Content Creator:

Sahil Gupta

Subject Expert Physics, Vedantu

B.E. PEC Chandigarh

6 Years JEE/NEET Teaching &

Content Experience
Pulley and
constrained motion
Let us start with
Simplest pulley
system.
Two Blocks are hanging with the help of a
pulley as shown. Find the acceleration of the
blocks and tension in the string (m2 > m1).
Assume Pulley to be Massless & FrictionLess.

m1
m2
Solution:
For mass m1, Take upward direction as
+ve & downward direction as –ve. So T
will be +ve & m1g will be –ve.

For mass m2, Take downward direction

as +ve & upward direction as –ve. So T
will be –ve & m2g will be +ve.

Applying Newton’s 2nd law on mass m1

T – m1g = m1a ……(i)
Applying Newton’s 2nd law on mass m2
Solution:
Adding equations (i) and (ii) Putting value of ‘a’ in either of
Eqn. (i) or (ii), we can get value
of T.
T –m1g = m1a …..(i)

m2g – T = m2a ….(ii)

m2g – m1g = m1a + m2a

⇒ (m2 – m1)g = (m1 + m2)a
QUESTION TIME
Blocks are hanging with the help of a pulley as
shown. Find the acceleration of the blocks
and tensions in the strings.

1kg

2kg

3kg
1kg

2kg

3kg
Blocks are hanging with the help of a pulley as
shown. Find Accleration normal reaction
between the 4 kg and 3 kg blocks.

A 5g/9

B 5g/3

C 2g/3
2kg
3kg
D 7g/3
4kg
2kg
3kg
4kg
Blocks are hanging with the help of a pulley as
shown. Find normal reaction between the 4 kg
and 3 kg blocks.

A 5g/9

B 5g/3

C 2g/3
2kg
3kg
D 7g/3
4kg
Two pulley arrangement of figure given are
identical. The mass of the rope is negligible. In
fig.(a), the mass m is lifted by attaching a mass 2m
to the other end of the rope. In fig. (b), m is lifted up
by pulling the other end of the rope with a constant
downward force F = 2mg. The acceleration of m in
teh two cases are respectively
Fig.(a) Fig.(b)
A 3g, g

B g/3,g

C g/3, 2g
2m F=2mg
m
m D g, g/3
Fig.(a) Fig.(b)

2m F=2mg
m
m
Two pulley arrangement of figure given are
identical. The mass of the rope is negligible. In
fig.(a), the mass m is lifted by attaching a mass 2m
to the other end of the rope. In fig. (b), m is lifted up
by pulling the other end of the rope with a constant
downward force F = 2mg. The acceleration of m in
teh two cases are respectively
Fig.(a) Fig.(b)
A 3g, g

B g/3,g

C g/3, 2g
2m F=2mg
m
m D g, g/3
Solution:
Let a and a’ be the acceleration in both cases respectively. Then for
fig. (a)
T - mg = ma ……(i) (a)
and 2mg - T = 2ma ……(ii)
mg = 3 ma

∴ a = g/3

For fig. (b) (b)

T - mg = ma’ …….(iii)
and 2mg - T = 0 …….(iv)
Solving (iii) (iv)
a’ = g

∴ a = g/3 and a’ = g
A man is himself holding the platform on
which he is standing.
(i) Find the tension in string & apparent weight
of man.

60kg
40kg
60kg
40kg
A man is himself holding the platform on
which he is standing.
(ii) What should he do so that his apparent
weight is equal to his true weight.

60kg
40kg
60kg
40kg
A 60 kg painter stands on a 15 kg plat from. A rope
attached to the platform and passing over an
overhead pulley allows the painter to raise himself
along with the platform.To get started, he pulls the
rope down with a force 400 N. Find the acceleration
of the platform as well as that of painter.

A 0.78 m/s2

B 0.67 m/s2

C 4.7 m/s2
400 N

D 1.1 m/s2
Blocks are released from rest. In how much
time will they pass each other.

A 2 sec

B 4 sec

2m 3kg C 1 sec

6m 2kg
D 3 sec
2m 3kg

6m 2kg
Blocks are released from rest. In how much
time will they pass each other.

A 2 sec

B 4 sec

2m 3kg C 1 sec

6m 2kg
D 3 sec
2kg Block is hanging with the help of a thread
attached to 1 kg block passing over a pulley as
shown. Find the acceleration of the blocks
and tension in the string.

1kg

2kg
Blocks are hanging with the help of a pulley as
shown. Find the acceleration of the blocks
and tensions in the strings.

1kg

37o
 1kg

37o
 The blocks are constrained to move over the
inclined plane fix on the ground. Find
accelerations of the blocks.

B
𝜃1 𝜃2
C

D
𝜃1 𝜃2
 The blocks are constrained to move over the
inclined plane fix on the ground. Find
accelerations of the blocks.

B
𝜃1 𝜃2
C

D
Let us learn a Magic method
for these complex problems
 Magic Method

m1

m2

m1
m2
 Magic Method

m₂
𝜃1 𝜃2
θ
 Magic Method

Helping force - Opposing force

a=
Mass of system
 Three masses of 1 kg, 6 kg and 3 kg are
connected to each other with threads and are
placed on table as shown in figure. What is
the acceleration with which the system is
moving ? Take g = 10 m s−2.

A Zero

6kg
B 1 m s−2

C 2 m s−2
1kg 3kg

D 3 m s−2
 Three masses of 1 kg, 6 kg and 3 kg are
connected to each other with threads and are
placed on table as shown in figure. What is
the acceleration with which the system is
moving ? Take g = 10 m s−2.

A Zero

6kg
B 1 m s−2

C 2 m s−2
1kg 3kg

D 3 m s−2
Solution:

T1 T2
6kg

T1 T2

1kg 3kg
 Let us start with
Constrained Motion
Moving Pulley
Moving Pulley (One Fixed END)
Moving Pulley (Both ENDS Moving)
Find the acceleration of masses m1 and m2.

B
m
1

m
2
 A

B
m
1

m
2
Solution:
Apply Newton’s 2nd law for pulley B.
F = ma
⇒ T + T – T′ = (0) a
[Mass of pulley is zero]
⇒ 2T – T′ = 0
⇒ 2T = T′
Applying short trick

⇒ a1 = 2a2 …(i)
Solution:
Apply Newton’s 2nd law on m2
m2g – 2T = m2a2 … (ii)
Apply Newton’s 2nd law on m1
T – m1g = m1a1 … (iii)
⇒ a1 = 2a2 …(i)
m2g – 2T = m2a2 … (ii)
T – m1g = m1a1 … (iii)
T – m1g = 2m1a2
2T – 2m1g = 4m1a2 ……(iv)
Solution:

m2g – 2T = m2a2 … (ii)

2T – 2m1g = 4m1a2 ……(4)

m2g – 2m1g = 4m1a2 + m2a2

As a1 = 2a2
Find the acceleration the masses shown
below.

2kg

3kg
2kg

3kg
 Find the acceleration of the mass m and 3m as
shown below.

A 36/7 m/s2, 36/7 m/s2

B 18/7 m/s2, 36/7 m/s2

C 36/7 m/s2, 18/7 m/s2

370 D 18/7 m/s2, 18/7 m/s2

3M
370
3M
 Find the acceleration of the mass m and 3m as
shown below.

A 36/7 m/s2, 36/7 m/s2

B 18/7 m/s2, 36/7 m/s2

C 36/7 m/s2, 18/7 m/s2

370 D 18/7 m/s2, 18/7 m/s2

3M
Find the acceleration of all the masses shown
below.

1kg

2kg

3kg
1kg

2kg

3kg
 Find the acceleration of 2kg mass.

A 60/17 m/s2
1kg 2kg

B 120/17 m/s2

C 30/17 m/s2

3kg D 180/17 m/s2

 Find the acceleration of 2kg mass.

A 60/17 m/s2
1kg 2kg

B 120/17 m/s2

C 30/17 m/s2

3kg D 180/17 m/s2

Find the acceleration of all the masses.

1kg

2kg

3kg
Find the acceleration of masses and Tensions
in the strings.

1kg

3kg
 1kg

3kg
Find the acceleration of 2kg mass and 5kg
mass shown below.

2kg
D

5kg
 2kg

5kg
Find the acceleration of 2kg mass and 5kg
mass shown below.

2kg
D

5kg
 The acceleration of the block B in the figure,
assuming the surfaces and the pulleys P1 and
P2 are all smooth and pulleys and string are
light is 3F/xm then the value of x is.

A 11
2m 4m

B 17
P1
F
A B
P2 C 7

D 13
 2m 4m

P1
F
A B
P2
 The acceleration of the block B in the figure,
assuming the surfaces and the pulleys P1 and
P2 are all smooth and pulleys and string are
light is 3F/xm then the value of x is.

A 11
2m 4m

B 17
P1
F
A B
P2 C 7

D 13
Let us have some fun now
Wedge A is moving with acceleration aA as
shown in figure. Find acceleration of block B
w.r.t. : (i) Wedge A (ii) Ground (Irodov)

aA B

A
θ
aA B

A
θ
In the system shown in figure , if wedge A is
displaced towards right at acceleration 1 m/s2.
Find acceleration of block B w.r.t. ground ?

aA = 1m/s2
A
600
 aA = 1m/s2
A
600
In the system shown in figure, the block A is
pulled towards right at a constant speed of 1
m/s. Find speed of block B w.r.t. ground.

A 6 m/s

B 1 m/s

B
C
VA = 1m/s
A
D
 In the arrangement shown in fig., the ends P
and Q of an unstretchable string move
downwards with uniform speed u. Pulleys A
and B are fixed. With what speed mass M
moves upwards?

A 2u cos θ

B u cos θ
A θ θ B

C 2u/cos θ
P Q
M
D u/cos θ
A θ θ
B

P Q

M
 In the arrangement shown in fig., the ends P
and Q of an unstretchable string move
downwards with uniform speed u. Pulleys A
and B are fixed. With what speed mass M
moves upwards?

A 2u cos θ

B u cos θ
A θ θ B

C 2u/cos θ
P Q
M
D u/cos θ
 Let us start with
Wedge Constraint Relations
In the system shown in figure, the block A
moves towards left at acceleration of 3 m/s2.
Find acceleration of rod B which is
constrained to move vertically over the
wedge.

aA = 3 m/s2
A
A
30o
 B

aA = 3 m/s2
A
A
30o
Solution:

Concept : The components

of acceleration of the two
bodies along the common
normal are equal

• Let Acceleration of A is aA leftwards and acceleration of B is

aB downwards.
• Lets draw components of acceleration of A, B along
perpendicular to the surface of incline of A.
Solution:

● Components of acceleration of
both A and B along
perpendicular to surface of
wedge A should be same.
A disc is placed over two inclined wedges of
inclination 𝜃. At some instant, if velocity of
either wedge is u, find velocity of disc at that
moment.

u u

𝜃 𝜃
 A disc is placed over two inclined wedges of
different inclinations. At some instant, if
velocity of either wedge is u, find velocity of
disc at that moment.

u u

37 53
 Let us start with
Rod based problems
Figure shows a rod of length l resting on a
wall and floor. Its lower end A is pulled
towards left with a constant velocity v. Find
the velocity of the other end B downward
when rod makes an angle θ with the
horizontal.

A vTan 𝜃
B

u=? B v Cot 𝜃

v θ C V Sin 𝜃

A
D v
 B

u=?

v θ

A
Figure shows a rod of length l resting on a
wall and floor. Its lower end A is pulled
towards left with a constant velocity v. Find
the velocity of the other end B downward
when rod makes an angle θ with the
horizontal.

A v Tan 𝜃
B

u=? B v Cot 𝜃

v θ C V Sin 𝜃

A
D v
Solution:
Thus the two points must have same
velocity components in the direction
of line joining them:

In cases when relation between two

points of a rigid body is required, we
can make use of the fact that in a
rigid body the distance between two
points always remains same.
Find velocity of end B of the rod if velocity of
end A is given 10m/s and direction of velocity
of B is shown.

10m/s
A 10 m/s

37o
A B 6 m/s

C 12 m/s
v

30o B D 4 m/s
 10m/s

37o
A

30o B
Find velocity of end B of the rod if velocity of
end A is given 10m/s and direction of velocity
of B is shown.

10m/s
A 10 m/s

37o
A B 6 m/s

C 12 m/s
v

30o B D 4 m/s
Pulleys can also be used
to wind up a session!!
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