RELATIVE ACCELERATION (A/L Combined Mathematics)

1. A light inextensible string passes over a smooth pulley fixed at the

edge of a smooth horizontal plane and around a movable smooth light
pulley C which carries a particle B of mass 2m. A particle A of mass is
attached to one end of the string and the other end of the string is fixed
to the ceiling as shown in the figure. The particle A is initially at rest
on the horizontal plane Find the acceleration of the pulley C and the
tension in the string when the system is released from rest.
2. A small smooth pulley is fixed at the vertex A of the triangular
vertical cross-section ABC of a smooth wedge of mass 2m through its
centre of mass. The face through BC is placed on a fixed smooth
horizontal table. It is given that AB and AC are lines of greatest slope
^
^
of the relevant faces and A B C=A C B=. Two smooth particles
P and Q of masses m and m (>1) respectively, with the string taut
as shown in the figure. The system is released from rest.
Obtain the equations of motion for the particles P and Q along BA and
AC respectively, and for the system horizontally.
Show that the magnitude of the acceleration of each of the particles P
and Q relative to the wedge is

( 1 ) ( +3 ) g sin
( +1 ) [ ( +3 )(+1)cos2 ]

(A/L- 2011 Aug)

3. A light inextensible string of length l attached to a point O on a

vertical wall passes over smooth pulley fixed at the vertex A of the
triangular vertical cross section ABC of a smooth wedge of mass M
through its centre of mass, with the face through BC placed on a fixed
smooth horizontally floor. A particle P of mass m is attached to the
other end of the string and the string is kept taut in a vertical plane as
shown in the diagram with OA being horizontal.
If F is the magnitude of the acceleration of the wedge relative to the floor and f is the magnitude of the
acceleration of the particle P relative to the wedge. Show that f = F. If AC is inclined to the horizontally at
an angle , write down the equations of motion for the particle P along AC and for the system horizontally.
mg sin
Hence or otherwise, show that the wedge moves toward the wall with an acceleration M +2 m(1cos ) .

The system is initially at rest with B at a horizontal distance d form the vertical wall .If PC is greater than d
(P.T.O.)

1cos }

2
d
{M
+2 m
show that B will strike the wall after a time

with speed

2 dmgsin
M +2 m( 1cos ) .

Show also that, the speed of the particle P relative to the floor, just before B strikes the wall is 2

dmg sin (1cos )

M +2 m(1cos ) .

(A/L-

2010 Aug)
4.(a)The cross-section of a smooth wedge of mass 2m, through its centre of mass, is a triangle ABC right
^
angled at C. A small smooth pulley is fixed at the vertex A, the angle B A C being 60 . A light inextensible

string passes over the pulley and has particles P and Q, of masses 3m and m respectively attached to its ends.
The wedge is placed on a smooth horizontal table with the face BC in contact with the table. The particle Q is
held at rest vertically below A, in contact with the vertical face AC and the particle P lying on the inclined face

3
AB. If Q is now set free, show that the acceleration of the wedge is 23 g , and find the tension in the string.
(A/L- 2009 Aug)
5. A smooth wedge of mass M rests on a horizontal table. A particle of mass m is placed on a face of the wedge, of
inclination to the horizontal and is projected with velocity V up a line of greatest slope of the face. Show that
the magnitude of the acceleration of the wedge and the magnitude of the acceleration of the particle relative to
the wedge are in a constant ratio. Show further that the particle returns to its starting point on the wedge after

a time

2 v( M + msin2 )
( M + m ) g sin

(A/L-

2008 Aug)
6. A light inextensible string passes over a light smooth pulley fixed to the ceiling of a lift and carries particles
of masses m and Km (K>1)at its ends. The lift is made to move vertically upwards constant acceleration F, and

at the same time, the particles are released from rest. Find the acceleration of each particle relative to the lift,

and show that the tension in the string is

2 km
(g+f )
.
k +1

Find the value of F in order that the heavier particle is stationary.

(A/L- 2007 Aug)

7. A particle P and a wedge were released from rest as shown in the diagram. Show that, in the resulting motion

M
M M
1
< cos 1+ 2 m m 4 m +1

)}

, for the particle to be in contact with the surface .Show also that the

reaction between the wedge and horizontal plane is

1cos

1cos
M +2 m
/
32 cos +m 2
M 2 +mM

W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc./PG Dip/M.Sc.)