Three Boxes Rest Side-By-Side on a Smooth, Horizontal Floor

question 21

Essay

Three boxes rest side-by-side on a smooth, horizontal floor. Their masses are 5.0-kg, 3.0-kg, and 2.0-kg, with the 3.0-kg mass in the center. A force of 50 N pushes on the 5.0-kg mass, which pushes against the other two masses.
(a) Draw the free-body diagrams for each of the masses.
(b) What is the contact force between the 5.0-kg mass and the 3.0-kg mass?
(c) What is the contact force between the 3.0-kg and the 2.0-kg mass?

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Definitions:

Medulla

An area of the brainstem that controls vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Thalamus

A vital brain structure acting as a relay station, channeling sensory and motor signals to and from the cerebral cortex.

Limbic System

A complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involved with instinct and mood. It controls basic emotions and drives.

Hippocampus

A neural center that is located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage.