Three or more connected particles

3 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{94c11160-a718-4de5-867a-27c755051fa6-2_312_1207_1320_468} Particles \(P\) and \(Q\), of masses 7 kg and 3 kg respectively, are attached to the two ends of a light inextensible string. The string passes over two small smooth pulleys attached to the two ends of a horizontal table. The two particles hang vertically below the two pulleys. The two particles are both initially at rest, 0.5 m below the level of the table, and 0.4 m above the horizontal floor (see diagram).

1. Find the acceleration of the particles and the speed of \(P\) immediately before it reaches the floor.
2. Determine whether \(Q\) comes to instantaneous rest before it reaches the pulley directly above it.

8. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} Two particles \(P\) and \(Q\), of mass 2 kg and 3 kg respectively, are joined by a light inextensible string. Initially the particles are at rest on a rough horizontal plane with the string taut. A constant force \(\mathbf { F }\) of magnitude 30 N is applied to \(Q\) in the direction \(P Q\), as shown in Figure 4. The force is applied for 3 s and during this time \(Q\) travels a distance of 6 m . The coefficient of friction between each particle and the plane is \(\mu\). Find

1. the acceleration of \(Q\),
2. the value of \(\mu\),
3. the tension in the string.
4. State how in your calculation you have used the information that the string is inextensible. When the particles have moved for 3 s , the force \(\mathbf { F }\) is removed.
5. Find the time between the instant that the force is removed and the instant that \(Q\) comes to rest.

7. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} Three particles \(A , B\) and \(C\) have masses \(3 m , 2 m\) and \(2 m\) respectively. Particle \(C\) is attached to particle \(B\). Particles \(A\) and \(B\) are connected by a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth light fixed pulley. The system is held at rest with the string taut and the hanging parts of the string vertical, as shown in Figure 5. The system is released from rest and \(A\) moves upwards.

1. 1. Show that the acceleration of \(A\) is \(\frac { g } { 7 }\)
   2. Find the tension in the string as \(A\) ascends. At the instant when \(A\) is 0.7 m above its original position, \(C\) separates from \(B\) and falls away. In the subsequent motion, \(A\) does not reach the pulley.
2. Find the speed of \(A\) at the instant when it is 0.7 m above its original position.
3. Find the acceleration of \(A\) at the instant after \(C\) separates from \(B\).
4. Find the greatest height reached by \(A\) above its original position. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{ed659098-c1cf-4ee1-a12a-bf8b6c42db95-14_115_161_2455_1784}

3. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} Two particles, \(P\) and \(Q\), have masses \(4 m\) and \(2 m\) respectively. The particles are connected by a light inextensible string. A second light inextensible string has one end attached to \(Q\). Both strings are taut and vertical, as shown in Figure 1. The particles are accelerating vertically downwards.
Given that the tension in the string connecting the two particles is \(3 m g\), find, in terms of \(m\) and \(g\), the tension in the upper string.

7. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} One end of a light inextensible string is attached to a block \(P\) of mass 5 kg . The block \(P\) is held at rest on a smooth fixed plane which is inclined to the horizontal at an angle \(\alpha\), where \(\sin \alpha = \frac { 3 } { 5 }\). The string lies along a line of greatest slope of the plane and passes over a smooth light pulley which is fixed at the top of the plane. The other end of the string is attached to a light scale pan which carries two blocks \(Q\) and \(R\), with block \(Q\) on top of block \(R\), as shown in Figure 3. The mass of block \(Q\) is 5 kg and the mass of block \(R\) is 10 kg . The scale pan hangs at rest and the system is released from rest. By modelling the blocks as particles, ignoring air resistance and assuming the motion is uninterrupted, find

1. 1. the acceleration of the scale pan,
   2. the tension in the string,
2. the magnitude of the force exerted on block \(Q\) by block \(R\),
3. the magnitude of the force exerted on the pulley by the string.

2 Particles of mass 2 kg and 4 kg are attached to the ends \(X\) and \(Y\) of a light, inextensible string. The string passes round fixed, smooth pulleys at \(\mathrm { P } , \mathrm { Q }\) and R , as shown in Fig. 2. The system is released from rest with the string taut. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure}

1. State what information in the question tells you that
   (A) the tension is the same throughout the string,
   (B) the magnitudes of the accelerations of the particles at X and Y are the same. The tension in the string is \(T \mathrm {~N}\) and the magnitude of the acceleration of the particles is \(a \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\).
2. Draw a diagram showing the forces acting at X and a diagram showing the forces acting at Y .
3. Write down equations of motion for the particles at X and at Y . Hence calculate the values of \(T\) and \(a\).

2 Fig. 2 shows a 6 kg block on a smooth horizontal table. It is connected to blocks of mass 2 kg and 9 kg by two light strings which pass over smooth pulleys at the edges of the table. The parts of the strings attached to the 6 kg block are horizontal. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure}

1. Draw three separate diagrams showing all the forces acting on each of the blocks.
2. Calculate the acceleration of the system and the tension in each string.

7 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{2b3457b6-1fe9-4e67-91d4-a8bc4a5b1709-4_369_508_246_781} Particles \(P\) and \(Q\), of masses \(m \mathrm {~kg}\) and 0.05 kg respectively, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth pulley. \(Q\) is attached to a particle \(R\) of mass 0.45 kg by a light inextensible string. The strings are taut, and the portions of the strings not in contact with the pulley are vertical. \(P\) is in contact with a horizontal surface when the particles are released from rest (see diagram). The tension in the string \(Q R\) is 2.52 N during the descent of \(R\).

1. (a) Find the acceleration of \(R\) during its descent.
   (b) By considering the motion of \(Q\), calculate the tension in the string \(P Q\) during the descent of \(R\).
2. Find the value of \(m\). \(R\) strikes the surface 0.5 s after release and does not rebound. During their subsequent motion, \(P\) does not reach the pulley and \(Q\) does not reach the surface.
3. Calculate the greatest height of \(P\) above the surface.

2 Particles of mass 2 kg and 4 kg are attached to the ends \(X\) and \(Y\) of a light, inextensible string. The string passes round fixed, smooth pulleys at \(\mathrm { P } , \mathrm { Q }\) and R , as shown in Fig. 2. The system is released from rest with the string taut. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure}

1. State what information in the question tells you that
   (A) the tension is the same throughout the string,
   (B) the magnitudes of the accelerations of the particles at X and Y are the same. The tension in the string is \(T \mathrm {~N}\) and the magnitude of the acceleration of the particles is \(a \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\).
2. Draw a diagram showing the forces acting at X and a diagram showing the forces acting at Y .
3. Write down equations of motion for the particles at X and at Y . Hence calculate the values of \(T\) and \(a\).

11 Two balls \(P\) and \(Q\) have masses 0.6 kg and 0.4 kg respectively. The balls are attached to the ends of a string. The string passes over a pulley which is fixed at the edge of a rough horizontal surface. Ball \(P\) is held at rest on the surface 2 m from the pulley. Ball \(Q\) hangs vertically below the pulley. Ball \(Q\) is attached to a third ball \(R\) of mass \(m \mathrm {~kg}\) by another string and \(R\) hangs vertically below \(Q\) (see diagram). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{8c0b68bd-2257-4994-b444-def0b3f64334-7_419_945_493_246} The system is released from rest with the strings taut. Ball \(P\) moves towards the pulley with acceleration \(3.5 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\) and a constant frictional force of magnitude 4.5 N opposes the motion of \(P\). The balls are modelled as particles, the pulley is modelled as being small and smooth, and the strings are modelled as being light and inextensible.

1. By considering the motion of \(P\), find the tension in the string connecting \(P\) and \(Q\).
2. Hence determine the value of \(m\). Give your answer correct to \(\mathbf { 3 }\) significant figures. When the balls have been in motion for 0.4 seconds the string connecting \(Q\) and \(R\) breaks.
3. Show that, according to the model, \(P\) does not reach the pulley. It is given that in fact ball \(P\) does reach the pulley.
4. Identify one factor in the modelling that could account for this difference.

3 Two particles, \(A\) and \(B\), have masses 4 kg and 6 kg respectively. They are connected by a light inextensible string that passes over a smooth fixed peg. A second light inextensible string is attached to \(A\). The other end of this string is attached to the ground directly below \(A\). The system remains at rest, as shown in the diagram. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{a381686b-0b1e-41ba-b88f-be1601e42098-3_457_711_523_845}

1. 1. Write down the tension in the string connecting \(A\) and \(B\).
   2. Find the tension in the string connecting \(A\) to the ground.
2. The string connecting particle \(A\) to the ground is cut. Find the acceleration of \(A\) after the string has been cut.

4. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} Figure 1 shows a weight \(A\) of mass 6 kg connected by a light, inextensible string which passes over a smooth, fixed pulley to a box \(B\) of mass 5 kg . There is an object \(C\) of mass 3 kg resting on the horizontal floor of box \(B\). The system is released from rest. Find, giving your answers in terms of \(g\),

1. the acceleration of the system,
2. the force on the pulley.
3. Show that the reaction between \(C\) and the floor of \(B\) is \(\frac { 18 } { 7 } \mathrm {~g}\) newtons.

1 Fig. 2 shows a 6 kg block on a smooth horizontal table. It is connected to blocks of mass 2 kg and 9 kg by two light strings which pass over smooth pulleys at the edges of the table. The parts of the strings attached to the 6 kg block are horizontal. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure}

1. Draw three separate diagrams showing all the forces acting on each of the blocks.
2. Calculate the acceleration of the system and the tension in each string.

A particle \(P\) of mass \(m\) kg, at rest on a smooth horizontal table, is connected to particles \(Q\) and \(R\), of mass 0.1 kg and 0.5 kg respectively, by strings which pass over fixed pulleys at the edges of the table. The system is released from rest with \(Q\) and \(R\) hanging freely and it is found that the tension in the section of the string between \(P\) and \(R\) is 2 N.

1. Show that the acceleration of the particles has magnitude 5.8 ms\(^{-2}\). \hfill [3 marks]
2. Find the value of \(m\). \hfill [5 marks]

Modelling assumptions have been made about the pulley and the strings.

1. Briefly describe these two assumptions. For each one, state how the mathematical model would be altered if the assumption were not made. \hfill [4 marks]

\includegraphics{figure_8} As shown in the diagram, \(AB\) is a long thin rod which is fixed vertically with \(A\) above \(B\). One end of a light inextensible string of length 1 m is attached to \(A\) and the other end is attached to a particle \(P\) of mass \(m_1\) kg. One end of another light inextensible string of length 1 m is also attached to \(P\). Its other end is attached to a small smooth ring \(R\), of mass \(m_2\) kg, which is free to move on \(AB\). Initially, \(P\) moves in a horizontal circle of radius 0.6 m with constant angular velocity \(\omega \mathrm{rad s}^{-1}\). The magnitude of the tension in string \(AP\) is denoted by \(T_1\) N while that in string \(PR\) is denoted by \(T_2\) N.

1. By considering forces on \(R\), express \(T_2\) in terms of \(m_2\). [2]
2. Show that
   1. \(T_1 = \frac{49}{4}(m_1 + m_2)\), [2]
   2. \(\omega^2 = \frac{49(m_1 + 2m_2)}{4m_1}\). [3]
3. Deduce that, in the case where \(m_1\) is much bigger than \(m_2\), \(\omega \approx 3.5\). [2] In a different case, where \(m_1 = 2.5\) and \(m_2 = 2.8\), \(P\) slows down. Eventually the system comes to rest with \(P\) and \(R\) hanging in equilibrium.
4. Find the total energy lost by \(P\) and \(R\) as the angular velocity of \(P\) changes from the initial value of \(\omega \mathrm{rad s}^{-1}\) to zero. [5]

\includegraphics{figure_14} One end of a light inextensible string is attached to a particle \(A\) of mass \(2\text{kg}\). The other end of the string is attached to a second particle \(B\) of mass \(3\text{kg}\). Particle \(A\) is in contact with a smooth plane inclined at \(30°\) to the horizontal and particle \(B\) is in contact with a rough horizontal plane. A second light inextensible string is attached to \(B\). The other end of this second string is attached to a third particle \(C\) of mass \(4\text{kg}\). Particle \(C\) is in contact with a smooth plane \(\Pi\) inclined at an angle of \(60°\) to the horizontal. Both strings are taut and pass over small smooth pulleys that are at the tops of the inclined planes. The parts of the strings from \(A\) to the pulley, and from \(C\) to the pulley, are parallel to lines of greatest slope of the corresponding planes (see diagram). The coefficient of friction between \(B\) and the horizontal plane is \(\mu\). The system is released from rest and in the subsequent motion \(C\) moves down \(\Pi\) with acceleration \(a\text{ms}^{-2}\).

1. By considering an equation involving \(\mu\), \(a\) and \(g\) show that \(a < \frac{5}{9}g(2\sqrt{3} - 1)\). [7]
2. Given that \(a = \frac{1}{5}g\), determine the magnitude of the contact force between \(B\) and the horizontal plane. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. [4]