Question

4. Consider a 1 kg block is on a 45° slope of ice. It is connected to a 0.4 kg block by a cable

Answer 1

If an icy surface means no friction, then Newton's second law tells us the net forces on either block are

• m = 1 kg:

∑ F (parallel) = mg sin(45°) - T = ma … … … [1]

∑ F (perpendicular) = n - mg cos(45°) = 0

Notice that we're taking down-the-slope to be positive direction parallel to the surface.

• m = 0.4 kg:

∑ F (vertical) = T - mg = ma … … … [2]

Adding equations [1] and [2] eliminates T, so that

((1 kg) g sin(45°) - T ) + (T - (0.4 kg) g) = (1 kg + 0.4 kg) a

(1 kg) g sin(45°) - (0.4 kg) g = (1.4 kg) a

==>   a ≈ 2.15 m/s²

The fact that a is positive indicates that the 1-kg block is moving down the slope. We already found the acceleration is a ≈ 2.15 m/s², which means the net force on the block would be ∑ F = ma ≈ (1 kg) (2.15 m/s²) = 2.15 N directed down the slope.