A)Two boxes sit side-by-side on a smooth horizontal surface. The lighter box has a mass of 5.60 kg, the heavier box has a mass of 7.65 kg. Calculate the contact force between these boxes when a horizontal force of 4.83 N is applied to the light box.

Question

B)Calculate the contact force if the 4.83 N force is applied to the heavy box instead.

Answer 1

One has to assume no friction here, so the total net force on the small box is 4.83N

Force=ma
4.83=(7.65+5.60)a
solve for a. That is the acceleration for both boxes.
Force on the heavier box: F=(7.65 *a)

b. same a. Force on lighter box = masslighter*a