OCR MEI M1 — Question 3

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
TopicNewton's laws and connected particles

3 Abi and Bob are standing on the ground and are trying to raise a small object of weight 250 N to the top of a building. They are using long light ropes. Fig. 7.1 shows the initial situation. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{82f933a6-c17e-4b41-ae2b-3cc9d0ba975c-2_770_1068_368_530} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 7.1}
\end{figure} Abi pulls vertically downwards on the rope A with a force \(F\) N. This rope passes over a small smooth pulley and is then connected to the object. Bob pulls on another rope, B, in order to keep the object away from the side of the building. In this situation, the object is stationary and in equilibrium. The tension in rope B, which is horizontal, is 25 N . The pulley is 30 m above the object. The part of rope A between the pulley and the object makes an angle \(\theta\) with the vertical.
  1. Represent the forces acting on the object as a fully labelled triangle of forces.
  2. Find \(F\) and \(\theta\). Show that the distance between the object and the vertical section of rope A is 3 m . Abi then pulls harder and the object moves upwards. Bob adjusts the tension in rope B so that the object moves along a vertical line. Fig. 7.2 shows the situation when the object is part of the way up. The tension in rope A is \(S \mathrm {~N}\) and the tension in rope B is \(T \mathrm {~N}\). The ropes make angles \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) with the vertical as shown in the diagram. Abi and Bob are taking a rest and holding the object stationary and in equilibrium. \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{82f933a6-c17e-4b41-ae2b-3cc9d0ba975c-3_384_357_520_851} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 7.2}
    \end{figure}
  3. Give the equations, involving \(S , T , \alpha\) and \(\beta\), for equilibrium in the vertical and horizontal directions.
  4. Find the values of \(S\) and \(T\) when \(\alpha = 8.5 ^ { \circ }\) and \(\beta = 35 ^ { \circ }\).
  5. Abi's mass is 40 kg . Explain why it is not possible for her to raise the object to a position in which \(\alpha = 60 ^ { \circ }\).