2.1.50. On a smooth horizontal plane there is a wedge with an angle $α$ at the base. A body of mass $m$ placed on a wedge descends with acceleration directed at an angle $β > α$ to the horizontal. Determine the mass of the wedge
For problem $2.1.50$
Solution
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1) Kinematics
Let us consider the instantaneous kinematics of the system. Let $M$ be the mass of the wedge. Let $V$ be the velocity of the wedge. Let $v$ be the velocity of the block relative to the wedge.
The velocity components of the block relative to the ground are: $$v_x = v\cos{\alpha}-|V|, \qquad v_y= v\sin{\alpha}$$
From there we obtain \begin{equation} \tan{\beta}=\frac{v\sin{\alpha}}{v\cos{\alpha}-|V|} \end{equation}
2) Displacement of CM
Since no force acts on the system horizontally, the horizontal displacement of the center of mass $\Delta x_{cm_x}$ must equal to 0, therefore we can write:
Now we substitute V into (1): $$\tan{\beta}=\frac{v}{v-\frac{mv}{M+m}}\tan{\alpha}$$ And obtain the following: \boldmath $$M=\frac{m\tan{\alpha}}{\tan{\beta} + \tan{\alpha}}$$