General Physics I

Exercise 3

Deadline : 13:10, October 30th, 2009

1. Problem 5-54
In Fig. 5-52, three ballot boxes are connected by cords, one of
which wraps over a pulley having negligible friction on its axle and
negligible mass. The three masses are mA = 30.0 kg, mB = 40 kg, and
mC = 10.0 kg. When the assembly is released from rest, (a) what is the tension in the cord
connecting B and C, and (b) how far does A move in the first 0.250 s (assuming it does not reach
the pulley)?
<Solution> (a) The net force on the system (of total mass M = 80.0 kg) is the force of gravity acting
on the total overhanging mass (mBC = 50.0 kg). The magnitude of the acceleration is
therefore a = (mBC g)/M = 6.125 m/s2. Next we apply Newtons second law to block
C itself (choosing down as the +y direction) and obtain
mC g TBC = mC a.
This leads to TBC = 36.8 N.
(b) We use Eq. 2-15 (choosing rightward as the +x direction): x = 0 + at2 = 0.191 m.
2. Problem 6-25
When the three blocks in Fig. 6-33 are released from rest, they
accelerate with a magnitude of 0.500 m/s2. Block 1 has mass M,
block has 2M, and block 3 has 2M. What is the coefficient of kinetic
friction between block 2 and the table?
<Solution> Let the tensions on the strings connecting m2 and m3 be T23, and that connecting m2 and
m1 be T12, respectively. Applying Newtons second law (and Eq. 6-2, with FN = m2g in
this case) to the system we have
m3 g T23 = m3 a
T23 k m2 g T12 = m2 a
T12 m1 g = m1a
Adding up the three equations and using m1 = M , m2 = m3 = 2M , we obtain
2Mg 2k Mg Mg = 5Ma .
With a = 0.500 m/s2 this yields k = 0.372. Thus, the coefficient of kinetic friction is
roughly k = 0.37.

3. Problem 7-56
To pull a 50 kg crate across a horizontal frictionless floor, a worker applies a force of 210 N,
directed 20 above the horizontal. As the crate moves 3.0 m, what work is done on the crate by (a)
the workers force, (b) the gravitational force on the crate, and (c) the normal force on the crate
from the floor? (d) What is the total work done on the crate?
<Solution> (a) The force of the worker on the crate is constant, so the work it does is given by

WF = F d = Fd cos , where F is the force, d is the displacement of the crate, and

is the angle between the force and the displacement. Here F = 210 N, d = 3.0 m,
and = 20. Thus,
WF = (210 N) (3.0 m) cos 20 = 590 J.
(b) The force of gravity is downward, perpendicular to the displacement of the crate.
The angle between this force and the displacement is 90 and cos 90 = 0, so the
work done by the force of gravity is zero.
(c) The normal force of the floor on the crate is also perpendicular to the displacement,
so the work done by this force is also zero.
(d) These are the only forces acting on the crate, so the total work done on it is 590 J.
4. Problem 7-57
In Fig. 7-44, a cord runs around two massless, frictionless pulleys.
A canister with mass m = 20 kg hangs from one pulley, and you exert

on the free end of the cord. (a) What must be the

a force F
if you are to lift the canister at a constant speed? (b)
magnitude of F
To lift the canister by 2.0 cm, how far must you pull the free end of
the cord? During that lift, what is the work done on the canister by (c)
your force (via the cord) and (d) the gravitational force? (Hint: When
a cord loops around a pulley as shown, it pulls on the pulley with a net
force that is twice the tension in the cord.)
<Solution> There is no acceleration, so the lifting force is equal to the weight of the object. We note

that the persons pull F is equal (in magnitude) to the tension in the cord.
(a) As indicated in the hint, tension contributes twice to the lifting of the canister: 2T =

r
mg. Since F = T , we find F = 98 N.

(b) To rise 0.020 m, two segments of the cord (see Fig. 7-44) must shorten by that
amount. Thus, the amount of string pulled down at the left end (this is the magnitude

of d , the downward displacement of the hand) is d = 0.040 m.

(c) Since (at the left end) both F and d are downward, then Eq. 7-7 leads to

W = F
d = 98 N 0.040 m = 3.9 J

(d) Since the force of gravity Fg (with magnitude mg) is opposite to the displacement

d c = 0.020 m (up) of the canister, Eq. 7-7 leads to

g
W=F
d g = 196 N 0.020 m = 3.9 J
This is consistent with Eq. 7-15 since there is no change in kinetic energy.