Question

Stacked Blocks Speeding Up On A Conveyor Belt-Net Force Various stacks of blocks are travelling along a conveyor belt. At the instant shown, all blocks have the same velocity of 3 m/s to the right, and the same acceleration of 2 m/s^2, also to the right. The blocks dl not slip. All masses are given in the diagram in terms of M, the mass of the smallest block. Rank the magnitude of the net force on each stack of blocks. Greatest 1 2 3 4 Least OR, The magnitude of the net force on all the stacks is the same but not zero. OR, The magnitude of the net force on all the stacks is zero. OR, The ranking for the net forces for the stacks cannot be determined. Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

Net Force is given by F = Ma

where a is the acceleration.

therefore the net force on A is : (5 + 3 + 1)Ma = 9Ma = (18M) N

net force on B : (3+3)Ma = (12M) N

C: (3+1)Ma = (8M) N

D: (1 + 3 + 5)Ma = (18M) N

E: (1 + 3)Ma = (8M) N

so in descending order of magnitude of net force,

(18M), (18M), (12M), (8M), (8M)