Interacting Objects
Example 20
Two boxes–one
large and heavy, the other small and light–rest on a smooth, level
floor. You push with a force 
on
either the small box or the large box. Is the contact force between the
two boxes (a) the same in either case, (b) when you push on the large
box, or (c) larger when you push on the small box?
Example 21
A box of mass 
rests
on a smooth, horizontal floor next to a box of mass 
.
If you push on box 1 with a horizontal force of magnitude F = 20.0 N,
(a) what is the acceleration of the boxes? (b) What is the force of contact
between the boxes?
What happens if the relative position of the boxes is reversed? (a) What is the acceleration of the boxes? (b) What is the force of contact between the boxes? (c) What is the total force acting on box 2?
Ropes and Pulleys
Atwood Lab