Contact force between blocks
Applications of Newton's Laws - How to calculate the contact force between touching blocks.
Example:
Block 1, weighing 4 kg, and block 2, weighing 1 kg, shown in the figure, are juxtaposed and resting on a flat, horizontal surface. They are accelerated by the horizontal force F, with a magnitude of 10 N, applied to block 1, and begin to slide over the surface with negligible friction.
Determine the direction of the force f12 exerted by block 1 on block 2 and calculate its magnitude.
Determine the direction of the force f21 exerted by block 2 on block 1 and calculate its magnitude.