My Math Forum particles on wedge.

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 November 19th, 2016, 02:16 AM #1 Member   Joined: May 2016 From: Ireland Posts: 96 Thanks: 1 particles on wedge. Q4 A wedge of mass 11 kg is held on the ground with its base horizontal and smooth faces inclined at 30° and 45° respectively to the horizontal. A 5 kg mass on the face inclined at 30° is connected to a 7 kg mass on the other face by a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth light pulley. The system is released from rest and the wedge does not move. Find (i) the acceleration of the particles (ii) the vertical force exerted on the ground. i have the marking scheme to this question. here is the link http://thephysicsteacher.ie/Exam%20M...hemes/2015.pdf. it is question 6 part b. i dont understand how they work it out could someone explain it to me. first of all they use a for acceleration. what acceleration does this stand for the particle or the wedge. and if it stands for the particle why did they not resolve the acceleration paralell and perpindicular to the plane. why did they only use one acceleration . i learned to do these questions by always looking at both the acceleration of the particle and the wedge
November 19th, 2016, 06:22 AM   #2
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Quote:
 what acceleration does this stand for the particle or the wedge.
$a$ is magnitude of particle acceleration ... as shown in the attached diagram, the question clearly states that the wedge is held on the ground and the wedge does not move.

The acceleration of the particles was used to find the tension, $T$, in the cord which contributes to the downward force on the wedge.
Attached Images
 Wedge_prob.jpg (73.8 KB, 2 views)

 November 20th, 2016, 01:58 AM #3 Member   Joined: May 2016 From: Ireland Posts: 96 Thanks: 1 do you know why they did not resolve the accelerations of the particles. usually in these types of questions they do.

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