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

question 47

Multiple Choice

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 2.0-kg mass, which pushes against the other two masses. What is the contact force between the 5.0-kg mass and the 3.0-kg mass?

• A) 0 N
• B) 10 N
• C) 25 N
• D) 40 N
• E) 50 N

---

Definitions:

Normal Distribution

A distribution of probabilities that is even on both sides of the mean, illustrating that values near the mean happen more often than values at a greater distance from the mean.

Weibull Distribution

A continuous probability distribution used widely in reliability engineering and failure analysis, which can model various types of data including life data and failure times.

Binomial Distribution

A probability distribution that summarizes the likelihood that a variable will take one of two independent values under a given set of parameters or assumptions.

Normal Distribution

A continuous probability distribution characterized by a symmetric bell-shaped curve, where most observations cluster around the central peak and probabilities for values further away from the mean taper off equally in both directions.