Q5.34 Two bodies A and B of masses 5 kg and 10 kg in contact with each other rest on a table against a rigid wall (Fig. 5.21). The coefficient of friction between the bodies and the table is 0.15. A force of 200 N is applied horizontally to A. What are (a) the reaction of the partition? What happens when the wall is removed? Ignore the difference between and .
The applied force is 200 N.
The maximum friction force on the system is given by :
or
So the net force on partition is 200 - 22.5 = 177.5 N.
This will be equal to the reaction of the partition (action-reaction pair). The direction will be leftward.