2006 4.

(a) Two particles of mass 0.4 kg and 0.5 kg are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string which passes over a fixed smooth light pulley. The system is released from rest. (i) Find the acceleration of the system, in terms of g. (i) (ii) After falling 1 m the 0.5 kg mass strikes a horizontal surface and is brought to rest. The string again becomes taut after t seconds. Find the value of t correct to two places of decimals.
0.4 kg 0.5 kg

SOLUTION FNet = ma 0.4 kg particle: T 0.4 g = 0.4a...(1) 0.5 kg particle: 0.5 g T = 0.5a....(2) 0.1g = 0.9a 0.1g 1 a = = g m s 2 0.9 9 (ii) Find the speed of each particle when the 0.5 kg mass hits the ground. u = 0 m s 1
2 a=1 9 gm s

a T T

v 2 = u 2 + 2as v 2 = 02 + 2( 1 9 g )(1)
2 v2 = 9 g

0.4 kg

0.5 kg

s =1 m v=?

v=

2g m s 1 3

0.4g

0.5g

The 0.4 kg mass is now in free fall. Calculate the time to reach its maximum height. u= 2g m s 1 3 v = 0 m s 1 a = g m s 2 t =? v = u + at 2g gt 3 2g t = = 0.151 s 3g 0=

The time to come back down is equal to the time to go up. When it returns to its original position where it entered free fall, the string becomes taut again. Total time t = 2(0.151) = 0.30 s

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

 (b) A smooth wedge of mass 3m and slope rests on a smooth horizontal surface. A particle of mass m is placed on the smooth inclined face of the wedge and is released from rest. A horizontal force F is applied to the wedge to keep it from moving. (i) Show, on separate diagrams, the forces acting on the wedge and on the particle.

F 3m

(ii) Prove that the reaction between the wedge and the horizontal surface is 2 mg (3 + cos ). (iii) If the speed of the particle after 1 s is 4.9 m/s find the value of . SOLUTION (i) and (ii)
a

m
F

sin

co

sa

3m mg

m particle: FNet = ma y direction: R mg cos a = m(0) R = mg cos a ...(1) x direction: mg sin a = ma a = g sin a ...(2)
m g sin a

s co

mg

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

3m wedge: FNet = ma y direction: N 3mg R cos a = 3m(0) N = 3mg + R cos a ...(3)

F R sin a a R cos a R 3m N

a 3mg

Substitute equation (1) into equation (3): N = 3mg + R cos a ...(3) N = 3mg + mg cos a (cos a ) = 3mg (1 + cos 2 a ) (iii) u = 0 m s 1 a = g sin a v = 4.9 m s 1 t =1 s v = u + at 4.9 = 0 + ( g sin a )(1) 4.9 1 = sin a = 9.8 2 o a = sin 1 ( 1 2 ) = 30

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