Physics acceleration question

Question

A 10-kg block is sitting on an inclined plane. There is a cord attached that goes over the top of the plane and has a 15-kg mass attached via a pulley. The plane is 34 degrees and the coefficient of kinetic friction is .2 between the plane and the block resting on it. What is the acceleration of the system and what is the tension of the cord? Note: The 10-kg block is being pulled up the plane.

Answer 1

You need to draw free body diagrams for the 15-kg weight and the 10-kg block on the ramp. You can then create an equation for each object based on the forces that you can identify. Each equation will have the tension in the rope and the acceleration of the system. This is a classic setup for a system of equations. When you have two unknowns, you need two equations. I prefer adding these two equations together and solving for the acceleration first, then take that answer and solve for the tension on the rope. As an example the equation for the hanging weight would be F_g - T = ma.