Question

A 200g hamster is sitting on a 800g wedge-shaped block. The block, in turn, rests on a spring scale.

a) Initially, static friction is sufficient to keep the hamster from moving. In this case, the hamster and the block are effectively a single 1000g mass and the scaleshould read 9.8N. Show that this is the case by treating the hamster and the block as separate objects and analyzing forces.

b) An extra fine lubricating oil having µs= µk= 0 is sprayed on the top surface of the block, causing the hamster to slide down. Friction between the block and thescale is large enough that the block does not slip on the scale. What does the scale read as the hamster slides down?