2010 4.

(a) Two particles of masses 0.24 kg and 0.25 kg are connected by a light inextensible string passing over a small, smooth, fixed pulley. The system is released from rest. Find (i) the tension in the string (ii) the speed of the two masses when the 0.25 kg mass has descended 1.6 m. SOLUTION (i)

0.24

0.25

FNet = ma

0.24 kg particle: T 0.24 g = 0.24a...(1) 0.25 kg particle: 0.25 g T = 0.25a....(2) 0.01g = 0.49a 0.01g a = = 0.2 m s 2 0.49 T 0.24 g = 0.24a...(1) T = 0.24a + 0.24 g = 0.24(0.2) + 0.24 g = 2.4 N (ii) u = 0 m s 1 a = 0.2 m s 2 s = 1.6 m v=? v 2 = u 2 + 2as v 2 = 02 + 2(0.2)(1.6) = 0.64 v = 0.8 m s 1
0.24g 0.25g a a T T

0.24 kg

0.25 kg

Kieran Mills & Tony Kelly (www.studentxpress.ie)

 (b) A smooth wedge of mass 4m and slope 45 rests on a smooth horizontal surface. Particles of mass 2m and m are placed on the smooth inclined face of the wedge. The system is released from rest. (i) Show, on separate diagrams, the forces acting on the wedge and on the particles. (ii) Find the acceleration of the wedge. SOLUTION (i)
a
45o

2m

4m

1 mg 2 1 mg sin 45o = mg 2 mg cos 45o =

N

m
R
1

m
2

45o 45o
1 2

2mg cos 45o = 2mg 2mg sin 45o = 2mg

2m

2m

45o 45o

mg

g
4m

2mg 45o

2m particle:
Force Diagram Acceleration Diagram

a
2m
45o 45o

45o o 45

2m

2mg

FNet = ma

A x direction: 2mg = 2m a ....(1) 2 A y direction: R 2mg = 2m R = 2mg 2mA....(2) 2

Kieran Mills & Tony Kelly (www.studentxpress.ie)

m particle:
Force Diagram Acceleration Diagram

a
m
1

m
2

45o 45o
1 2

45o o 45

mg

FNet = ma

x direction:

Wedge: FNet = ma x direction:

1 A mg = 2m a ....(3) 2 2 1 1 1 A mg mA....(4) y direction: N mg = m N = 2 2 2 2

1 1 R+ N = 4mA....(5) 2 2 1 1 y direction: S R N 4mg = 0....(6) 2 2

45o
1 2

45o

1 2

1 2

R 4m

1 2

R
4mg

(ii) Substitute (2) and (4) into (5): 1 1 R+ N = 4mA....(5) 2 2 1 1 1 1 ( 2mg 2mA) + mg mA = 4mA 2 2 2 2 1 1 mg mA + 2 mg 2 mA = 4mA 2mg 2mA + mg mA = 8mA 3mg = 11mA 3g A= m s 2 11

Kieran Mills & Tony Kelly (www.studentxpress.ie)