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A force of 12.8 N pulls horizontally on a 0.9 kg block that slides on a rough, horizontal surface. This block is connected by a horizontal string to a second block of mass m2 = 2.04 kg on the same surface. The coefficient of kinetic friction is µk = 0.19 for both blocks.
(a) What is the acceleration of the blocks?
m/s2
(b) What is the tension in the string?
N

To find the acceleration of the blocks, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration:

Fnet = m * a

In this case, the net force is given by the force applied minus the force of friction:

Fnet = Fapplied - Ffriction

For the first block, the force applied is 12.8 N, and the frictional force is calculated using the coefficient of kinetic friction:

Ffriction = µk * N (N is the perpendicular force of the surface on the block)

To find the tension in the string, we can consider the second block. The tension in the string is the same for both blocks, as they are connected. We can use the mass and acceleration of the second block to find the tension:

Tension = m2 * a

Now let's calculate the values:

(a) Acceleration of the blocks:
First, calculate the frictional force on the first block:

Ffriction = µk * N

The normal force N can be calculated as the weight of the block, since it is on a flat surface:

N = mg (where g is the acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.8 m/s^2)

Next, calculate the net force on the first block:

Fnet = Fapplied - Ffriction

Finally, use Newton's second law to find the acceleration:

Fnet = m * a

(b) Tension in the string:
The tension in the string is the same for both blocks. We can calculate it using the mass and acceleration of the second block:

Tension = m2 * a