Problem
Three boxes rest side by side on a smooth, horizontal floor. Their masses are 5 kg, 3 kg, and 2 kg, with the 3 kg mass in the center. A force of 50 N pushes on the 5 kg mass, which pushes against the other two masses.
1. Write Newton's second law equations for each blocks.
2. What is the acceleration of the boxes.
3. What is the contact force between the 5 kg mass and 3 kg mass?
4. What is the contact force between the 3 kg and the 2 kg mass?