MHB Calculating Tension + Length of String for Connected Particles

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The discussion centers on calculating the tension in a string and the length of the string for a system involving two blocks: a 4kg block on a 30-degree incline and a 1kg block hanging vertically. The tension in the string was determined to be 10.6N, while the calculated distance the 4kg block travels down the slope is 0.44m. There is a discrepancy with the textbook answer of 0.66m, which participants suggest may result from adding the distances traveled by both blocks, although this interpretation is debated.

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Shah 72
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A block of mass 4kg is held on a rough slope that is inclined at 30 degree to the horizontal. The coefficient of friction between the slope and the block is 0.2. A light inextensible string is attached to the block and runs parallel to the slope to pass over a small smooth pulley fixed at the top of the slope. The other end of the string hangs vertically with a block of mass 1kg attached to the other end. The system is released from rest.
a) work out the tension in the string.
After 12s the block of mass 4kg reaches the bottom of the slope. The other block has not yet reached the pulley.
b) work out a lower bound for the length of the string giving your ans to 2 sf
 
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Shah 72 said:
A block of mass 4kg is held on a rough slope that is inclined at 30 degree to the horizontal. The coefficient of friction between the slope and the block is 0.2. A light inextensible string is attached to the block and runs parallel to the slope to pass over a small smooth pulley fixed at the top of the slope. The other end of the string hangs vertically with a block of mass 1kg attached to the other end. The system is released from rest.
a) work out the tension in the string.
After 1.2s the block of mass 4kg reaches the bottom of the slope. The other block has not yet reached the pulley.
b) work out a lower bound for the length of the string giving your ans to 2 sf
I got the ans for (a) which is T= 10.6
I don't understand how to calculate (b)
 
Last edited:
$L > \dfrac{1}{2}at^2$
 
skeeter said:
$L > \dfrac{1}{2}at^2$
T= 10.6N, a=-0.6m/s^2, I get s=0.43
 
Shah 72 said:
T= 10.6N, a=-0.6m/s^2, I get s=0.43

s= 0.43 ?

you calculated that value using t = 12 seconds, or was that a typo in your original post?
 
skeeter said:
s= 0.43 ?

you calculated that value using t = 12 seconds, or was that a typo in your original post?
I calculated using t=1.2s
 
skeeter said:
s= 0.43 ?

you calculated that value using t = 12 seconds, or was that a typo in your original post?
Iam sorry that was a typo error. t= 1.2 s not 12s
 
skeeter said:
s= 0.43 ?

you calculated that value using t = 12 seconds, or was that a typo in your original post?
Iam getting the ans of s=0.43 m but the ans in the textbook is 0.66m
 
Per my calculations, the 4kg mass moves a distance of 0.44 m.

If that is also the length of the incline, then the height of the incline is 0.22 m.

The only way I can explain the “text” answer is that the two were added, yielding 0.66 m, which doesn’t make much sense to me. That would essentially say the small mass is still at the bottom of the vertical edge of the incline when the large mass is at the bottom of the slanted part of the incline … go figure :rolleyes:
 
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skeeter said:
Per my calculations, the 4kg mass moves a distance of 0.44 m.

If that is also the length of the incline, then the height of the incline is 0.22 m.

The only way I can explain the “text” answer is that the two were added, yielding 0.66 m, which doesn’t make much sense to me. That would essentially say the small mass is still at the bottom of the vertical edge of the incline when the large mass is at the bottom of the slanted part of the incline … go figure :rolleyes:
I agree with you. Thank you so much.
 

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