A block of mass m rests on a smooth incline of angle θ carried by a wedge accelerated horizontally so the block does not slip. Find the normal force exerted by the wedge on the block.
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A block of mass m rests on a smooth incline of angle θ carried by a wedge accelerated horizontally so the block does not slip. Find the normal force exerted by the wedge on the block.

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

For the required horizontal acceleration a=g tanθ, the normal force is the vector resultant of mg downward and ma horizontal in the accelerating frame. Magnitude N=m√(g²+a²)=mg√(1+tan²θ)=mg/cosθ. Answer: D.