M1 Supporting Material 3

Connected Particles Types: I - IX

TYPE- I : CONNECTED PARTICLES ON A HORIZONTAL PLANE

1. A car of mass 900 kg tows a caravan of mass 500 kg against resistance totaling 700 N. The resistance on
the car and the caravan are proportional to their masses in other words the resistances are𝑘 × their
masses where k is a constant. The car is accelerating at 0.8 ms-2 along a horizontal road. By modeling the
car and the caravan as a pair of connected particles, find the driving force exerted by the engine and the
tension in the tow-bar.
[T = 650 N; F = 1820 N]
2. A car of mass 1000 kg exerts a driving force of 2.2 kN when pulling a caravan of mass 500 kg along a
horizontal road. The car and the caravan increase speed from rest to 4 ms-1 while travelling 16 m. Given
that the resistances on the car and the caravan are proportional to their masses, find these resistances and
the tension in the tow-bar.
[Rcar = 966.67; Rcaravan = 483.33; T = 733.33]
When the string breaks:
3. A car is towing a trailer along a straight horizontal road by means of a horizontal tow-bar. The
resistances to the motion of the car and the trailer are proportional to their masses. We assume that the
tow-bar is inextensible. The mass of the car is 1400 kg and the mass of the trailer is 700 kg. The driving
force of the engine of the car is 2380 N and the total resistance of the system is 910 N.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the motion of the car and the trailer.
b. Find the acceleration of the car.
c. Find the resistance to the motion of the car and the trailer separately.
d. Find the tension in the tow-bar.
When the car and trailer are moving at 12 ms-1, the tow-bar breaks, if the forces and assumptions are
unchanged:
e. Find the distance moved by the car in the first 4 seconds after the tow-bar breaks.
f. Find the distance moved by the trailer before it comes to rest.
[b. a = 0.7; c.Rcar = 606.67; Rtrailer = 303.33;d.T = 793.33; e. s = 58.16; f.s = 166.15]
4. A car of mass 850 kg is towing a caravan of mass 550 kg along a level road. The engine of the car exerts
a forward force of 2 kN. The resistances to the motion of the car and caravan are proportional to the
masses in other words the resistances are k × their masses, where k is a constant. Given that the car
accelerates at 0.5 ms-2 find the tension in the tow-bar. [T = 785.7]

5. A car of mass 1000 kg is towing a caravan of mass 600 kg along a horizontal road. Given that the
driving force produced by the engine is 400 N and that there is no resistance to motion find the tension in
the tow-bar and the acceleration of the car. [a = 0.25; T = 150]

If the force, F, is removed:

6. A car of mass 800 kg pulls a trailer of mass 200 kg through a straight horizontal road using a light tow
bar which is parallel to the road. The horizontal resistances to motion of the car and the trailer have
magnitudes 400 N and 200 N respectively. The engine of the car produces a constant horizontal driving
force on the car of magnitude 1200 N. Find:
a. the acceleration of the car and the trailer.
b. the magnitude of the tension in the tow bar.
The car is moving along the road when the driver sees a hazard ahead. He reduces the force produced by
the engine to zero and applies the brakes. The brakes produce a force on the car of magnitude F newtons
and the car and the trailer decelerate. Given that the resistances to motion are unchanged and the
magnitude of the thrust in the tow bar is 100 N.
c. Find the value of F. [a. a = 0.6; b. T = 320; c. F = 400]
 TYPE- II : CONNECTED PARTICLES MOVING VERTICALLY UPWARDS

7. Two bricks P and Q, each of mass 5 kg, are connected by a light inextensible string. Brick P is held at
rest and Q hangs freely, vertically below P. A force of 200 N is then applied vertically upwards to P
causing it to accelerate at 1.2 ms-2. Assuming there is a resistance to the motion of each of the bricks of
magnitude R N, find
a. the value of R.
b. the tension in the string connecting the bricks.
c. After 3 seconds, P reached at point X which is vertically above P at X. The force is removed. Find the
further distance moved by P above X.
[a. R = 45 N; b. T = 100; c.s = 0.34 m]

8. The diagram shows a particle A of mass 0.5 kg suspended by a vertical

string. A particle B of mass 0.4 kg is suspended from A by means of
another string. A force of 10 N is applied to the upper string and the
particles move upwards. Find the tension in the lower string and the
acceleration of the system.

[a = 1.31; T = 4.44]

9. The diagram shows a block A of mass 100 kg suspended by a vertical

cable. A block B of mass 150 kg is suspended from A by means of a
second vertical cable. The blocks are raised 10 m in 10 seconds, starting
from rest. Find the tension in each cable.

[a = 0.2; T = 1500]

10. The diagram shows a particle P of mass 12 kg suspended by a vertical

string. A particle Q of mass 8 kg is suspended from P by means of
another string. A force of 350 N is applied to the upper string and the
particles move upwards. Find the tension in the lower string and the
acceleration of the system.
After 5s, the string between P and Q breaks. Calculate the further
distance moved by the particle Q upward before it comes to an
instantaneous rest. [a = 7.7; T = 140; s = 75.625]

11. The diagram shows a block P of mass 150 kg suspended by a vertical

cable. A block Q of mass 400 kg is suspended from P by means of a
second vertical cable. The blocks are raised 15 m in 5 seconds, starting
from rest. Find the tension in each cable.
Initially the particle Q is 10 m above the ground. Calculate the greatest
height of Q above the ground if the string is broken 8s after the system is
released.
[a = 1.2; T = 4400; s = 53.1]
 PARTICLES CONNECTED BY A STRING WHICH PASSES OVER A SMALL
FIXED AND SMOOTH PULLEY
CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- III

12.Particles P and Q, of masses 2m and 3m, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string. The string
passes over a small smooth fixed pulley and the masses hang with the string taut. The system is released
from rest.
a. Find the acceleration of each mass.
b. Find the tension in the string.
[a = 1.96; T = 23.52]

13.Particles P and Q of masses 2m and m respectively are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string
which passes over a smooth fixed pulley . They both hang at a distance of 2 m above horizontal ground.
The system is released from rest.
a. Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the system.
b. Find the speed of P as it hits the ground.
[a = 3.27; v = 3.63]

14.Particles A and B, of masses 3 kg and 5 kg, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string. The
string passes over a small smooth fixed pulley and the masses hang with the string taut. The system is
released from rest.
a. Find the acceleration of each mass.
b. Find the tension in the string.
[a = 2.45; T = 36.75]

15.Two particles P and Q of masses 3 kg and 6 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. The string passes over a smooth fixed pulley. The system is released from rest with
both masses at a distance of 2 metre above the horizontal floor.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of Q.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. How long does it take for Q to hit the floor?
e. Find the velocity of P when Q reaches the ground.
f. Find the further distance moved by P upward after Q reaches the ground.
g. Find the greatest height of P above the floor.
h. Find the time between the instant when Q strikes the ground and the string becomes taut again.
i. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
j. How have you used the assumption that the string is light and inextensible?
k. How have you used the assumption that the pulley is smooth?

[b. a = 3.27; c. T = 39.2; d. t = 1.11; e. v = 3.63;f. s = 0.67; g. s = 4.67; h. t = 0.74;i.F = 78.4]

16. Two particles A and B of masses 2 kg and 5 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. The string passes over a smooth fixed pulley. The system is released from rest with
both masses at a distance of 3 metre above the horizontal floor.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of B.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. How long does it take for B to hit the floor?
e. Find the velocity of A when B reaches the ground.
f. Find the further distance moved by A upward after B reaches the ground.
g. Find the greatest height of A above the floor.
h. Find the time between the instant when B strikes the ground and the string becomes taut again.
i. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
j. How have you used the assumption that the string is light and inextensible?
k. How have you used the assumption that the pulley is smooth?
[b. a = 4.2; c. T = 28; d. t = 1.2; e. v = 5.04;f. s = 1.3; g. s = 7.3; h. t = 1.03; i. F = 56]
17. Two particles P and Q of masses 3 kg and 6 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. The string passes over a smooth fixed pulley. The system is released from rest with
both masses at a distance of 2 metre above the horizontal floor.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of Q.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
When the system is moving for 0.5 seconds, the string breaks.
e. Find the velocity of P when the string breaks.
f. Find the further distance moved by P upward.
g. Find the greatest height of P above the ground.
h. Find the further time that elapses before P hits the floor.
i. Find the total travelling time of Q.
j. How have you used the assumption that the string is light and inextensible?
i. How have you used the assumption that the pulley is smooth?
[b. a = 3.27; c. T = 39.2; d.F = 78.4; e. v = 1.635;f. s = 0.136; g. s = 2.55; h. t = 0.888; i.t = 0.927]
18. Two particles A and B of masses 2 kg and 5kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. The string passes over a smooth fixed pulley. The system is released from rest with
both masses at a distance of 3 metre above the horizontal floor.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of B.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
When the system is moving for 0.5 seconds, the string breaks.
e. Find the velocity of A when the string breaks.
f. Find the further distance moved by A upward.
g. Find the greatest height of A above the ground.
h. Find the further time that elapses before A hits the floor.
i. Find the total travelling time of B.
i. How have you used the assumption that the string is light and inextensible?
j. How have you used the assumption that the pulley is smooth?
[b. a = 4.2; c. T = 28; d. F = 56; e. v = 2.1; f. s = 0.225; g. s = 3.75; h. t = 1.09; i. t = 1.03]

19. Two particles P and Q of masses 1 kg and 2 kg respectively are hanging vertically from the ends of a
light inextensible string which passes over a smooth fixed pulley. The system is released from rest with
both particles at a distance of 1.5 m above the floor. When the masses have been moving for 0.5 s the
string breaks. Find the further time that elapses before P hits the floor. [t = 0.81]
 CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- IV
20.

A block of wood A of mass 0.5 kg rests on a rough horizontal table and is attached to one end of a light
inextensible string. The string passes over a small smooth pulley P fixed at the edge of the table. The
other end of the string is attached to a ball B of mass 0.8 kg which hangs freely below the pulley, as
shown in figure. The coefficient of friction between A and the table is 𝜇. The system is released from rest
with the string taut. After release, B descends a distance of 0.4 m in 0.5 s. Modelling A and B as
particles, calculate:
a. the acceleration of B,
b. the tension in the string,

c. the value of 𝜇.
[a. a = 3.2;b. T = 5.28; c. µ = 0.75]

21. Two particles P and Q of masses 0.5 kg and 0.7 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle P rests on rough horizontal table 1 metre from a small light smooth pulley,
fixed at the edge of the table which is 0.9 metre high. Q hangs freely below the pulley with a distance of
0.75 metre above horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction between P and the table is 0.35. The
particles are released from rest with the string taut.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of Q.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. How long does it take for Q to reach the floor.
e. Find the velocity of P when Q reaches the ground.
f. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
[b. a = 4.29; c. T = 3.86; d.t = 0.59; e. v = 2.53; f.F = 5.46]

22. Two particles C and D of masses 0.2 kg and 0.5 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle C rests on rough horizontal table 1 metre from a small light smooth pulley,
fixed at the edge of the table which is 1.5 metre high. D hangs freely below the pulley with a distance of
1 metre above horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction between C and the table is 0.35. The particles
are released from rest with the string taut.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of D.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. How long does it take for D to reach the floor.
e. Find the velocity of C when D reaches the ground.
f. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
[b. a = 6.02; c. T = 1.89; d.t = 0.58; e. v = 3.49; f.F = 2.67]
23. Two particles P and Q of masses 0.5 kg and 0.7 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle P rests on rough horizontal table 1 metre from a small light smooth pulley,
fixed at the edge of the table which is 0.9 metre high. Q hangs freely below the pulley with a distance of
0.75 metre above horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction between P and the table is 0.35. The
particles are released from rest with the string taut.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of Q.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
When the system is moving for 0.5 seconds, the string breaks.
e. Find the velocity of P when the string breaks.
f. Find the further time that elapses before P hits the floor.
g. Find the total travelling time of Q.
[b. a = 4.29; c. T = 3.86; d.F = 5.46; e. v = 2.145; f.t = 0.707;g.t = 0.584]

24. Two particles C and D of masses 0.2 kg and 0.5 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle C rests on rough horizontal table 1 metre from a small light smooth pulley,
fixed at the edge of the table which is 1.5 metre high. D hangs freely below the pulley with a distance of
1 metre above horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction between P and the table is 0.35. The particles
are released from rest with the string taut.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of D.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
When the system is moving for 0.5 seconds, the string breaks.
e. Find the velocity of C when the string breaks.
f. Find the further time that elapses before C hits the floor.
g. Find the total travelling time of D.
[b. a = 6.02; c. T = 1.89; d.F = 2.67; e. v = 3.01; f.t = 0.64;g.t = 0.573]

CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- V

25. Two particles P and Q of masses 3 kg and 6 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle P lies on a rough plane inclined at an angle 𝜃 to the horizontal,
where𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 0.6. The string passes over a small light smooth pulley A fixed at the top of the plane.
Particle Q hangs freely below A with a distance of 2 meter above horizontal floor. The particles are
released from rest with string taut and the section of the string from P to A is parallel to a line of greatest
slope of the plane. The coefficient of friction between P and the plane is 0.2.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of Q.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. How long does it take for Q to reach the floor.
e. Find the velocity of P when Q reaches the ground.
f. Find the further distance moved by P upward after Q reaches the ground.
g. Find the time between the instant when Q strikes the ground and the string becomes taut again.
h. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
[b. a = 4.05; c. T = 34.5; d. t = 0.994; e. v = 4.03; f.s = 1.09; g. t = 1.25; h. F = 61.7]
26. Two particles C and D of masses 2 kg and 5 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle C lies on a rough plane inclined at an angle 𝜃 to the horizontal, where
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 0.8. The string passes over a small light smooth pulley A fixed at the top of the plane. Particle
D hangs freely below A with a distance of 1 meter above horizontal floor. The particles are released
from rest with string taut and the section of the string from C to A is parallel to a line of greatest slope of
the plane. The coefficient of friction between C and the plane is 0.2.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of D.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. How long does it take for D to reach the floor.
e. Find the velocity of C when D reaches the ground.
f. Find the further distance moved by P upward after D reaches the ground.
g. Find the time between the instant when D strikes the ground and the string becomes taut again.
h. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
[b. a = 4.424; c. T = 26.88; d. t = 0.672; e. v = 2.97; f. s = 0.489; g. t = 0.712; h. F = 51]

27. Two particles P and Q of masses 3 kg and 6 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle P lies on a rough plane inclined at an angle 𝜃 to the horizontal,
where𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 0.6. The string passes over a small light smooth pulley A fixed at the top of the plane.
Particle Q hangs freely below A with a distance of 2 meter above horizontal floor. The particles are
released from rest with string taut and the section of the string from P to A is parallel to a line of greatest
slope of the plane. The coefficient of friction between P and the plane is 0.2.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of Q.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.
When the system is moving for 0.5 second, the string breaks.
e. Find the velocity of P when the string breaks.
f. Find the further distance moved by P upward.
g. Find the total travelling time of Q.
[b. a = 4.05; c. T = 34.5; d. F = 61.7; e. v = 2.025; f. s = 0.506; g. t = 0.88]

28. Two particles C and D of masses 2 kg and 5 kg respectively are attached to the ends of a light
inextensible string. Particle C lies on a rough plane inclined at an angle 𝜃 to the horizontal, where
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 0.8. The string passes over a small light smooth pulley A fixed at the top of the plane. Particle
D hangs freely below A with a distance of 1 meter above horizontal floor. The particles are released
from rest with string taut and the section of the string from C to A is parallel to a line of greatest slope of
the plane. The coefficient of friction between C and the plane is 0.2.
a. Draw a diagram to represent the particles.
b. Find the acceleration of D.
c. Find the tension in the string.
d. Find the total force exerted on the pulley.

When the system is moving for 0.4 second, the string breaks.
e. Find the velocity of C when the string breaks.
f. Find the further distance moved by C upward.
g. Find the total travelling time of D.
[b. a = 4.424; c. T = 26.88; d. F = 51; e. v = 1.77; f. s = 0.174; g. t = 0.625]
29.

One end of a light inextensible string is attached to a block P of mass 5 kg. The block P is held at rest on
3
a smooth fixed plane which is inclined to the horizontal at an angle 𝛼, where 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 = 5. The string
lies along a line of greatest slope of the plane and passes over a smooth pulley which is fixed at the top
of the plane. The other end of the string is attached to a light scale pan which carries two blocks Q is 5
kg and the mass of block Q on top of block R, as shown in the figure. The mass of block Q is 5kg and
the mass of block R is 10 kg. The scale pan hangs at rest and the system is released from rest. By
modeling the blocks as particles, ignoring air resistance and assuming the motion is uninterrupted. Find:
a. i. the acceleration of the scale pan ii. the tension in the string.
b. the magnitude of the force exerted on block Q by block R.
c. the magnitude of the force exerted on the pulley by the string.
[a. (i) a = 5.88 (ii) T = 58.8; b. F = 19.6;c. F = 105.2]

CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- VI

30.

A fixed wedge has two plane forces, each inclined at 30° to the horizontal. Two particles A and B, of
mass 3m and m respectively, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string. Each particle moves
on one of the plane faces of the wedge. The string passes over a smooth light pulley fixed at the top of
the wedge. The face on which B moves is rough. The coefficient of friction between B and this face is 𝜇.
Particle A is held at rest with the string taut. The string lies in the same vertical plane as lines of greatest
slope on each plane face of the wedge, as shown in the figure.
The particles are released from rest and start to move. Particle A moves downward and particle B moves
1
upward. The acceleration of A and B each have magnitude 10 𝑔.
a. By considering the motion of A, find, in terms of m and g, the tension in the string.
b. By considering the motion of B, find the value of 𝜇.
c. Find the resultant force exerted by the string on the pulley, giving its magnitude and direction.

6 6
[a. T = 5 mg; b.µ = 0.693;c. F =5 mg]
 CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- VII
31.

Two particles A and B, of mass 8 kg and 10 kg respectively are connected by a light inextensible string which
passes over a light smooth pulley P. Particle B rests on a smooth horizontal table and A rests on a smooth plane
inclined at 30° to the horizontal with the string taut and perpendicular to the line of intersection of the table and
the plane as shown in the figure. The system is released from rest. Find:
a. the magnitude of the acceleration of B.
b. the tension in the string.
c. the distance covered by B in the first two seconds of motion, given that B does not reach the pulley.
[a. a = 2.18; b. T =21.8; c.s = 4.36]

CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- VIII

32.

The figure shows a block P of mass 0.6 kg resting on the smooth surface of a horizontal table. Inextensible light
strings connect P to blocks A and B which hang freely over light smooth pulleys placed at opposite parallel edges
of the table. The masses of A and b are 0.3 kg and 0.5 kg respectively. All portions of the string are taut and
perpendicular to their respective edges of the table. The system is released from rest. Calculate:
a. the common magnitude of the accelerations of the blocks.
b. the tension in the strings
[a. a = 1.4;b.T1 = 3.36;T2 = 4.2]

CONNECTED PARTICLES TYPE- IX

33.

The figure shows a particle A of mass 0.2 kg held at rest on a smooth roof inclined at 30° to the horizontal.
Particle A is attached to one end of a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth pulley at the edge of the
roof. A particle B of mass 0.3 kg is attached to the other end of the string and hangs freely at rest. Particle A is 3.8
m from the pulley and particle B is 2 m above the horizontal ground.
The system is released from rest.
a. Find the acceleration of each particle while the string remains taut.
b. Find the speed with which B strikes the floor.
Assuming that B is brought to rest when it strikes the floor,
c. find the speed with which A reaches the pulley.
In this problem several mathematical models have been used.
d. Identify three of these and briefly describe the assumptions which have been made in using these models.