Question

A block weighing 400 kg rests on a horizontal surface and supports on top of it ,another block of weight 100 kg which is attached to a vertical wall by a string 6 meter long and 5 meter away from the wall. Find the magnitude of the horizontal force F,APPLIED TO THE LOWER block that shall be necessary so that slipping of 100 kg block occurs. (take coefficient of friction for both contacts =0.25 )

Answer 1

Answer:

$F_a=1470\ N$

Explanation:

Friction Force

When objects are in contact with other objects or rough surfaces, the friction forces appear when we try to move them with respect to each other. The friction forces always have a direction opposite to the intended motion, i.e. if the object is pushed to the right, the friction force is exerted to the left.

There are two blocks, one of 400 kg on a horizontal surface and other of 100 kg on top of it tied to a vertical wall by a string. If we try to push the first block, it will not move freely, because two friction forces appear: one exerted by the surface and the other exerted by the contact between both blocks. Let's call them Fr1 and Fr2 respectively. The block 2 is attached to the wall by a string, so it won't simply move with the block 1.  

Please find the free body diagrams in the figure provided below.

The equilibrium condition for the mass 1 is

$\displaystyle F_a-F_{r1}-F_{r2}=m.a=0$

The mass m1 is being pushed by the force Fa so that slipping with the mass m2 barely occurs, thus the system is not moving, and a=0. Solving for Fa

$\displaystyle F_a=F_{r1}+F_{r2}.....[1]$

The mass 2 is tried to be pushed to the right by the friction force Fr2 between them, but the string keeps it fixed in position with the tension T. The equation in the horizontal axis is

$\displaystyle F_{r2}-T=0$

The friction forces are computed by

$\displaystyle F_{r2}=\mu \ N_2=\mu\ m_2\ g$

$\displaystyle F_{r1}=\mu \ N_1=\mu(m_1+m_2)g$

Recall N1 is the reaction of the surface on mass m1 which holds a total mass of m1+m2.

Replacing in [1]

$\displaystyle F_{a}=\mu \ m_2\ g\ +\mu(m_1+m_2)g$

Simplifying

$\displaystyle F_{a}=\mu \ g(m_1+2\ m_2)$

Plugging in the values

$\displaystyle F_{a}=0.25(9.8)[400+2(100)]$

$\boxed{F_a=1470\ N}$