Edexcel M2 2017 January — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM2 (Mechanics 2)
Year2017
SessionJanuary
TopicMoments

7. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{36cced0d-f982-4534-a3fe-13c32fb37f5b-11_513_429_123_762} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} A uniform rod \(A B\) has mass \(m\) and length \(2 a\). The end \(A\) is in contact with rough horizontal ground and the end \(B\) is in contact with a smooth vertical wall. The rod rests in equilibrium in a vertical plane perpendicular to the wall and makes an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) with the wall, as shown in Figure 2. The coefficient of friction between the rod and the ground is \(\mu\).
  1. Find, in terms of \(m\) and \(g\), the magnitude of the force exerted on the rod by the wall.
  2. Show that \(\mu \geqslant \frac { \sqrt { 3 } } { 6 }\). A particle of mass \(k m\) is now attached to the rod at \(B\). Given that \(\mu = \frac { \sqrt { 3 } } { 5 }\) and that the rod is now in limiting equilibrium,
  3. find the value of \(k\).