Question

Two wooden crates rest on top of one another. The smaller top crate has a mass of m1 = 24 kg and the larger bottom crate has a mass of m2 = 86 kg. There is NO friction between the crate and the floor, but the coefficient of static friction between the two crates is μs = 0.79 and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two crates is μk = 0.62. A massless rope is attached to the lower crate to pull it horizontally to the right (which should be considered the positive direction for this problem). 1)The rope is pulled with a tension T = 234 N (which is small enough that the top crate will not slide). What is the acceleration of the small crate?
2)In the previous situation, what is the magnitude of the frictional force the lower crate exerts on the upper crate?
3)What is the maximum tension that the lower crate can be pulled at before the upper crate begins to slide?
4)The tension is increased in the rope to 1187 N causing the boxes to accelerate faster and the top box to begin sliding. What is the acceleration of the upper crate?m/s2
5)As the upper crate slides, what is the acceleration of the lower crate?

Answer 1

Answer:

The sum of all forces for the two objects with force of friction F and tension T are:

(i) m₁a₁ = F

(ii) m₂a₂ = T - F

1) no sliding infers: a₁ = a₂= a

The two equations become:

m₂a = T - m₁a

Solving for a:

a = T / (m₁+m₂) = 2.1 m/s²

2) Using equation(i):

F = m₁a = 51.1 N

3) The maximum friction is given by:

F = μsm₁g

Using equation(i) to find a₁ = a₂ = a:

a₁ = μs*g

Using equation(ii)

T = m₁μsg + m₂μsg = (m₁ + m₂)μsg = 851.6 N

4) The kinetic friction is given by: F = μkm₁g

Using equation (i) and the kinetic friction:

a₁ = μkg = 6.1 m/s²

5) Using equation(ii) and the kinetic friction:

m₂a₂ = T - μkm₁g

a₂ = (T - μkm₁g)/m₂ = 12.1 m/s²