Answer:
The mass of the blocks are 8.704 kg and 6.296 kg.
Explanation:
Let's first find the acceleration the causes this change in speed:
[tex]V^2 - U^2 = 2*a*s[/tex]
[tex]3^2 - 0^2 = 2 * a * 1.2[/tex]
a = 3.75 m/s^2
We can now write the following equation:
[tex]F = m_s * a[/tex]
[tex]F = m_s * 3.75[/tex] -Equation 1
Here the mass taken is of the small block. The force will be the difference in weight of the two blocks ([tex]m_L[/tex] is the larger block and [tex]m_S[/tex] is the smaller block).
So we can write two more equations:
[tex]m_L*9.81 - m_S*9.81 = F[/tex] -Equation 2
[tex]m_L+m_S=15[/tex] -Equation 3
Solving the three equations simultaneously we get:
F = 23.612 N
[tex]m_L=8.704 kg[/tex]
[tex]m_S= 6.296 kg[/tex]