A wedge of mass m1 is firmly attached to the top of a scale, as shown in FIGURE 9-47. The inclined surface of the wedge makes an angle θ with the horizontal. Now, a block of mass m2 is placed on the inclined surface of the wedge and allowed to accelerate without friction down the slope.

(a) Show that the reading on the scale while the block slides is

(m1 + m2 cos2θ)g

(b) Explain why the reading on the scale is less than (m1 + m2)g.

(c) Show that the expression in part (a) gives the expected results for θ = 0 and θ = 90.

Transcribed Image Text:

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