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AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA

College of Science and Engineering
ENGS 121 Mechanics
QUIZ 07
Date / Time: Friday, March 16 at 08:30
Duration: 50 mins
Attention: ANY TYPE OF COMMUNICATION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Problem 1: A block of mass m1 lies on top of a block of mass m2 (m2 > m1). The two blocks are pulled from
rest by a massless rope passing over a pulley. The pulley is accelerated at rate a. Block m2 slides on the table
without friction, but there is a constant friction force f between m1 and m2 due to their relative motion. Draw
the forces acting on m1 and m2, and find the tension in the rope. f T
T
Solution f

Equation of motion of m1: T – f = m1a1  m2T – m2f = m1m2a1 (1)

Equation of motion of m2: T + f = m2a2  m1T + m1f = m1m2a2 (2)
Constraint equation: xpulley – x1 + xpulley – x2 = Lrope  𝑥̈ 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 − 𝑥̈ 1 + 𝑥̈ 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 − 𝑥̈ 2 = 0  a1 + a2 = 2a

From (2) and (1)  (m1 + m2)T + (m1 – m2)f = m1m2(a1 + a2) = 2m1m2a 
2𝑚1 𝑚2 𝑚2 − 𝑚1
𝑇= 𝑎+ 𝑓
𝑚2 + 𝑚1 𝑚2 + 𝑚1

Problem 2: A mass m is connected to a vertical revolving axle by two strings of length L, each making an
angle of 45◦ with the axle. Both the axle and mass are revolving with angular velocity ω. Gravity is directed
downward. Draw a force diagram for m and find the tension in the upper string, T1, and lower string T2. Hint:
the radial acceleration of a body rotating at distance L from the rotation axis with angular speed ω is Lω2.

Solution

Equation of motion in the vertical direction (1):

𝑇1 𝑇2
− − 𝑚𝑔 = 0 T1
√2 √2

Equation of motion in the horizontal direction (2): R

𝑇1 𝑇2 𝐿 2
− − = −𝑚𝑅𝜔2 = −𝑚 𝜔 T2
√2 √2 √2 mg

Subtracting (2) from (1):

2𝑇1 𝐿 𝑚𝑔 𝑚𝐿𝜔2
= 𝑚𝑔 + 𝑚 𝜔2 ⇒ 𝑇1 = +
√2 √2 √2 2
Adding (1) and (2):
2𝑇2 𝐿 2
𝑚𝐿𝜔2 𝑚𝑔
− = 𝑚𝑔 − 𝑚 𝜔 ⇒ 𝑇2 = − +
√2 √2 √2 2

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Problem 3: Consider a one-dimensional motion of a body of mass m under the influence of a retarding force
that proportional to the initial velocity v(0) = v0:
F = -m v0.
Find the velocity v(t) at later times.

Solution
𝑡 𝑡
𝑑𝑣
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 ⇒ −𝑚𝛼𝑣0 = 𝑚 ⇒ 𝑑𝑣 = −𝛼𝑣0 𝑑𝑡 ⇒ ∫ 𝑑𝑣 = −𝛼𝑣0 ∫ 𝑑𝑡 ⇒ 𝑣(𝑡) − 𝑣0 = −𝛼𝑣0 𝑡 ⇒
𝑑𝑡
0 0
v(t) = (1 –  t) v0

Discussion

This easy problem can be regarded as a simple model of a more interesting and realistic retarding force
F(t) = -m v(t)

The precise solution is obtained by usual integration:

𝑡 𝑡
𝑑𝑣(𝑡) 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝐹(𝑡) = 𝑚𝑎 ⇒ −𝑚𝛼𝑣(𝑡) = 𝑚 ⇒ = −𝛼𝑑𝑡 ⇒ ∫ = −𝛼 ∫ 𝑑𝑡 ⇒ ln⁡(𝑣(𝑡)) − ln⁡(𝑣0 ) = −𝛼𝑡 ⇒
𝑑𝑡 𝑣 𝑣
0 0
v(t) = v0 e– t

The approximated solution can be obtained by consideration of successive time moments

0 = t0 < t1 < t2 < … < tn-1 < tn = t,
and assumption that the retarding force remains constant within each time interval tk < t < tk+1:
Fk = -m vk

Taking for simplicity t1 = 1, t2 = 2, …, tn = n, the piece-wise approximated solution becomes:

v1 = (1 – ) v0
v2 = (1 – ) v1 = (1 – )2 v0
…
vn = (1 – )n v0

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