PROBLEM 12.

28

Block A has a mass of 10 kg, and blocks B and C have masses of 5 kg each.
Knowing that the blocks are initially at rest and that B moves through 3 m in
2 s, determine (a) the magnitude of the force P, (b) the tension in the cord
AD. Neglect the masses of the pulleys and axle friction.

SOLUTION

Let the position coordinate y be positive downward.

Constraint of cord AD: y A + yD = constant

v A + vD = 0, a A + aD = 0

Constraint of cord BC: ( yB − yD ) + ( yC − yD ) = constant

vB + vC − 2vD = 0, aB + aC − 2aD = 0

Eliminate aD . 2a A + aB + aC = 0 (1)
We have uniformly accelerated motion because all of the forces are
constant.
1
y B = ( y B ) 0 + ( vB ) 0 t + a B t 2 , ( vB ) 0 = 0
2
2[ yB − ( yB )0 ] (2)(3)
aB = 2
= 2
= 1.5 m/s 2
t (2)

Pulley D: ΣFy = 0: 2TBC − TAD = 0

TAD = 2TBC

Block A: ΣFy = ma y : WA − TAD = m A a A

WA − TAD WA − 2TBC
or aA = = (2)
mA mA

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340
 PROBLEM 12.28 (Continued)

Block C: ΣFy = ma y : WC − TBC = mC aC

WC − TBC
or aC = (3)
mC

Substituting the value for aB and Eqs. (2) and (3) into Eq. (1), and solving
for TBC ,

§ W − 2TBC · § WC − TBC ·
2¨ A ¸ + aB + ¨ ¸=0
© mA ¹ © mC ¹

§ m g − 2TBC · § mC g − TBC ·
2¨ A ¸ + aB + ¨ ¸=0
© mA ¹ © mC ¹

§ 4 1 ·
¨ + ¸ TBC = 3g + aB
© mA mC ¹

§ 4 1·
¨ 10 + 5 ¸ TBC = 3(9.81) + 1.5 or TBC = 51.55 N
© ¹
Block B: ΣFy = ma y : P + WB − TBC = mB aB

(a) Magnitude of P.
P = TBC − WB + mB aB
= 51.55 − 5(9.81) + 5(1.5) P = 10.00 N W
(b) Tension in cord AD.
TAD = 2TBC = (2)(51.55) TAD = 103.1 N W

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341
PROBLEM 12.29

A 40-lb sliding panel is supported by rollers at B and C. A 25-lb counterweight A is attached to a cable as
shown and, in cases a and c, is initially in contact with a vertical edge of the panel. Neglecting friction,
determine in each case shown the acceleration of the panel and the tension in the cord immediately after the
system is released from rest.

SOLUTION

(a) Panel: F = Force exerted by counterweight

40
ΣFx = ma : T −F = a (1)
g
Counterweight A: Its acceleration has two components
a A = a P + a A /P = a → + a
25
ΣFx = max : F = a (2)
g

25
ΣFg = mag : 25 − T = a (3)
g
Adding (1), (2), and (3):
40 + 25 + 25
T − F + F + 25 − T = a
g
25 25
a= g= (32.2) a = 8.94 ft/s 2 W
90 90
Substituting for a into (3):
25 § 25 · 625
25 − T = T = 25 − T = 18.06 lb W
g ¨© 90 ¸¹
g
90

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342
 PROBLEM 12.29 (Continued)

(b) Panel:

40
ΣFy = ma : T= a (1)
g
Counterweight A:
25
ΣFy = ma : 25 − T = a (2)
g

40 + 25
Adding (1) and (2): T + 25 − T = a
g
25
a= g a = 12.38 ft/s 2 W
65
 Substituting for a into (1):
40 § 25 · 1000
T= g = T = 15.38 lb W
g ¨© 65 ¸¹ 65
(c) Since panel is accelerated to the left, there is no force exerted by panel on counterweight and vice
versa.
Panel:

40
ΣFx = ma : T= a (1)
g
Counterweight A: Same free body as in Part (b):
25
ΣFy = ma : 25 − T = a (2)
g
Since Eqs. (1) and (2) are the same as in (b), we get the same answers:

a = 12.38 ft/s 2 ; T = 15.38 lb W

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343
 PROBLEM 12.30

The coefficients of friction between blocks A and C and the

horizontal surfaces are μ s = 0.24 and μk = 0.20. Knowing
that m A = 5 kg, mB = 10 kg, and mC = 10 kg, determine
(a) the tension in the cord, (b) the acceleration of each
block.

SOLUTION
We first check that static equilibrium is not maintained:
( FA ) m + ( FC )m = μs ( mA + mC ) g
= 0.24(5 + 10) g
= 3.6 g

Since WB = mB g = 10g > 3.6g, equilibrium is not maintained.

Block A: ΣFy : N A = m A g
FA = μk N A = 0.2m A g

ΣFλ = mA a A : T − 0.2mA g = mA a A (1)

Block C: ΣFy : NC = mC g
FC = μk NC = 0.2mC g

Σ Fx = mC aC : T − 0.2mC g = mC aC (2)

Block B: ΣFy = mB aB
mB g − 2T = mB aB (3)

1
From kinematics: aB = (a A + aC ) (4)
2
(a) Tension in cord. Given data: m A = 5 kg
mB = mC = 10 kg

Eq. (1): T − 0.2(5) g = 5a A a A = 0.2T − 0.2 g (5)

Eq. (2): T − 0.2(10) g = 10aC aC = 0.1T − 0.2 g (6)

Eq. (3): 10 g − 2T = 10aB aB = g − 0.2T (7)

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344
 PROBLEM 12.30 (Continued)

Substitute into (4):

1
g − 0.2T = (0.2T − 0.2 g + 0.1T − 0.2 g )
2
24 24
1.2 g = 0.35T T= g= (9.81 m/s 2 ) T = 33.6 N W
7 7
(b) Substitute for T into (5), (7), and (6):
§ 24 ·
a A = 0.2 ¨ g ¸ − 0.2 g = 0.4857(9.81 m/s 2 ) a A = 4.76 m/s 2 W
© 7 ¹

§ 24 ·
aB = g − 0.2 ¨ g ¸ = 0.3143(9.81 m/s 2 ) a B = 3.08 m/s 2 W
© 7 ¹

§ 24 ·
aC = 0.1¨ g ¸ − 0.2 g = 0.14286(9.81 m/s 2 ) aC = 1.401 m/s 2 W
© 7 ¹

PROPRIETARY MATERIAL. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this Manual may be displayed,
reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, or used beyond the limited
distribution to teachers and educators permitted by McGraw-Hill for their individual course preparation. If you are a student using this Manual,
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345