After a rockslide, three large boulders of masses m1= 584 kg, m2= 792 kg, and m3

Question

After a rockslide, three large boulders of masses m1= 584 kg, m2= 792 kg, and m3= 377 kg are found side-by-side blocking a road and lined up m1, m2, and m3. A bulldozer is used to slide the rocks off the road by applying constant force to the left side of m1. Assuming the rocks are all in contact and the road is a flat, frictionless surface, what force, FA, must be applied to m1 to slowly accelerate the group of rocks from the road at 0.400 m/s2?

With the value calculated for FA, find the force, F12, exerted by the first rock of mass 584 kg on the middle rock of 792 kg.

Explanation / Answer

Let N1 is normal b/w m1 and m2 and N2 is normal b/w N2 and N3

F = ( m1+m2+m3)a

FA = ( 584+792+377)*0.4 = 701.2 N

b)

writing force equation on m1

FA -N1 = m1a

701.2 - N1 = 584*0.4

=> N1 = 467.6 N

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