Question

Blocks with masses of 3.0 kg, 4.0 kg, and 5.0 kgare lined up in a row on a frictionless table. All three are pushed forward by a 17N force applied to the 3.0 kg block. Part A How much force does the 4.0 kg block exert on the 5.0 kg block? Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units. Part B How much force does the 4.0 kg block exert on the 3.0 kg block? Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Answer 1

The 4.0 kg block exerts a force of 17 N on the 5.0 kg block and a force of 17 N on the 3.0 kg block due to the action-reaction principle described by Newton's third law.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario describes three blocks on a frictionless table with forces applied to them. To solve for the forces the blocks exert on each other, one can use Newton's second law and the concept of action-reaction pairs, according to Newton's third law.

Part A: Force Exerted by the 4.0 kg Block on the 5.0 kg Block

When a 17 N force is applied to the 3.0 kg block, the same force is transmitted through the 4.0 kg block to the 5.0 kg block because of Newton's third law. Since the table is frictionless, the force exerted on the 5.0 kg block is also 17 N.

Part B: Force Exerted by the 4.0 kg Block on the 3.0 kg Block

The 4.0 kg block exerts a force on the 3.0 kg block that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force the 3.0 kg block exerts on it. Hence, this force is also 17 N, by the action-reaction principle. Newton's third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Here, the action is the force the 3.0 kg block exerts on the 4.0 kg block, and the reaction is the force that the 4.0 kg block exerts on the 3.0 kg block.

Answer 2

The 4.0 kg block exerts a force of 17 N on both the 5.0 kg block and the 3.0 kg block in this setup.

Let's analyze the situation using Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.

Part A: Force exerted by the 4.0 kg block on the 5.0 kg block:

According to Newton's third law, the force exerted by the 4.0 kg block on the 5.0 kg block will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the 5.0 kg block on the 4.0 kg block.

Therefore, the force exerted by the 4.0 kg block on the 5.0 kg block will also be 17 N (equal in magnitude to the force applied to the 3.0 kg block).

Part B: Force exerted by the 4.0 kg block on the 3.0 kg block:

The force exerted by the 4.0 kg block on the 3.0 kg block will also be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force applied to the 3.0 kg block (according to Newton's third law).

Therefore, the force exerted by the 4.0 kg block on the 3.0 kg block will also be 17 N.