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llamajuice
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Homework Statement
A worker pulls 3 carts connected with 2 horizontal cords. The mass of the last cart is 16.1kg, the middle cart's is 13.2kg and the first cart's is 15.0kg. Friction is negligible. A third cord which pulls on the first cart is at an angle of 21.0 degrees above the horizontal, has a tension of magnitude 35.3N. Determine the magnitude of
a) the acceleration of the carts
b)the tension in the last cord
c) the tension in the middle cord.
Homework Equations
sigma F= ma
The Attempt at a Solution
a) I tried using Newton's 2nd law equation to find acceleration by using the tension in the cord as the force, but I don't get the write answer.
35.3N = (16.1kg + 13.2kg + 15.0kg)a
0.797m/s squared
I then tried finding the horizontal force pulling on the carts instead of the force of the tension of the rope which was at an angle of 21 degrees above the horizontal.
cos 21 = Fb/35.3N
Fb = 32.955 N
32.955N = (44.3kg)a
0.744m/s squared= a
I still get it wrong.
The correct answer is 0.744 m/s squared.
b) and c) I have no idea what I'm doing there.
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