Edexcel M1 2020 June — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2020
SessionJune
TopicPulley systems

7. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{05cf68a3-1ba4-487f-9edd-48a246f4194f-24_534_426_127_760} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} One end of a light inextensible string is attached to a particle \(A\) of mass \(5 m\). The other end of the string is attached to a particle \(B\) of mass \(3 m\). The string passes over a small, smooth, light fixed pulley. Particle \(A\) is held at rest with the string taut and the hanging parts of the string vertical, as shown in Figure 4. Particle A is released.
  1. Find, in terms of \(m\) and \(g\), the magnitude of the force exerted on the pulley by the string while \(A\) is falling and before \(B\) hits the pulley.
  2. State how, in your solution to part (a), you have used the fact that the pulley is smooth.