Class 11 · Laws of Motion

Wedge Problems (frictionless)

Block on movable wedge — both accelerate. See the recoil and coupled motion.

Key Notes

01

Frictionless wedge of mass M on smooth floor; block of mass m on the incline.

02

Both accelerate: block down the incline AND wedge horizontally (recoil).

03

Solve using Newton's laws in ground frame, or pseudo-force in wedge frame.

Formulas

Wedge acceleration

Horizontal recoil.

Block acceleration along incline

Relative to wedge.

Important Points

If M → ∞, recovers fixed-wedge result a = g sinθ.

Constraint: block stays on incline — relate accelerations using contact condition.

Wedge Problems (frictionless) notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 11 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.