A block rests on each face of a triangular wedge, joined by a rope over a pulley at the apex. Gravity pulls each down its own slope; whichever pull wins drags its block down and hauls the other up — unless friction on the two faces is enough to grip both in place. Tune the angles, masses and friction and find the tipping point.
■ Blocks m₁, m₂— Rope tensionWedge fixed to the ground · ideal pulley & rope
Left incline · m₁
Angle α45°
Mass m₁3.0 kg
Friction μ₁0.10
Right incline · m₂
Angle β30°
Mass m₂1.0 kg
Friction μ₂0.10
Block 1 descends
System state
3.23
accel (m/s²)
—
tension (N)
pull ΔFgrip fmax
Find the tipping point: with the blocks sliding, raise μ₁ and μ₂ until the grip bar overtakes the pull bar — the motion freezes and the state reads Static. Nudge an angle or mass and it breaks free again.