Physics Question, Please help

Question

Two blocks are in contact on a frictionless horizontal surface. The blocks are accelerated by a single horizontal force  (magnitude F) applied to one of them (see figure).

(a) Find the acceleration and the contact force of block 1 on block 2 in terms of F, m₁ and m₂.

a	=
Fc	=

(b) Find the acceleration and and the contact force of block 1 on block 2 for the specific values F = 7.6 N, m₁ = 1.0 kg and m₂ = 9.0 kg.

a	=  m/s2 (to the right)
Fc	=  N (to the right)

Answer 1

The acceleration of the system is a_t = F/(m1+m2). The contact force on block 2 by block 1 is given by

F_c12 = m1 x at

When F = 7.6 N, the acceleration of the system is a = 7.6N/(1.0+9.0)kg = 0.76 ms^-2.

The contact force of block 1 on block 2 is F_c = 1.0kg x 0.76 ms^-2 = 0.76N