COSMOS: Complete Online Solutions Manual Organization System

Chapter 12, Solution 12.

Let the positive directions of x A and xB be down the incline.

Constraint of the cable: x A + 3xB = constant

1
a A + 3aB = 0 or aB = − a A
3

For block A: ΣF = ma : mA g sin 30° − T = mAa A (1)

For block B: ΣF = ma : mB g sin 30° − 3T = mB aB = − mB a A (2)

aA
Eliminating T and solving for ,
g

( 3mA g − mB g ) sin 30° =  3mA +

mB 
 aA
 3 

aA
=
( 3mA − mB ) sin 30° = ( 30 − 8) sin 30° = 0.33673
g 3m A + mB / 3 30 + 2.667

(a) a A = ( 0.33673)( 9.81) = 3.30 m/s 2 a A = 3.30 m/s 2 30° W

1
aB = − ( 3.30 ) = −1.101 m/s2 a B = 1.101 m/s 2 30° W
3

(b) Using equation (1),

 a 
T = mA g  sin 30° − A  = (10 )( 9.81)( sin 30° − 0.33673)
 g 

T = 16.02 N W

Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, 8/e, Ferdinand P. Beer, E. Russell Johnston, Jr.,
Elliot R. Eisenberg, William E. Clausen, David Mazurek, Phillip J. Cornwell
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies.