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Problem # 1: Hint and Answer

This document contains 9 physics problems involving pulleys. It provides the problem statements, hints, and answers for determining forces and accelerations in static and dynamic pulley systems. The problems cover determining pulling forces, maximum and minimum masses, and conditions for no sliding in single and double pulley configurations. The hints explain applying concepts like Newton's 2nd law, static equilibrium, and analyzing tension forces to formulate the relevant equations and isolate the unknown variables.

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pk2varma
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340 views10 pages

Problem # 1: Hint and Answer

This document contains 9 physics problems involving pulleys. It provides the problem statements, hints, and answers for determining forces and accelerations in static and dynamic pulley systems. The problems cover determining pulling forces, maximum and minimum masses, and conditions for no sliding in single and double pulley configurations. The hints explain applying concepts like Newton's 2nd law, static equilibrium, and analyzing tension forces to formulate the relevant equations and isolate the unknown variables.

Uploaded by

pk2varma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem # 1

A block of mass m is pulled, via pulley, at constant velocity along a surface inclined at
angle . The coefficient of kinetic friction is k, between block and surface. Determine the
pulling force F. Answer:mgcosk+mgsin

Problem # 2
Two blocks of mass m and M are hanging off a single pulley, as shown. Determine the
acceleration of the blocks. Ignore the mass of the pulley.
Hint and answer

Problem # 3
Two blocks of mass m and M are connected via pulley with a configuration as shown. The
coefficient of static friction is s, between block and surface. What is the maximum
mass m so that no sliding occurs? Answer:maximum m = Ms

Problem # 4

Two blocks of mass m and M are connected via pulley with a configuration as shown. The
coefficient of static friction is s, between block and surface. What is the minimum and
maximum mass M so that no sliding occurs?
Hint and answer

Problem # 5
Two blocks of mass m and M are connected via pulley with a configuration as shown. The
coefficient of static friction is s, between blocks and surface. What is the maximum
mass m so that no sliding occurs? Answer:Maximum m = Ms/(sincoss)

Problem # 6
Two blocks of mass m and M are connected via pulley with a configuration as shown. The
coefficient of static friction between the left block and the surface is s1, and the coefficient
of static friction between the right block and the surface is s2. Formulate a mathematical
inequality for the condition that no sliding occurs. There may be more than one inequality.
Hint and answer

Problem # 7
A block of mass m is pulled, via two pulleys as shown, at constant velocity along a surface
inclined at angle . The coefficient of kinetic friction is k, between block and surface.
Determine the pulling force F. Ignore the mass of the pulleys.
Hint and answer

Problem # 8
A block of mass m is lifted at constant velocity, via two pulleys as shown. Determine the
pulling force F. Ignore the mass of the pulleys.
Hint and answer

Problem # 9
A block of mass M is lifted at constant velocity, via an arrangement of pulleys as shown.
Determine the pulling force F. Ignore the mass of the pulleys.
Hint and answer

The hints and answers for these pulley problems will be given next.
Hints And Answers For Pulley Problems

Hint and answer for Problem # 2


This is called the Atwood machine and is commonly used for demonstration in physics
classes.
Apply Newton's second law to the block on the left. We have MgT = Ma(taking the
downward direction as positive). Apply Newton's second law to the block on the right. We
have mgT = -ma (the acceleration of the two blocks have opposite signs, since one moves
up and the other moves down). Combine these two equations and we can find an expression
for the acceleration of the blocks.
Answer: a = (Mm)g/(M+m)

Hint and answer for Problem # 4


For the maximum mass M, the block is on the verge of sliding down the incline. This means
that MgsinTMgcoss = 0, where T is the tension in the rope. Since T = mg, we can
calculate the maximum M from the previous equation.
For the minimum mass M, the block is on the verge of sliding up the incline. This means
that MgsinT+Mgcoss = 0, where T = mg. We can calculate the minimum M from the
previous equation.
Answer: Minimum M = m/(sin+coss), Maximum M = m/(sincoss)

Hint and answer for Problem # 6


This is a challenging problem! It took me a while to figure this one out!
At some angle 1 > max1 block M will slide down on its own if there is no rope attached.
Similarly, at some angle 2 > max2 block m will slide down on its own if there is no rope
attached.
It is known that max1 = atan(s1) and max2 = atan(s2).
If 1 max1 and 2 max2 then no sliding occurs. There are three more cases to consider.
Case 1:
1 > max1 and 2 max2.
Apply the equilibrium equation to block M in which it is on the brink of sliding down. We
have: Mgsin1Mgcos1s1Tmin1 = 0, where Tmin1corresponds to the minimum rope tension
preventing block M from sliding down. (Note that the system naturally "settles" such that
the rope tensionT required to stop the block from sliding down is the minimum possible
amount). For T < Tmin1 the block slides down. From this equation we getTmin1 = Mgsin1
Mgcos1s1. Call this equation (1).
There is no need to consider block M sliding up since it is an impossibility
for 2 max2 (which means block m cannot slide down which means it cannot pull
block M up).
Tmin1 must be provided by the block m and must not exceed the maximum rope tension
which can be resisted by block m and not be pulled up the incline. This maximum rope
tension can be determined from the following equilibrium equation applied to
block m: mgsin2+mgcos2s2Tmax2 = 0, from which Tmax2 = mgsin2+mgcos2s2. Call this
equation (2).

For no sliding Tmin1 Tmax2. Therefore, from equation (1) and (2) we have the final inequality
for this case:
Msin1Mcos1s1 msin2+mcos2s2
Case 2:
1 max1 and 2 > max2.
This is the same as case 1, by symmetry. Hence, the final inequality for this case is:
msin2mcos2s2 Msin1+Mcos1s1
Case 3:
1 > max1 and 2 > max2.
The blocks will slide together in one direction or the other. To determine the direction we
must first calculate the net force pulling down on each block along their respective inclines,
as a result of gravity. We do this as follows:
For block M, Fnet1 = Mgsin1Mgcos1s1. And Fnet1 > 0 since 1 >max1.
For block m, Fnet2 = mgsin2mgcos2s2. And Fnet2 > 0 since 2 >max2.
We now have three sub-cases to consider. The final inequalities for this case will be given
within these three sub-cases, as follows.
Case 3A:
If Fnet1 = Fnet2 the blocks will not slide.
Case 3B:
If Fnet1 > Fnet2, then Fnet1 mgsin2+mgcos2s2 for no sliding. Note that Fnet1 is equal to the
rope tension, and this rope tension is the minimum required to prevent block M from sliding
down the incline.
Hence, for no sliding: Msin1Mcos1s1 msin2+mcos2s2
Case 3C:
If Fnet2 > Fnet1, then Fnet2 Mgsin1+Mgcos1s1 for no sliding. Note thatFnet2 is equal to the
rope tension, and this rope tension is the minimum required to prevent block m from sliding
down the incline.

Hence, for no sliding: msin2mcos2s2 Msin1+Mcos1s1


We are done!

Hint and answer for Problem # 7


Apply the condition of static equilibrium to the block. We have 2Fmgsinmgcosk = 0.
The term 2F comes from a force analysis in which we see that there are two segments of
rope pulling equally on the block. We then solve this equation for F.
Answer: F = (1/2)mg(sin+kcos)

Hint and answer for Problem # 8


Apply the condition of static equilibrium to the block. We have 2Fmg = 0. The term
2F comes from a force analysis in which we see that there are two segments of rope pulling
equally on the block. We then solve this equation for F.
Answer: F = mg/2

Hint and answer for Problem # 9


Upon close inspection we see that the bottom two pulleys are held up by four segments of
rope. The tension in the rope is assumed equal throughout its length (a good assumption for
ropes in general since they weigh little). Three of the four rope segments are vertical while
the remaining rope segment is at a small angle with the vertical. But for ease of calculation
we can treat it as being exactly vertical. Since we are ignoring the mass of the pulleys, the
tension in the four rope segments must equal the weight of the mass, in order to satisfy the
condition of static equilibrium. Hence, 4FMg = 0. We then solve this equation for F.
Answer: F = Mg/4

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