The Figure Shows a System Consisting of Three Blocks, a Light

question 47

Short Answer

The figure shows a system consisting of three blocks, a light frictionless pulley, and light connecting ropes that act horizontally on the upper two blocks. The 9.0-kg block is on a perfectly smooth horizontal table. The surfaces of the 12-kg block are rough, with µ_k = 0.30 between the 12-kg and 9.0-kg blocks. The mass M of the hanging block is set so that it descends at a constant velocity of 3.25 m/s.
(a) What is the mass M of the hanging block?
(b) The mass M is now changed to 5.0 kg, causing it to accelerate downward after it is released. What is the acceleration of the hanging mass?

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Definitions:

Nearby Object

An item or thing that is physically close to a point of reference or location.

Gestalt Principle

A theory in psychology that proposes the human brain sees objects as whole forms rather than as a collection of parts.

Proximity

The state of being close to something or someone in distance or relationship.

Organize Stimuli

The process of receiving, categorizing, and interpreting sensory information from the environment.