Edexcel M1 2015 January — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2015
SessionJanuary
TopicPulley systems

8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{aaa8b297-347c-4a9b-a2c2-c4bd70d56912-13_668_901_262_566} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} A particle \(A\) of mass \(3 m\) is held at rest on a rough horizontal table. The particle is attached to one end of a light inextensible string. The string passes over a small smooth pulley \(P\) which is fixed at the edge of the table. The other end of the string is attached to a particle \(B\) of mass \(2 m\), which hangs freely, vertically below \(P\). The system is released from rest, with the string taut, when \(A\) is 1.3 m from \(P\) and \(B\) is 1 m above the horizontal floor, as shown in Figure 3. Given that \(B\) hits the floor 2 s after release and does not rebound,
  1. find the acceleration of \(A\) during the first two seconds,
  2. find the coefficient of friction between \(A\) and the table,
  3. determine whether \(A\) reaches the pulley.
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{aaa8b297-347c-4a9b-a2c2-c4bd70d56912-14_106_59_2478_1833}