OCR H240/03 2018 June — Question 12

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleH240/03 (Pure Mathematics and Mechanics)
Year2018
SessionJune
TopicMotion on a slope

12 One end of a light inextensible string is attached to a particle \(A\) of mass \(m \mathrm {~kg}\). The other end of the string is attached to a second particle \(B\) of mass \(\lambda m \mathrm {~kg}\), where \(\lambda\) is a constant. Particle \(A\) is in contact with a rough plane inclined at \(30 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal. The string is taut and passes over a small smooth pulley \(P\) at the top of the plane. The part of the string from \(A\) to \(P\) is parallel to a line of greatest slope of the plane. The particle \(B\) hangs freely below \(P\) (see diagram).
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{d5ab20c8-afd5-473e-8238-96762bd3786d-8_405_670_493_685} The coefficient of friction between \(A\) and the plane is \(\mu\).
  1. It is given that \(A\) is on the point of moving down the plane.
    (a) Find the exact value of \(\mu\) when \(\lambda = \frac { 1 } { 4 }\).
    (b) Show that the value of \(\lambda\) must be less than \(\frac { 1 } { 2 }\).
  2. Given instead that \(\lambda = 2\) and that the acceleration of \(A\) is \(\frac { 1 } { 4 } g \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\), find the exact value of \(\mu\). \section*{END OF QUESTION PAPER}