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Nov 2015 p43 q1
3939
A small ball B of mass 4 kg is attached to one end of a light inextensible string. A particle P of mass 3 kg is attached to the other end of the string. The string passes over a fixed smooth pulley. The system is in equilibrium with the string taut and its straight parts vertical. B is at rest on a rough plane inclined to the horizontal at an angle of \(\alpha\), where \(\cos \alpha = 0.8\) (see diagram). State the tension in the string and find the normal component of the contact force exerted on B by the plane.
Solution
Since the system is in equilibrium, the tension \(T\) in the string is equal to the weight of the particle \(P\). Therefore, \(T = 3g\), where \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity. Assuming \(g = 10 \text{ m/s}^2\), we have:
\(T = 3 \times 10 = 30 \text{ N}\).
For the normal component of the contact force on \(B\), resolve the forces perpendicular to the plane. The normal force \(R\) is given by: