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A large wedge with a mass of 10 kg rests on a horizontal frictionless surface as shown.

A. The acceleration of the wedge is zero.
B. The acceleration of the wedge is 9.8 m/s².
C. The acceleration of the wedge is 5 m/s².
D. The acceleration of the wedge depends on the angle of the incline.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The acceleration of the wedge depends on the angle of the incline.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an object rests on an incline, the force of gravity acting on the object can be divided into two components: a force acting perpendicular to the plane (W1), and a force acting parallel to the plane (Wl). The force of weight, W1, is typically equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the normal force, N. The force acting parallel to the plane, Wl, causes the object to accelerate down the incline. The force of friction, f, opposes the motion of the object, so it acts upward along the plane.

To calculate the acceleration of the wedge, we need to consider the angle of the incline. If the angle is known, we can use trigonometry to determine the components of weight and subsequently calculate the acceleration. However, without the angle of the incline, it is not possible to provide a specific numerical value for the acceleration.

So, to answer your question, the acceleration of the wedge depends on the angle of the incline.

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