Chapter 3, Problem 50A

Here is a stone sliding down a friction-free incline.

a. Identify the forces that act on it and draw appropriate force Vectors.

b. By the parallelogram rule, construct the resultant force on the stone (carefully showing it has a direction parallel to the incline—the same direction as the stone’s acceleration).

To determine

The forces that act on the stone and a free body diagram.

Answer to Problem 50A

The forces acts on the stone are weight and normal reaction.

Explanation of Solution

According to the given situation, the force of weight will act in the downward direction and the normal force will be acting perpendicular to the stone’s motion.

Free body diagram:

  

Conclusion:

The forces act on the stone is weight and normal reaction.

To determine

Construction of resultant force on the stone.

Answer to Problem 50A

The resultant vector is parallel to the incline as shown in the figure.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

According to the parallelogram law of vector addition, the resultant vector is the diagonal of the parallelogram of the vectors.

In the given situation the resultant vector is shown in the given construction and will be parallel to the given incline.

Construction:

  

Conclusion:

The resultant vector is parallel to the incline as shown in the figure.