Two inclined planes, pulley at top

A question is this type if and only if it involves two particles on two separate inclined planes connected by a string over a pulley at the apex, requiring Newton's second law to find acceleration and tension, with or without friction on one or both faces.

2 questions · Challenging +1.3

3.03t Coefficient of friction: F <= mu*R model
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CAIE M1 2010 June Q4
8 marks Standard +0.3
4 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{dafc271d-a77b-4401-9170-e13e484d6e5f-3_499_567_260_788} The diagram shows a vertical cross-section of a triangular prism which is fixed so that two of its faces are inclined at \(60 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal. One of these faces is smooth and one is rough. Particles \(A\) and \(B\), of masses 0.36 kg and 0.24 kg respectively, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string which passes over a small smooth pulley fixed at the highest point of the cross-section. \(B\) is held at rest at a point of the cross-section on the rough face and \(A\) hangs freely in contact with the smooth face (see diagram). \(B\) is released and starts to move up the face with acceleration \(0.25 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\).
  1. By considering the motion of \(A\), show that the tension in the string is 3.03 N , correct to 3 significant figures.
  2. Find the coefficient of friction between \(B\) and the rough face, correct to 2 significant figures.
Edexcel AEA 2024 June Q6
18 marks Hard +2.3
6. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{a8e9db6b-dfad-4278-82d8-a8fa5ba61008-20_234_1357_244_354} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a block \(A\) with mass \(4 m\) and a block \(B\) with mass \(5 m\).
Block \(A\) is at rest on a rough plane inclined at an angle \(\alpha\) to the horizontal.
Block \(B\) is at rest on a rough plane inclined at an angle \(\beta\) to the horizontal.
The blocks are connected by a light inextensible string which passes over a small smooth pulley at the top of each plane. A small smooth ring \(C\), of mass \(8 m\), is threaded on the string between the pulleys so that \(A , B\) and \(C\) all lie in the same vertical plane. The part of the string between \(A\) and its pulley lies along a line of greatest slope of the plane of angle \(\alpha\). The part of the string between \(B\) and its pulley lies along a line of greatest slope of the plane of angle \(\beta\). The angle between the vertical and the string between each pulley and the ring \(C\) is \(\gamma\).
The two blocks, \(A\) and \(B\), are modelled as particles.
Given that
  • \(\tan \alpha = \frac { 5 } { 12 }\) and \(\tan \beta = \frac { 7 } { 24 }\) and \(\tan \gamma = \frac { 3 } { 4 }\)
  • the coefficient of friction, \(\mu\), is the same between each block and its plane
  • one of the blocks is on the point of sliding up its plane
  • the tension in the string is \(T\)
    1. determine, in terms of \(m\) and \(g\), an expression for \(T\),
    2. draw a diagram showing the forces on block \(A\), clearly labelling each of the forces acting on the block,
    3. determine the value of \(\mu\), giving a justification for your answer. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{a8e9db6b-dfad-4278-82d8-a8fa5ba61008-20_2266_50_312_1978}