A triangular block is wedged between a wall and the ground. On top rests a square block held stationary by friction between it and the triangular block. On top of the square block lies a trapezoidal block held stationary by a rope attached to an immovable wall. The square block has mass 2M while both the triangular and trapezoidal block have mass M. Friction is present only between the surface of the square and triangular block.
(a) Treating each block as a point particle, sketch a free body diagram for all three blocks. Scale each force vector relative to each other.
(b) Identify Newton's third law force pairs.
(c) Determine an expression, in terms of the wedge angle theta for the coefficient of friction that would just barely keep the square block from sliding.
(d) Obtain an expression for the tension in the cable as a function of theta and M.
(e) Find the normal force of the ground on the triangular block?
(f) Find the normal force of the wall acting on the triangular block?