I need help with understanding the concept of how to solve fortension when two m
ID: 1723937 • Letter: I
Question
I need help with understanding the concept of how to solve fortension when two masses are on an incline plane. This is similiar to the Tipler textbook 6th edition, problemnumber 76 in chapter 4. For example, given a mass of 55.797 kg that is on an inclineplane 50 degrees from horizontal that is attached to anothermass of 55kg hanging down and the acceleration of the systemis 1.0763888889 m/s^2, find the tension of the rope. I need help with understanding the concept of how to solve fortension when two masses are on an incline plane. This is similiar to the Tipler textbook 6th edition, problemnumber 76 in chapter 4. For example, given a mass of 55.797 kg that is on an inclineplane 50 degrees from horizontal that is attached to anothermass of 55kg hanging down and the acceleration of the systemis 1.0763888889 m/s^2, find the tension of the rope.Explanation / Answer
So this question is pretty much an application of Newton'sLaws. It might help you visualize the situation if you draw afree body diagram for the two blocks. You know theacceleration of the system, which is 1.0763888889 m/s^2. Youalso know that from the Newton's Laws that forces come in pairs, soyou know that the tension from block 1 on 2 is equal and oppositeof block 2 on 1 (let's just call the block hanging down 2, and theone on the plane 1, just to make reference to the blockseasier). When you draw the FBDs, you see that there are onlytwo relavent forces for block 2 (the gravitational down and thetension up). Since you know from Newton's second law thatFnet = ma, you can then figure out the net force on blocktwo. The acceleration is the value that's given to you, andthe m is the mass of the block two. Since now you know whatthe net force on block 2 is, you know that tension = Fg+Fnet, sinceFnet = T-Fg. So now you should be able to get the tension ofthe rope. Hope that helped clarify some of the concepts!