2_ch04_SQ_e

[10130797] <lvl=easy><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=5><bk=2><ch=04>
Two forces act on an object of mass 3 kg on a smooth horizontal table as shown.
N
2N

5N
object

(a) Find the magnitude of the net force acting on the object. (1 mark)
(b) Find the direction of the net force acting on the object. (2 marks)
(c) Find the acceleration of the object. (2 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) Magnitude of the net force = = 5.39 N 1A
(b) 2N


5N

tan  =

 = 68.2 1A
The direction of the net force is N68.2W. 1A
(c) By F = ma, 1M

acceleration of the object = = = 1.80 m s2 (N68.2W) 1A

-- ans end --

[10130776] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=7><bk=2><ch=04>
 Two people, X and Y, participate in a tug of war on a hard horizontal ground as
shown. X keeps his body lower than Y such that the rope is not horizontal. X and Y
have the same mass and are equally strong. They wear the same kind of shoes.
The friction between each person and the ground is directly proportional to the
normal force acting on him by the ground.

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2_ch04_SQ_e

X rope Y

(a) Draw the free-body diagram for X. You may represent X by a dot. (2 marks)
(b) Compare the friction acting on X and Y by the ground. Explain your answer.
(2 marks)
(c) Who will win the game? Explain briefly. (3 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) normal force N

tension T
X 
friction f

weight W

(Each correct force with correct name) 4  0.5A

(b) For X, the normal force NX = W  T sin . For Y, NY = W + T sin  > NX. 1A
Since the friction is directly proportional to the normal force, the friction
acting on Y is larger than that on X. 1A
(c) A player will be pulled forwards if the horizontal component of T is
larger than the friction. 1A
The horizontal component of T acting on each player is the same. 1A
Since the friction acting on Y is larger, Y will win the game. 1A
-- ans end --

[10130796] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=8><bk=2><ch=04>
 A boy holds a string connected to a helium balloon and walks with a constant
speed along a straight line as shown. The string makes an angle of 40o with the
vertical. The weight of the balloon and the upward floating force acting on it are
respectively 0.07 N and 0.18 N.

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2_ch04_SQ_e

helium balloon

40 string

(a) Draw the free-body diagram for the balloon. (2 marks)

(b) Find the tension in the string. (2 marks)
(c) Find the air resistance acting on the balloon. (1 mark)
2
(d) Then the boy accelerates at 0.5 m s . Find the new angle between the string
and the vertical. Assume that the air resistance acting on the balloon is the
same as that in (c). (3 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) floating force U

air resistance R

40

tension T weight W

(Each correct force with correct name) 4  0.5A

(b) Consider the vertical direction.
1M
U = T cos 40 + W
0.18 = T cos 40 + 0.07
T = 0.1436 N
1A
 0.144 N
The tension in the string is 0.144 N.
(c) Consider the horizontal direction.

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2_ch04_SQ_e

1A
Air resistance = T sin 40 = 1.436 sin 40 = 0.0923 N
(d) Let  be the new angle between the string and the vertical.
Consider the horizontal direction. 1M
By F = ma, 0.5M
T sin   R = ma

T sin   0.0923 =  0.5

T sin  = 0.0959 (1)

Consider the vertical direction.
0.5M
T cos  + W = U
T cos  + 0.07 = 0.18
T cos  = 0.11 (2)
(1)  (2),
tan  = 0.872
1A
 = 41.1
The new angle between the string and the vertical is 41.1.
-- ans end --

[10130856] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=8><bk=2><ch=04>
 An object of mass 20 kg is placed on a horizontal surface. Two horizontal forces
F1 and F2 act on the object as shown in the following top-view diagram. The
friction between the object and the surface is 30 N. The size of the object is
negligible.
F1 = 50 N
F2 = 120 N N
50 20

(a) Find the magnitude and the direction of the resultant force of F1 and F2.
(4 marks)
(b) Find the acceleration of the object. (3 marks)
(c) Then F1 and F2 disappear at the same time. Find the acceleration of the object
just after F1 and F2 disappear. (1 mark)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks

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2_ch04_SQ_e

(a) Consider the north-south direction. Take the direction towards the north
as positive.
Fx = 120 cos 20  50 cos 50 = 80.6 N 0.5M
Consider the east-west direction. Take the direction towards the west
as positive.
Fy = 50 sin 50 + 120 sin 20 = 79.3 N 0.5M
Magnitude of the resultant force = = 113 N 1A
79.3 N


80.6 N

tan  = 1M

 = 44.5
The direction of the resultant force is N44.5W. 1A
(b) Net force acting on the object = 113  30 = 83 N 1M
By F = ma, 1M

acceleration of the object = = = 4.15 m s2 (N44.5W) 1A

(c) The friction becomes the net force acting on the object.

Acceleration of the object = = = 1.5 m s2 (S44.5E) 1A

-- ans end --

[10130869] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=7><bk=2><ch=04>
 A car of mass 1500 kg stops on a rough horizontal road due to an engine problem.
A man pushes the car with a force of 800 N to restart it. The force makes an angle
of 20 to the horizontal. The car moves along a straight line and accelerates
uniformly from rest to 0.6 m s–1 in 3 s.

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2_ch04_SQ_e

20
800 N

(Courtesy of Edite Artmann | Dreamstime.com)

(a) Draw the free-body diagram for the car. Represent the car by a point.
(2 marks)
(b) Find the magnitude of the friction acting on the car. (3 marks)
(c) Find the normal force acting on the car by the road. (2 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) normal force

friction
20
800 N

weight

(Each correct force with correct name) 4  0.5A

(b) Acceleration of the car = = = 0.2 m s–2 1M

Let f be the friction acting on the car.

1M
The car moves in the horizontal direction. By F = ma,
800 cos 20  f = 1500  0.2
1A
f = 452 N
The magnitude of the friction acting on the car is 452 N.
(c) Consider the vertical direction.
1M
N = W + 800 sin 20
= 1500  9.81 + 800 sin 20
1A
= 1.50  104 N
The normal force acting on the car by the road is 1.50  104 N.
-- ans end --

6
2_ch04_SQ_e

[10131014] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=7><bk=2><ch=04>
 Jennifer and Mark carry a bucket of water of mass 5 kg together as shown. The
force FM applied by Mark makes an angle of 45 to the vertical and the force FJ
applied by Jennifer makes an angle of 50 to the vertical. The bucket is stationary.

Mark Jennifer

FM FJ
45 50

(a) Sketch a vector diagram to show FM, FJ and their resultant. (2 marks)
(b) Find the magnitudes of FM and FJ. (4 marks)
(c) How can they use a smaller force to carry the bucket? (1 mark)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) resultant force

FM 45 50
FJ

(Correct FM and FJ) 1M

(A vertical and upward resultant) 1A
(b) Consider the vertical direction.
mg = FM cos 45 + FJ cos 50 (1) 1M
Consider the horizontal direction.
FM sin 45 = FJ sin 50 1M

FM = FJ (2)

Substitute (2) into (1),

mg = FJ cos 45 + FJ cos 50

FJ = = = 34.8 N 1A

From (2),

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2_ch04_SQ_e

FM = FJ =  34.8 = 37.7 N 1A

(c) They can stand closer to each other to reduce the angles between their
arms and the vertical. 1A
-- ans end --

[10131355] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=4><bk=2><ch=04>
« In supermarkets, bottled drinks are usually stored in refrigerators with shelves
inclined at an angle  with the horizontal as shown in the following figure.

door of
refrigerator

(a) Explain briefly why bottled drinks are stored on inclined shelves. (2 marks)
(b) If the friction between a 1-kg bottled drink and the inclined shelf is 3 N, what
is the minimum value of  so that the purpose in (a) can be satisfied?
(2 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) The bottled drinks would slide down automatically due to gravity when
the first one is taken. 1A
It is more convenient for customers to take the drinks. 1A
(b) For the purpose in (a), the weight component of the bottled drinks along
the shelf should be larger than the friction.
For a 1-kg bottle,

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2_ch04_SQ_e

mg sin  > 3 1M
1  9.81 sin  > 3
 > 17.8 1A
 should be greater than 17.8.
-- ans end --

[10131425] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=5><bk=2><ch=04>
« A peak tram of total mass 18 000 kg is pulled uphill by a cable. The tracks are
inclined at 20 to the horizontal and the cable is parallel to the track. The friction
acting on the tram is 800 N.

(a) The tram is pulled from rest to a speed of 18 km h–1 in 10 s. Find the average
tension in the cable. (3 marks)
(b) The tram then travels constantly at 18 km h–1. What is the tension now?
(2 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks

(a) Acceleration of the tram = = 0.5 m s–2 1M

Let T be the average tension in the cable.

1M
By F = ma,
T  mg sin 20  f = ma
T  18 000  9.81 sin 20  800 = 18 000  0.5
1A
T = 7.02  104 N
The average tension in the cable is 7.02  104 N.
(b) By Newton’s first law, the net force acting on the tram is zero.
1M

9
2_ch04_SQ_e

T  18 000  9.81 sin 20  800 = 0 1A

T = 6.12  104 N
The tension is 6.12  104 N.
-- ans end --

[10131454] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=7><bk=2><ch=04>
« A girl uses the following set-up to test the performance of her fan. She uses a
thread to hang a ping-pong ball from the ceiling and directly in front of the fan.

When switch ‘1’ is pressed, the angle  between the thread and the vertical is 28.
(a) Draw the free-body diagram for the ball. (2 marks)
(b) When switch ‘2’ is pressed, the angle  changes to 56. Should the girl
conclude that the blowing force becomes double? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)
(c) How would  be affected if the ping-pong ball is replaced by a heavier ball
of the same size? (1 mark)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) tension T

blowing force B

weight W

(One correct force with correct name) 1A

(All correct) 1A
(b) Consider the horizontal direction.
1M
B = T sin  (1)

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2_ch04_SQ_e

Consider the vertical direction.

W = T cos  (2) 1M
(1)  (2),
B = W tan 
When switch ‘1’ is pressed, blowing force B1 = W tan 28
When switch ‘2’ is pressed, blowing force B2 = W tan 56

2 1A

 The girl should not conclude that the blowing force becomes double. 1A
(c)  would become smaller. 1A
-- ans end --

[10131473] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=5><bk=2><ch=04>
« A box is placed on the horizontal ground. Ray and Leo push the box in two
directions as shown in the following top-view diagram. The mass of the box is 20
kg. The friction between the box and the ground is 30 N. The forces applied by
Ray and Leo are 50 N and 120 N respectively.

120 N box
Leo

50 N

Ray

(a) Find the magnitude of the resultant force by the two boys. (1 mark)
(b) Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the box. (3 marks)
(c) Suppose the force applied by each boy stays unchanged in magnitude. How
should they push the box so that the box would have the largest acceleration?
(1 mark)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) Magnitude of the resultant force = = 130 N 1A
(b) Net force acting on the box = 130  30 = 100 N 1M

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2_ch04_SQ_e

By F = ma, 1M

magnitude of acceleration of the box = = = 5 m s2 1A

(c) They should push the box along the same direction horizontally. 1A
-- ans end --

[10131504] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=4><bk=2><ch=04>
« A stationary lamp of mass 10 kg is hung by two wires BA and BC, as shown in the
following figure. If OAB = 60 and YCB = 45, find the tensions in the wires
BA and BC. (4 marks)
X
O 60 A P
P

45 B

lamp
Y
P
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
Let TBA and TBC be the tensions in BA and BC respectively.
Along the horizontal direction,
1M
TBA cos 60 = TBC sin 45
TBA = TBC
Along the vertical direction,
1M
TBA sin 60 + TBC cos 45 = mg

= 10  9.81

TBC = 50.8 N 1A

TBA =  50.8 = 71.8 N 1A

The tensions in wires BA and BC are 71.8 N and 50.8 N respectively.

-- ans end --

[10131626] <lvl=avg><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=8><bk=2><ch=04>

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« A luggage of mass 20 kg moves with a constant velocity down a rough inclined

plane as shown.

luggage

40

(a) Draw the free-body diagram for the luggage. (2 marks)

(b) What is the magnitude of the normal reaction acting on the luggage?
(2 marks)
(c) What is the magnitude of the friction acting on the luggage? (2 marks)
(d) If the plane is smooth, what is the acceleration of the luggage when it moves
down? (2 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a)

normal reaction

friction

weight

(One correct force with correct name) 1A

(All correct) 1A
(b) Normal reaction = mg cos  1M
= 20  9.81  cos 40
= 150 N 1A
(c) Friction = mg sin  1M
= 20  9.81  sin 40
= 126.1 N
 126 N 1A
(d) By F = ma, 1M

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2_ch04_SQ_e

acceleration = = = 6.31 m s–2 (down the plane) 1A

-- ans end --

[10131262] <lvl=dif><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=9><bk=2><ch=04>
 At time t = 0, an object is projected up a rough inclined plane with an initial speed
u. It returns to the starting position with a final speed V at time T. The angle
between the plane and the horizontal is .
u

(a) Draw the free-body diagram for the object during the upward journey.
(2 marks)
(b) Sketch the vt graph of the object from 0T. Take the direction up the plane as
positive. (3 marks)
(c) Explain why u is larger than V. (4 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) normal force N

friction f
weight W

(One correct force with correct name) 1A

(All correct) 1A
(b) v

0 t
T

(Correct axes) 1A

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2_ch04_SQ_e

(Decelerate constantly to a stop during upward motion) 1A

(Smaller constant acceleration during downward motion) 1A
(c) In the upward journey, the net force acting on the object is f + W sin . 1A
In the downward journey, the net force is W sin   f, which is smaller
that that during the upward journey. 1A
By F = ma, the acceleration has a smaller magnitude in the downward
journey. 1A
By v2 = u2 + 2as, V = and u = . 1A
Since the displacements in both journeys have the same magnitude
and au > ad, u > V.
-- ans end --

[10131289] <lvl=dif><part=core><type=sq><cur=phy,cs><mark=8><bk=2><ch=04>
 Two blocks X and Y are put on a rough inclined plane as shown. The mass of X is
2 kg and the mass of Y is 3 kg. A force F, which is parallel to the plane and has a
magnitude of 35 N, acts on X. The plane makes an angle of 30 to the horizontal.
The maximum friction acting on each block is equal to 0.3 times the normal force
acting on it by the plane. Assume that the friction acting on each block is equal to
its maximum value when the block moves.

Y
X
F rough inclined
plane
30

(a) How do the blocks move? Show your calculation. (4 marks)

(b) Then F increases to 40 N. Find the magnitude of the force acting on X by Y.
(4 marks)
-- ans --

Solutions Marks
(a) Weight component of the blocks parallel to the plane W//
1M
= mg sin  = (2 + 3)9.81 sin 30 = 24.53 N < 35 N
 The blocks will not slide down the plane. They either remain at rest
or move together up the plane.
Consider the blocks as one object.

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2_ch04_SQ_e

Maximum friction fmax

= 0.3  mg cos  = 0.3(2 + 3)9.81 cos 30 = 12.74 N 1M
fmax + W// = 12.74 + 24.53 = 37.27 N > 35 N 1M
 The force up the plane is smaller than the maximum force down the
plane.
 The blocks remain at rest. 1A
(b) Consider the blocks as one object.
N

40 N
fmax
W

Take the direction up the plane as positive. By F = ma, 1M

40  37.27 = (2 + 3)a
a = 0.546 m s2 1M
Consider X. Let the force acting on X by Y be T.
T
NX
F X
fX
WX

By F = ma,
1M
40  2  9.81 sin 30  0.3  2  9.81 cos 30  T = 2  0.546
1A
T = 24.0 N
The magnitude of the force acting on X by Y is 24.0 N.
-- ans end --

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