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Aanya Mehta
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Aanya Mehta12:26 AM
Dropping a tricky mechanics question: a block slides down a rough wedge while the wedge is free to move. Has anyone found a clean way to set up the constraint before writing Newton's equations?
Vihaan Rao Start in the ground frame, define the wedge displacement first, and differentiate the contact geometry. The normal force then becomes an output rather than an extra constraint.
Kabir Singh The energy route is shorter here. Use horizontal momentum conservation plus energy; friction means you need to account for heat generated at the interface.