Problem 1 Solution:

(a)
N

F friction

m2
m2 g

m1
m1 g

(b) The block m1 moves in x-direction:

m1 a = F cos T N ,

N = m1 g F sin

The block m2 moves in y-direction:

m 2 a = T m2 g
Put in the values of m1 , m2 , F , and , we obtain
1
12M g
4
)
3M a =4M g T (3M g
5
3
5
M a =T M g
Add the above two equation together
4M a = 2M g
We nd a = 12 g.
For block m1 : a points to the right and |a| = a
For block m2 : a points up and |a| = a
(c) T = M a + M g = M g 32

Problem 2 Solution:
(a)
T1
y

T2

x
Mg

(b) Distance between the ball and the rod r =

= 6L
.
Speed of the ball v = 2r
T
T

52 42 L = 3L.

(c) The acceleration a points to the left.

2
2L
.
Its magnitude is |a| = vr = 12
T2
(d) The the x- and y-components of the force on the ball from the upper string: F1 =
(T1 53 , T1 45 )
The the x- and y-components of the force on the ball from the lower string: F1 = (T2 35 , T2 45 )
Newtons law for y-direction
4
4
0 = T1 T 2 M g
5
5
Newtons law for x-direction
3
3
M |a| = T1 T2
5
5
We nd
T1 T2 =M g

5
4

T1 + T2 =M |a|
or

(e)

5
3

5
5
10 2 L
5
T1 = M g + M |a| = M g + M
8
6
8
T2
5
5
10 2 L
5
T2 = M g + M |a| = M g + M
8
6
8
T2

Problem 3 Solution:
(a)

M/2
g M/2

F spring

gM
(b) Assume the potential energy is zero when the string is unstretched. After we pull the
M block by a distance L, the potential energy of the M block is lower by M gL sin , the
potential energy of the M/2 block is increased by M2 gL, and the potential energy of the
spring is increased by 12 kL2 . So the total potential energy of the system is
U1 = M gL sin +

1
M
1
gL + kL2 = kL2
2
2
2

When the M block moves to the position where the spring is unstretched, U1 is converted
to the kinetic energy K = 12 M v 2 + 12 M2 v 2 = U1 . We nd

v=

U1
2
=L
M + M2

2k
3M

(c) Let L2 be the distance by which the M block moves up the plane from the position where
the spring is unstretched. The kinetic energy of the block M , 12 M v 2 , turns into its potential
energy L2 = M g sin :
1 2kL2
1
M gL sin = M v 2 = M
2
2
3M
We nd
2kL2
kL2
,
or h = L2 sin =
L2 =
3M g
3M g

Problem 4 Solution:
(a) c
(b) a
(c) b
(d) e
(e) c