96

EXERCISE PROBLEMS:
5.1 A body of weight 200N rests on a horizontal plane. Coefficient of friction is
0.25. Find: (a) Force inclined up at 30o to the horizontal, which will cause
motion. (b) Direction and magnitude of minimum force to cause motion.
Ans: (a) P = 50.47N, (b) θ = 14.04o, P = 48.52N.

5.2 A load of 225N rests on a 15o plane. Coefficient of friction is 0.24. Find:
(i)Horizontal force to pull the block up. (ii)Direction and magnitude of minimum
force to pull up.
Ans: (i) P = 122.2N, (ii) θ = 28.5o, to the horizontal , P = 107.4N.

5.3 A body weighing 250N rests on a 60o plane. Coefficient of friction between the
surfaces is ½. Find the value of horizontal force P to prevent the body from
sliding down. Also find the value of P that will slide the block up the plane.
Ans: (a) P = 165N, (b) P = 4165N.

5.4 A block of weight 1500N is placed on an inclined plane and subjected to a

force P as shown in fig: (5.4). Find the magnitude and direction of friction force
developed. Take: µs = 0.4 and µk = 0.37. Ans: F = 230N up the plane.

5.5 A body resting on a horizontal surface requires a pull of 80N inclined at 30o to
the horizontal just to move it. It was also found that a push of 100N inclined at
30o to the horizontal moves the body. Find the weight of the body and the
coefficient of friction. Ans: W = 400N, µ = 0.192.

5.6 A block of mass 300kg rests on a horizontal plane and the coefficient of friction
is 0.35. The block can be moved by either pushing at A or pulling at B as
shown in Fig:(5.6). Through calculations show which requires less effort and
explain why it is so? Ans: PA = 1491N(Push), PB = 989.4N(pull). Pull requires
less effort due to decrease in normal reaction which results in reduced
frictional resistance.

5.7 Block A weighing 600N and B weighing 100N are connected by a string
passing over a smooth pulley as shown in Fig:(5.7). µ = 0.4 between block A
and plane. Determine the range of values of P for the block A to be in
equilibrium. Ans: 0 ≤ P ≤ 441.6N.

P=600N

30o
30o 30o A o

1500N 300kg
P
30o 30o B
Fig: (5.4) Fig: (5.6) Fig: (5.7)
 97
5.8 A block of weight W is resting on a rough plane inclined at an angle θ to the
horizontal. The coefficient of friction is = µ . Obtain an expression from the first
principles for the value of θ for which sliding of the block down the plane will
impend. Ans: θ = ϕ (angle of friction).

5.9 The blocks A and B connected by a flexible cord rest on an inclined plane as
shown in Fig:(5.9). µ =0.15 under block A and 0.3 under block B. If the
blocks are at the verge of sliding, find the angle θ and the tension in the
connecting cord. Ans: θ = 14.03o, T = 2.43N.

5.10 Determine the force P acting parallel to the plane shown in Fig:(5.10) to cause
motion to impend. Coefficient of friction is 0.25 and the pulley is smooth.
Ans: P = 96.84N.

5.11 Blocks A and B of masses 70kg and 45kg are connected by a flexible cord
passing over a smooth pulley as shown in Fig:(5.11). If coefficient of friction is
0.2 for all contact surfaces, find the least force P and its inclination to cause
motion to impend. Ans: θ = 11.3o, P = 737.1N.
P
B B B θ
50N o 135kg o 45kg

A A
25N A
45kg 70kg
θ P 45o 60o

Fig: (5.9) Fig: (5.10) Fig: (5.11)

5.12 Find the minimum value of the weight of block B shown in Fig:(5.12) required
to maintain equilibrium. µ under block A is 0.1 and that under block B is 0.24.
Pulley is smooth. Ans: W B = 3539N.

5.13 For the arrangement shown in Fig:(5.13), find the value of P needed to cause
motion of the 3kN block. Take µ = 0.3 between all contact surfaces. What is
the tension in the cable when motion impends. Ans: P = 1.923kN, T = 0.59kN

5.14 Two identical blocks A and B are connected by a rod as shown in Fig:(5.14). If
sliding impends when θ = 45o, determine the coefficient of friction assuming it
to be same for both the floor and the wall. Ans: µ = 0.414.

B Ao
o
1500N cord
2kN
A 30o
P
o 3kN θ=45o oB
40

Fig: (5.12) Fig: (5.13) Fig: (5.14)

 98
5.15 Two blocks are to be held by the thrust of two weightless link rods each of
which is connected by a pin joint at the other end and subjected to a horizontal
force P as shown in Fig:(5.15). Determine the minimum value of P to prevent
the blocks from sliding. Take: µ = 0.25 for all contact surfaces.
Ans: P = 3226N.

5.16 Two blocks connected by a horizontal link rod AB are supported on two rough
planes as shown in Fig:(5.16). µ between block A and the plane is 0.4 and the
angle of friction between B and the plane is 20o. What is the smallest weight of
block A to maintain equilibrium. Ans: W A = 10.49kN.

5.17 If µ between the 1000N block and the plane is 0.28, and that between W and
the plane is 0.2, find the least and greatest value of weight of the block shown
in Fig:(5.17) for equilibrium. Assume pulley to be smooth.
5kN
W A 1000N o
o 1000N
o
A
o A B W
WA=WB=2000N
W
30oo o
60 P 30o
B 60o 60o
o B
Fig: (5.15) Fig: (5.16) Fig: 5.17)

5.18 Block A of 5kN is connected to a cord passing over a smooth pulley

carrying a load of 2kN as shown in Fig;(5.18). µ = 0.35, find: (a) Force P
required to prevent rightward motion.(b) Force P to cause impending motion
leftward. Ans: (a)P = 0.33kN (b) P = 3.13kN.

5.19 For the system shown in Fig:(5.19), find the weight of block B that will
cause impending motion. What is the force in the connecting rod. Assume
connecting rod to be of negligible weight. µ = 0.1 for all contact surfaces.
Ans: FAB = 11.46N,WB = 20N.

5.20 The rod AB shown in Fig:(5.20) is connected to two blocks by frictionless

pins. If µ = 0.4 for all contact surfaces, find P to cause: (a) Block B to slide up
the plane. (b) To hold them in position. Ans: (a) P = 22.36kN (b) P = 0.
15kN
Bo
Bo
o
100N 10kN
P A 30o 24o P Ao 30o
o
B 40 o
45o
2kN
Fig: (5.18) Fig: (5.19) Fig: (5.20)
 99
5.21 Two blocks A and B of weights 1500N each are connected by a uniform rod
weighing 1000N as shown in Fig: (5.21). If ϕ =15o, find the force P that will
cause motion to impend leftward. Ans: P = 0.

5.22 If WA = 400N, WB = 200N and the uniform rod weighs 100N, and µ = 0.3
under both blocks, determine the value of P that will start the system shown in
Fig:(5.22) rightward. Ans: P = 398N.

5.23 If the coefficient of friction is 0.6 and θ = 30o, what force P applied on B and
acting down and parallel to the plane as shown in Fig:(5.23) will impend
motion. What will be the tension in the cord attached to A. Ans: P = 128.6N,
T = 122.3N.

P 120N
Bo
A
Ao Bo 200N
B
P Ao 30o P
o
30 o 60 o
45 o θ=30

Fig: (5.21) Fig: (5.22) Fig: (5.23)

5.24 Three blocks are placed on a 20o incline as shown in Fig:(5.24). Determine
which of the blocks will move and friction force under each block. Take:
µs=0.5, µk = 0.4 under blocks A and C and µs=0.3, µk = 0.2 under block B.
Ans: FA=22.92N, FB = 11.28N, FC = 6.8N

5.25 Three blocks A, B, C each of weight 50N are kept on an incline as shown in
Fig: (5.25). µs = 0.3 and µk = 0.2 under blocks A and C and µs = 0.1 , µk =
0.08 under block B. Determine which if any of the blocks will move and friction
force under each block.(b) If the block B is kept right of A and C, find the
friction force developed. Ans: A and B move, FA = 9.66N, FB = 3.86N, FC =
12.9N. (b) A, B and C will move, FA = 9.66N, FB = 3.86N, FC = 9.66N.

5.26 W1 = 500N, W2 = 250N. µ = 0.35 between the blocks and µ = 0.1 between
the lower block and the plane. A horizontal force of 100N acts on the upper
block as shown in Fig:(5.26). Find the force in the cable AB when motion
impends to the left. Ans: FAB = 175N
100N
W1
20N
60N 40N B A 30o
C o W2
B C
A B
A
15o W3
20o
Fig: (5.24) Fig: (5.25) Fig: (5.26)
 100
5.27 Determine the minimum weight of the block B that will keep it at rest when the
horizontal force P starts motion of block A weighing 300N shown in Fig:(5.27).
ϕ = 15o between A and B and µ= 0.3 between block B and the plane.
Ans: W B = 700N.

5.28 Determine the value of P to cause motion of any part of the system of three
blocks shown in Fig:(5.28). µ = 0.3 between A & B and 0.2 between B & C
and 0.1 between C and the floor. Ans: P = 60N.

5.29 Three blocks are positioned on a 30o incline as shown. A force P parallel to
the plane is applied to the middle block. The upper block is prevented from
moving by a wire attached to the wall. Find the maximum value of P before
any slipping can take place. Ans: 93.8N.

30kg µ=0.3
P
P A A 300N 50kg µ=0.4
o
30 B 100N P 40kg
B µ=0.45 30o
C 200N

Fig: (5.27) Fig: (5.28) Fig: (5.29)

5.30 A uniform ladder of weight 200N and length 4m rests on a rough floor
against a rough vertical wall, at 60o to the horizontal. If µ = 0.35 between floor
and ladder and 0.1 between wall and ladder, determine the distance a man
weighing 700N can go up the ladder carrying a head load of 200N without
causing slipping. Ans: x = 2.61m.

5.31 A uniform ladder of weight 850N, length 6m rests on a horizontal floor and
lean against a smooth vertical wall at 65o to the horizontal. When a man
weighing 700N stands on the ladder at a distance 4m from the top, the ladder
is at the point of sliding. Find µ between the ladder and the floor. Ans: µ =
0.198.

5.32 A ladder of length L and weight W is kept at an angle θ with the horizontal
against a smooth vertical wall. If µ is the coefficient of friction , find for what
angle θ will sliding impend. Ans: θ tan –1(1/(2µ).

5.33 A ladder of length 5m and weight 500N rests against a vertical wall at 45o
with the wall. µ = 0.2 between wall and the ladder and 0.5 between floor and
ladder. A man weighing 600N ascends the ladder. How high will he be when
the ladder slips. (b) If a boy stands on the bottom rung of the ladder, what
must be his least weight so that the man may go up to the top of the ladder.
Ans: x = 2.92m (b) W = 458.7N.