.23 / 400

a= 0.578 m/s

Because the acceleration tested positive then effectively m₁ descends on the inclined plane and m₂ ascends  vertically.

We replace a= 0.578 m/s in the equatión (2)

T = 980 + 100* (0.578 )

T = 1037.8 N

air exerts forces on falling objects near earth’s surface.

explanation:

the term 'free falls' refer to object that are falling towards the earth, in a situation in which gravity is the only force acting on the object.

for an object in free fall, the acceleration is constant (g, the gravitational acceleration), and so the velocity of the object constantly increases.

for objects near earth's surface, there is always another force acting on the object: the resistance due to the air. this force is opposed to the direction of fall of the object, and it is proportional to the velocity of the object, so as the object falls down, this force increases up to a point when it balances the force of gravity, and the object continues its motion at constant velocity (called terminal velocity). since in this case gravity is not the only force acting on the object, we are not in a situation of free fall.