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Grade 12Mechanics

If two blocks are on an inclined plane as shown in attatched image how will we know which one comes down and which goes up. Given m1 is greater than m2? should we consider the components along the plane?

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Profile image of AVERIL IGNATIOUS
10 Years agoGrade 12
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Profile image of ankitesh gupta
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer10 Years ago
The highway is that u answer these type of questions by seeing the options and assuming appropriate values of the angles....but yes there is a brute force method too :) Considering there is no friction assume a direction in which the system moves...ie assume that the m2 block moves down and the m1 block moves up.....now apply newtons Lom on each block that is net force is equal to mass*acc...... U will get two eqn and two variables (tension and acceleration) eliminate tension and find an expression for acceleration that will be in terms of m1 and m2 u will get something like (m1-m2) or (m2-m1) in the expression for acceleration analyze the expression if the accelerate is negative then your assumption was wrong but if u get acceleration positive bingo! U got your answer.......hope this helps you .. Atb:) plz give confirmation of my answer :