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Consider the situation at the right has a coefficent of static friction ?s bewte

ID: 2240357 • Letter: C

Question

Consider the situation at the right has a coefficent of static friction ?s bewteen all surfaces. If

the system is in equilibrium, find (a) the maximum value of M and (b) the minimum value of

M. (c) Find the ratio of the tension T2 from the case of minimum M over that of maximum M.

Consider the situation at the right has a coefficent of static friction ?s bewteen all surfaces. If the system is in equilibrium, find (a) the maximum value of M and (b) the minimum value of M. (c) Find the ratio of the tension T2 from the case of minimum M over that of maximum M.

Explanation / Answer

a)For minimum value of M we must have a situation such that M just balances the force due to the 3m with friction acting up the incline.

So by Newton's law we have
3mgsin? = Mg + ?s*(3mgcos?)

=> M = 3m(sin? - ?scos?)

T2 in this case

T2 = 3mgsin? - 3?smgcos?

b)For maximum value of M we must have a situation such that M just balances the force due to both masses with friction acting down the incline.


So by Newton's law we have
3mgsin? + ?s*(3mgcos?) = Mg

=> M = 3m(sin? + ?scos?)

T2 in this case

T2 = 3mgsin? + 3?smgcos?

c) Ratio of tension in both caes

= (3mgsin? - 3?smgcos?)/(3mgsin? + 3?smgcos?)

= (sin? - ?scos?)/(sin? + ?scos?)