Module

Mechanics of Rigid Bodies and Point Sources

Week 2 Session 2 Applying Newton’s laws
(Uni. Phys. – Ch. 5)

Preparation Guided-Self Study Homework

Session Prior to session Studio Classroom Work on problems Finish all problems

04 2.2.1 to 2.2.4 2.2.9, 2.2.10 2.2.6, 2.2.7, 2.2.8, 2.2.5

Level of difficulty:
* (lighter) problems to assess physics concept and quickly test your ability to
apply it.
** (exam-level) problems to test your understanding and to train your solving
strategy.
*** (above exam-level) problems (often) demonstrated and worked-out solutions
for your reference and preparation.

Introductory problems

2.2.1 Pulling sledges *

based on Univ. Phys. 5.14

Problem

Three sleds are being pulled horizontally on frictionless horizontal ice using horizontal ropes. The pull
is of magnitude 𝐹. Find

(a) the acceleration of the system and

(b) the tension in ropes A and B.
(c) Calculate the results of (a) and (b) using 𝑀 = 10.0 kg, 𝑀 = 20.0 kg, 𝑀 = 30.0 kg, and 𝐹 =
132 N.

Solution
Elaborate solution
2.2.2 Stay dry! *
based on Univ. Phys. 5.57

Problem
You tie a cord to a bucket of water and swing the bucket in a vertical circle of radius 𝑅. What
minimum speed must you give the bucket at the highest point of the circle to avoid spilling water?

Solution
Elaborate solution

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2.2.3 Static and kinetic friction! *
based on Univ. Phys. 5.24

Problem
In a laboratory experiment on friction, a block
with weight 𝑤 = 130 N resting on a rough
horizontal table is pulled by a horizontal wire.
The pull gradually increases until the block
begins to move and continues to increase
thereafter. The figure alongside shows a graph of
the friction force on this block as a function of
the pull.

(a) Identify the regions of the graph where static friction and kinetic friction occur.
(b) Find the coefficients of static friction and kinetic friction between the block and the table.
(c) Why does the graph slant upward at first but then level out?
(d) What would the graph look like if another block with the same weight were placed on the first
block, and what would the coefficients of friction be?

Solution
Elaborate solution
2.2.4 Crates on surface *
based on Univ. Phys. 5.37

Problem
Two crates connected by a rope lie on a horizontal surface. Crate A has mass 𝑀 , and crate B has
mass 𝑀 . The coefficient of kinetic friction between each crate and the surface is 𝜇 . The crates are
pulled to the right at constant velocity by a horizontal force 𝐹⃗ .

Draw one or more free-body diagrams to calculate the following in terms of 𝑀 , 𝑀 , and 𝜇 :

(a) the magnitude of 𝐹⃗ and

(b) the tension in the rope connecting the blocks.

Solution
Elaborate solution

Problems

2.2.5 Two sliding blocks with pulley **

Figure from on Univ. Phys. 5.74

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Problem
A block with mass 𝑚 is placed on an inclined plane with slope angle
𝛼 and is connected to a hanging block with mass 𝑚 by a cord
passing over a small, lightweight, frictionless pulley (see figure). The
coefficient of static friction is 𝜇 , and the coefficient of kinetic
friction is 𝜇 and the gravity is 𝑔.

(a) Find the value of 𝑚 for which the block of mass 𝑚 moves up the plane at constant speed once
it is set in motion.
(b) Find the value of 𝑚 for which the block of mass 𝑚 moves down the plane at constant speed
once it is set in motion.
(c) For what range of values of 𝑚 will the blocks remain at rest if they are released from rest?

Although the pulley is not contributing to the motion of the blocks itself, it certainly exerts a force on
its support structure.

(d) What is the force 𝐹⃗ of the support structure exerted on the base of the pulley for the
motion described in (a)? Express your answer in vectors 𝑇⃗ and 𝑇⃗ (tension in cord to left and
below the pulley, respectively) and 𝑤⃗ .

Solution
Elaborate solution
2.2.6 Race car on track **
Figure from on Univ. Phys. Example 5.22

Problem
Consider a car with mass 𝑀 on a wet roadway banked as in the figure below, where there is a
coefficient of static friction 𝜇 and a coefficient of kinetic friction 𝜇 between the tires and the
roadway. The radius of the curve is 𝑅 and the gravity is 𝑔.

(a) If the bank angle is 𝛽 what is the maximum speed 𝑣 the car can have before sliding up the
banking?
(b) What is the minimum speed 𝑣 the car can have before sliding down the banking?

While the car is driving its rounds, freezing rain makes the friction of the road instantly vanish.

(c) Will the driver be able to stay on track?

Solution
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Elaborate solution
2.2.7 Three sliding blocks with pulley ***
based on Univ. Phys. 5.103

Problem
Blocks A, B, and C are placed as in the figure alongside and
connected by ropes of negligible mass. The pulleys are
lightweight and frictionless. Both A and B each have an equal
weight 𝑤, and the coefficient of kinetic friction between each
block and the surface is 𝜇 . Block C descends with constant
velocity 𝑣. The gravity is 𝑔.

(a) Draw separate free-body diagrams showing the forces

acting on A and on B.
(b) Find the tension in the rope connecting blocks A and B.
(c) What is the weight of block C?
(d) If the rope connecting A and B were cut, what would be the acceleration of C?

Solution
Elaborate solution
2.2.8 (w)Hoop(s) **(*)
based on Univ. Phys. 5.107

Problem
A small bead can slide without friction on a circular hoop that is in a vertical plane
and has a radius 𝑅. The hoop rotates at a constant rate Ω (in revolutions per sec)
about a vertical axis (see figure). The gravity is 𝑔.

(a) Find the angle 𝛽 at which the bead is in vertical equilibrium. (It has a radial
acceleration toward the axis.)
(b) Is it possible for the bead to “ride” at the same elevation as the center of the
hoop?
(c) What will happen if the hoop rotates at rate Ω? Carefully examine your
expression found at (b): does the expression make sense for all values of Ω?

Solution
Elaborate solution

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Studio Classroom

2.2.9 Plank on block sliding together ***

Problem
Block A has mass 𝑚 , plank B has mass 𝑚 . The coefficient of static
friction between A and B is 𝜇 and between A and the horizontal
surface is 𝜇 . The acceleration of gravitation is 𝑔.
You slowly start pulling with an increasing force 𝐹 𝑡 = 𝛽𝑡
(𝛽 is a constant).

What is the condition for the ratio 𝜇 /𝜇 under which both masses
start sliding together when force 𝐹 is large enough?

Solution
Elaborate solution
Whether something slides or not is related to the maximum value of the static friction force,
depending on the static friction coefficient and the normal force exerted on that body. So basically,
you are asked to check the condition where 𝑓 , , 𝑓, , .

Draw a free-body diagrams for block A (left) and plank B (right) when the blocks are not moving:

𝐹 = applied force
𝑓 , = static friction force on block B
𝑤 = 𝑚 𝑔 = weight of block B
𝑁 = normal force on block B
𝑓 , = static friction force on block A with surface
𝑤 = 𝑚 𝑔 = weight of block A
𝑁 = normal force on block A (in size opposing 𝑁 𝑤 !

Note that the static friction force 𝑓 , on plank B is exerted by block A and therefore plank B also
exerts a force 𝑓 , on block A (action-reaction). The same holds for the normal force 𝑁 (which is the
force exerted by block A), but obviously block A also ‘feels’ that it exerted this force to plank B on top
(action-reaction). Or another way to see this: 𝑁 is the normal force of the ground on block A and, of
course, it should be somehow included that plank B lies on top of block A. If there was no 𝑁
downwards in the left diagram, it would imply that block A has nothing on top!

NB. Of course block A exerts (reaction) forces to the ground, but those will be seen when drawing a
free-body diagram of the ground itself! Including the ground as ‘object’ is not relevant to consider in
solving this problem, though.

Check: slide both diagrams on top of each other to treat the two objects as one system and see that
all action-reaction forces cancel: 𝑁 = 𝑤 𝑤 !

Apply Newton’s first law for the situation that the blocks are not moving:
Block A: ∑𝐹 = 0 ⇒ 𝑓 , − 𝑓 , = 0

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 ∑𝐹 = 0 ⇒ 𝑁 − 𝑁 − 𝑤 = 0

Plank B: ∑𝐹 = 0 ⇒ 𝐹 − 𝑓, = 0
∑𝐹 = 0 ⇒ 𝑁 − 𝑤 = 0

Substituting the relation, it becomes clear that:

𝐹 = 𝑓, = 𝑓,
𝑁 =𝑤 =𝑚 𝑔
𝑁 =𝑤 +𝑤 = 𝑚 +𝑚 𝑔

The objects start to slide on the ground for the maximum value of 𝑓 , :
𝑓, , = 𝜇 𝑁 = 𝜇 𝑚 + 𝑚 𝑔.

At that instant the friction force between plank B and block A is the same:
𝑓, = 𝑓, , =𝜇 𝑚 +𝑚 𝑔

The clue is that both objects will move together when this friction force 𝑓 , = 𝑓 , , stays below
its the maximum value 𝑓 , , (realizing that 𝑓 , ≤ 𝜇 𝑁 and 𝜇 ≠ 𝜇 .

Hence: 𝑓 , , < 𝑓, , ⇒𝜇 𝑚 + 𝑚 𝑔 < 𝜇 𝑁 = 𝜇 𝑚 𝑔 leading to the relation:

𝜇 𝑚 +𝑚 𝑚
> =1+
𝜇 𝑚 𝑚
Evaluation: Let’s check our physical intuition.

• Situation 1: Block A and plank B have the same mass (𝑚 = 𝑚 = 𝑚 ) and the static friction
coefficients of both contact surfaces are the same (𝜇 = 𝜇 = 𝜇 ). We expect that the plank
will slide first, because on that contact surface only the weight of plank B rests (while on the
ground the weight of both objects results in greater normal force). You see this back in the found
relation: the condition that both block and plank will slide together does not hold!
𝜇 𝑚
check for this situation: >1+ ?
𝜇 𝑚
𝜇 𝑚
⇒ >1+ ?
𝜇 𝑚
⇒ 1 ≯ 2 ! (= not true. Hence, the blocks will NOT slide together)
• Situation 2: The ground is icy and hence 𝜇 , ≪ 𝜇 , . We expect that block and plank will slide
together and see this back in the relation. In daily setting: a child on a sledge holding a rope
connected to his mother, while she starts walking on ice. Or from teacher experience: the same
situation on snow, whereas parent you first must warn your child to hold onto the sledge as well
before starting to pull... When in motion, though, the child can relax because the kinetic friction
is, especially for snow, much smaller than the static friction to the ground.

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2.2.10 Sport climbing ***
Equations of motion

Problem
In sport climbing, the person who climbs should be anchored by a
second person standing on the ground. The rope from climber to
securer passes through a carabine ring above the climber. When
the climber falls, the kinetic friction of the rope shortly sliding
through the top carabine is considerable and by that, is providing
a friction force that together with a downwards force by the
securer will decelerate the climber quickly.

For simplicity, we now look at the situation where the climber

came to rest and is hanging on the rope. We neglect the static
friction in the carabiner and only consider the static friction
between the securer and the floor (represented by coefficient
𝜇 ). The climbers use a light-weight rope which mass can be
neglected.

What is the minimum ratio 𝑚 /𝑚 that can be anchored in a

secure way when the angle of the rope with the wall is 𝜃?

Solution
Elaborate solution
Free body diagrams of person 1 (left) and person 2 (right):

𝑇 = tension in the rope

𝑤 = 𝑚 𝑔 = weight of person 1
𝑤 = 𝑚 𝑔 = weight of person 2
𝑓 = statis friction force on person 2
𝑁 = normal force on person 2

Apply Newton’s first law to find the relation between the forces in equilibrium: ∑ 𝐹 = 0

𝑇=𝑤 =𝑚 𝑔
𝑇 cos 𝜃 + 𝑁 = 𝑤 ⇒ 𝑁 = 𝑚 𝑔 − 𝑇 cos 𝜃
𝑇 sin 𝜃 = 𝑓
Realize that this will be stable when 𝑁 > 0 (person 2 will not be lifted) and 𝑓 < 𝑓 , = 𝜇 𝑁 (no
sliding). So,

i) 𝑁 > 0: 𝑚 𝑔 − 𝑚 𝑔 cos 𝜃 > 0 ⇒ > cos 𝜃 and

ii) 𝑓 < 𝑓 , : 𝑚 𝑔 sin 𝜃 < 𝜇 (𝑚 𝑔 − 𝑚 𝑔 cos 𝜃) ⇒ > cos 𝜃 + sin 𝜃

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Since 𝜇 > 0 and considering 0 < 𝜃 < both conditions are fulfilled when the second condition is
met (since sin 𝜃 ≥ 0 in this range!)

𝑚 1
> cos 𝜃 + sin 𝜃
𝑚 𝜇

We define 𝑓(𝜃) = cos 𝜃 + sin 𝜃 and plot it for different values of 𝜇 to get a feel for the next step
to take:

It is up to you to decide how strictly we take “secure anchoring” by taking two cases:

 Case A. The anchoring should be secure for any angle 𝜽 in the range 0 < 𝜃 < , meaning
that the ratio 𝑚 /𝑚 should be larger than the maximum value of 𝑓(𝜃).
 Case B. The anchoring should be secure for a single 𝜽 in the range 0 < 𝜃 < , meaning that
the ratio 𝑚 /𝑚 should be larger than the minimum value of 𝑓(𝜃).

Case A

At the maximum of 𝑓(𝜃), the derivative 𝑑𝑓/𝑑𝜃 should be zero:

𝑑𝑓 1 1
= cos 𝜃 − sin 𝜃 = 0 ⇒ tan 𝜃 =
𝑑𝜃 𝜇 𝜇

From cos 𝜃 − sin 𝜃 = 0 it follows that cos 𝜃 = 𝜇 sin 𝜃 and using goniometric identity
cos 𝜃 + sin 𝜃 = 1, it follows that for the maximum of 𝑓(𝜃): sin 𝜃 = and cos 𝜃 = .

We were interested in maximum value of the function 𝑓(𝜃) itself and it follows from using these
expressions that:

1 1 1
𝜇 + 1+
𝜇 𝜇 𝜇 𝜇
𝑓 = + = =
1+𝜇 1+𝜇 1+𝜇 1
1+
𝜇

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 1
⇒𝑓 = 1+
𝜇

So, the climber is safely secured when for all 𝜃 (with 0 < 𝜃 < ) when

𝑚 1
> 1+
𝑚 𝜇

Interpretation: for this case you always must have an anchor having a larger mass 𝑚 than the
climber mass 𝑚 .

Case B

The position of the minimum value of 𝑓(𝜃) depends on the value of 𝜇 . For 𝜇 > 1, the minimum
occurs at 𝜃 = 𝜋/2 and the minimum value is 𝑓 = 𝑓(𝜋/2) = 1/𝜇 ; for 𝜇 < 1, the minimum
occurs at 𝜃 = 0 and the minimum value is 𝑓 = 𝑓(0) = 1. So,

• In case 𝜇 > 1, the secure anchoring requires: > with the rope at an angle close to 𝜃 =
𝜋/2.
Meaning the anchor can hold a climber with a higher mass with the help of the friction force.
• In case 𝜇 < 1, the secure anchoring requires: > 1 with the rope at an angle close to 𝜃 =
0.
As this is the most common situation because for many material combinations the static
friction coefficients are less than 1, better have an anchor with a greater weight when
climbing!

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