Pulley Problems IIT JEE | JEE Main

 Vikas Sir (Vikas Meel - IIT Delhi) (https://acejee.com/blog/author/acejeepro/) -  July 8, 2021 -

 Chapter Wise Approach (https://acejee.com/blog/category/iit-jee-physics-chapter-wise-approach/) -
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Here are the 20 pulley problems for IIT JEE and JEE Main that will help you improve on your free body
diagrams and your ability to correctly apply newton’s 2nd law F = ma.

And yes, do listen through the explanation video by Vikas Sir (IIT Delhi Alumni) towards the end which
will help you build a solid foundation and if you have any questions, please leave us a comment at the
bottom.

For those, who need ‘Pulley Problems IIT JEE PDF’, you can simply take a print of this page.

Pulley Problems | Motion of masses geometrically connected

Geometrically connected | Masses moving vertically

Q1. Two blocks ′ A ′ and ′ B ′ having masses mA and mB , respectively, are connected by an arrangement
shown in the figure. Calculate the downward acceleration of the block B . Assume the pulleys to be
massless. Under what condition will block A have downward acceleration ?

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 Answer

Q2. Strings and pulleys are massless and frictionless. The relation between accelerations of the blocks
as shown in the figure is

(A) a2 = 6a1 (B) a1 = 6a2

(C) a1 = 3a2 (D) a2 = 3a1

 Answer

Q3. Find the acceleration of block mass m. Assume pulleys are of massless and frictionless.

(A) g/3 (B) 2g/3

(C) g/2 (D) None of these

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Q4. Three equal weights of mass 2 kg each are hanging on a string passing over a fixed pulley as
shown in the figure. What is the tension in the string connecting weights B and C ?

(A) zero (B) 13.3 N

(C) 3.3 N (D) 19.6 N

 Answer

Geometrically connected | Masses moving horizontally

Q5. Find the relation between acceleration of the blocks in the figure. The pulley and the strings are
massless. (where a = acceleration of m and A = is the acceleration of M )

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Geometrically connected | Some masses moving vertically and some

horizontally / along an incline

Q6. Calculate the acceleration of the block A and B in the given diagram.

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Q7. Calculate the acceleration of the block A and B in the given figure.

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 Answer

Q8. If the blocks A and B are moving towards each other with acceleration a and b as shown in the
figure. Find the net acceleration of block C .

(A) a^i–2(a + b)^j (B) − (a + b)^j

(C) a^i–(a + b)^j (D) None of these

 Answer

Q9. In the figure shown, what will be the acceleration of the block B if that of the A is 0.3 m/s2

(A) 0.15 m/s2 (B) 0.6 m/s2

(C) 0.3 m/s2 (D) None of these

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 Answer

Q10. The frictional co-efficient between the board and the floor shown in figure is μ . Find the
maximum force that the man can exert on the rope so that the board does not slip on the floor. The
mass of man is M and the mass of plank is m.

 Answer

Q11. Two bodies of masses 5 kg and 4 kg are arranged in two positions as shown in the figure. (A) and
(B), if the pulleys and the table are perfectly smooth, the acceleration of the body in case (A) and (B)
are:

(A) g and (5/9) g (B) (4/9) g and (1/9) g

(C) (g/5) and (g/5) (D) (5/9) g and (1/9) g

 Answer

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 Geometrically connected | Complex motion

Q12. A block A constrained to slide along the incline plane of the wedge B . Block A is attached with a
string which passes through three ideal pulleys and connected to the wedge B . If the wedge is pulled
towards right with an acceleration ′ a′ .

(a) Find the acceleration of the block with respect to wedge.

(b) Find the acceleration of the block with respect to ground.

 Answer

Pulley Problems | Independent motion of masses

Independent Motion | Masses moving vertically

Q13. In the system shown in the figure, a bead of mass m can slide on the string. There is friction
between the bead and the string. Block B has mass equal to twice that of the bead. The system is
released from rest with length l = 18.75 m of the string hanging below the bead. Assuming the
pulley and string to be massless. Find the distance (in meter) moved by the block B before the bead
slips out of the thread.

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 Answer

Independent Motion | Some masses moving vertically and some

horizontally

Q14. Three blocks of mass m1, m2 and m3 are connected as shown in the figure. All the surfaces are
frictionless and the string and the pulleys are light. Find the acceleration of m1.

 Answer

Q15. Consider the situation shown in the figure. The horizontal surface below the bigger block is
smooth. The coefficient of friction between the blocks is μ . Find the minimum and the maximum force
F that can be applied in order to keep the. smaller blocks at rest with respect to the bigger block.

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Q16. A truck shown in the figure is driven with an acceleration a = 3 m/s2. Find the acceleration of
the bodies A and B of masses 10 kg and 5 kg respectively, assuming pulleys are massless and
friction is absent everywhere.

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Q17. A block of mass 2M is attached to a massless spring with spring-constant k. This block is
connected to two other blocks of masses M and 2M using two massless pulleys and strings. The
accelerations of the blocks are a1, a2 and a3 as shown in the figure. The system is released from rest
with the spring in its un stretched state. The maximum extension of the spring is x 0. Which of the
following option(s) is/are correct ? [g is the acceleration due to gravity. Neglect friction]

x0
(A) At an extension of of the spring, the magnitude of acceleration of the block connected to the
4
3g
spring is
10

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 4M g
(B) x 0 =
k

x0
(C) When spring achieves an extension of for the first time, the speed of the block connected to the
2
M
spring is 3g√
5k

(D) a2–a1 = a1–a3

 Answer

Pulley Problems | External force acting on rope / pulley

Q18. The acceleration of the 2 kg block if the free end of string is pulled with a force of 20 N as
shown is

(A) 0 (B) 10 m/s2

(C) 5 m/s2 upward (D) 5 m/s2 downward

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Q19. Two blocks of mass m = 5 kg and M = 10 kg are connected by a string passing over a pulley
B as shown. Another string connects the center of pulley B to the floor and passes over another pulley
A as shown. An upward force F is applied at the center of pulley A . Both the pulleys are massless.
Find the acceleration of blocks m and M if F is :

(a) 100 N

(b) 300 N

(c) 500 N (take g = 10 m/s2)

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Q20. In the arrangement shown in figure mA = m and mB = 2m, while all the pulleys and string
are massless & frictionless. At t = 0, a force F = 10 t starts acting over central pulley in vertically
upward direction. Find

(a) Time at which both the masses lose contact with floor.

(b) Velocity of A when B loses contact with floor.

[Take all the units into S.I. system, take m = 1 kg and $g = 10 \ m/s^2 for part (b)]

 Answer

Explanation Video by Vikas Sir

Covers question no’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20