Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 with m1>m2, are placed in contact with each other on a frictionless, horizontal surface as in Active Figure 5.12a. A constant horizontal force F is applied to m1 as
shown.
(A) Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the system.
(B) Determine the magnitude of the contact force between the two blocks
blocks
This result shows that the contact force P12 is less than the applied force F. The force required to accelerate block 2 alone must be less than the force required to produce the same acceleration for the two-block system.