5 Dynamics

AS-Level Maths:
Mechanics 1
for Edexcel
M1.5 Dynamics 2
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67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005
Contents Pulleys
Pulleys
Internal and external forces
Towing
Friction on a moving particle
Examination style questions
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of 67
Connected particles
We talk about connected particles when we are considering

situations where two objects are joined together.
There are two types of situations that involve connected
particles.
1. In the first situation, two masses are connected by a

string which passes over a pulley.
2. In the second situation, is one mass tows another;

for example, a car towing a caravan or a train
engine pulling a carriage.
3 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Pulleys
This example
shows how to find
the acceleration T = tension in Newtons
of connected a = acceleration
m = mass
masses passing
over a pulley.
Applying Newton’s second law:

Force = mass × acceleration
m1g – T = m1a F = ma
T – m2g = m2a
Adding: m1g – m2g = m1a + m2a
m1  m2
a  g
m1  m2
Pulleys
This example shows

how to find the
acceleration of
connected masses
passing over a pulley,
when the masses are
not acting vertically.
90 – θ is the angle
m2g – T = m2a between the direction of
T – m1gcos(90 – ) = m1a the force, and the vertical.
Adding: m2g – m1gsin = m1a + m2a

m2  m1 sin
a  g
m1  m2
Pulley question 1
Particles of mass 3 kg and 7 kg are attached to each end of

a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth fixed
pulley.
The system is released from rest.
a) Find the acceleration of the system.
b) Find the tension in the string.

Pulley question 1 solution
a) Consider the 3 kg particle: T – 3g = 3a

Consider the 7 kg particle: 7g – T = 7a
Adding: 4g = 10a
a = 4g ÷ 10 = 3.92 (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore the acceleration of the system is 3.92 m s–2.
b) T – 3g = 3a
T = (3 × 9.8) + (3 × 3.92) = 41.2 (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore the tension in the string is 41.2 N.
Pulley question 2
A particle A of mass 3 kg is resting on a smooth,

horizontal table top, which is 2 m above the floor. This
particle is connected to a particle B of mass 2 kg by a
light inextensible string which hangs freely over a smooth
fixed pulley at the edge of the table.
Particle A is held at rest at a point 1 m from the pulley.
The system is then released from rest.
a) Find the acceleration of the system before A
reaches the pulley.
b) Find the time taken for A to reach the pulley.

a) Consider particle A: T = 3a
Consider particle B: 2g – T = 2a
Adding: 2g = 5a
a = 2g ÷ 5 = 3.92 (to 3 s.f.)

Pulley question 2 solution cont.
b) Consider particle A:
distance (m) s=1
initial velocity (m s–1) u=0
acceleration (m s–2) a = 3.92
time (sec) t is unknown
Constant acceleration formula

Using s = ut + ½at2:
1 = 0 + 1.96t2
t = 0.714 (to 3 s.f.)
It takes 0.714 seconds for particle A to reach the pulley.

Pulley question 3
A particle A of mass 4 kg is resting on a rough plane

inclined at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. The particle is
connected by a light inextensible string to a particle B of
mass 6 kg, which hangs freely over a smooth fixed pulley
at the top of the inclined plane.
The coefficient of friction between the particle and the
plane is 0.15.
Find the acceleration of the system.

Resolve perpendicular to the plane:

R = 4gcos30° = 33.9 (to 3 s.f.)
F = R = 0.15 × 33.9 = 5.09 (to 3 s.f.)
Consider particle A: T – 5.09 – 4gcos60° = 4a
Adding: 6g – 5.09 – 4gcos60° = 10a
1
a= (6g – 5.09 – 4gcos60°) = 3.41 (to 3 s.f.)
10
Pulley question 4
Example 4: A particle A of mass 3 kg is resting on a sloping

surface. It is connected to another particle B of mass 5 kg,
which hangs freely by a light inextensible string that passes
over a smooth pulley at the bottom of the slope.
The sloping surface is assumed to be smooth and is inclined
at an angle of 20° to the horizontal.
Find the acceleration when the system is released
from rest.

In this example, gravity and the

tension in the string are pulling
particle A in the same direction.
Consider particle A: T + 3gcos70° = 3a

Adding: 5g + 3gcos70° = 8a
1
a = (5g + 3gcos70°)
8

Pulley question 5
Example 5: Two particles of mass 2 kg and 5 kg are

resting either side of a rough inclined slope. The side that
the 2 kg particle rests on is inclined at an angle of 25° to
the horizontal and the other side is inclined at an angle of
30° to the horizontal.
The coefficients of friction between the particles and the
surface of each side of the slope are equal.
The acceleration when the system is released from rest is
2 m s–2.
a) Find the coefficient of friction between the particles
and the slope.
b) Find the tension in the string.

Pulley question 5 Solution
a) Resolve perpendicular to the plane: R1 = 2gcos25°

Resolve perpendicular to the plane: R2 = 5gcos30°
Consider the 2 kg particle: mass × acceleration
T – 2gcos65° – F1 = 2 × 2
T – 2gcos65° – 2gcos25° = 4
Remember, F = R
Consider the 5 kg particle:
5gcos60° – F2 – T = 5 × 2
5gcos60° – 5gcos30° – T = 10
Adding: 5gcos60° – 5gcos30° – 2gcos65° – 2gcos25° = 14

5gcos30° + 2gcos25° = 5gcos60° – 2gcos65° – 14
5 g cos60° – 2 gcos65° – 14
Therefore,    0.0368 (to 3 s.f.)
5 g cos30°  2 gcos25°
b) Consider the 2 kg particle: T – 2gcos65° – 2gcos25° = 4

Therefore, T = 2gcos65° + 4 + 2gcos25° × 0.0368
T = 12.9 (to 3 s.f.)
The tension in the string is 12.9 N.

Pulley question 6
Example 6: Two particles A and B are connected by a light

inextensible string which passes over a smooth peg. Particle
A has mass 3m kg and is resting on a smooth horizontal
table. Particle B of mass m kg is hanging freely over the peg
which is positioned on the edge of the table.
Find the tension in the string in terms of m.

Consider the 3m kg particle: T = 3ma

Consider the m kg particle: mg – T = ma
Adding: mg = 4ma
g = 4a
a = ¼g = 2.45
T = 3ma = 3m × 2.45 = 7.35m (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore the tension in the string is 7.35m N.
Contents Pulleys
Pulleys
Towing
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Whether a force is internal or external has nothing to do with

the force itself, but rather the system under consideration.
So, whether a force is internal or external is not an intrinsic
property of the force.
The next two examples illustrate the distinction between

internal and external forces.

Towing example
Example: A car of mass m1 pulls a trailer of mass m2 along a

straight horizontal road. The resistance to the motion of the
car is F1 and the resistance to the motion of the trailer is F2.
The engine of the car produces a driving force of magnitude
R.
Find, in terms of m1, m2, F1, F2 and R,
a) The acceleration of the system.
b) The tension in the coupling between the car and the
trailer.

Towing example solution
a) When considering the motion of the car and trailer as a

single entity, the tension in the coupling is an internal
force and does not appear on the diagram.

R – F1 – F2 = (m1 + m2)a
R  F1  F2
a 
m  m2
1

In order to calculate the tension in the coupling, the motion of

the car and trailer must be considered separately. In this
system, the tension is now an external force. The tension can
be calculated by looking at either the motion of the car or the
trailer. You could use the unused method to check the answer.
Forces acting on the trailer:
T is now an external force and must appear on the diagram.


T – F2 = m2a Substituting in
 T = F2 + m2a answer to part a).
R  F1  F2
T  F2  m2
m1  m2
m F m F m Rm F m F
T 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2
m m
1 2
m F m Rm F
1 2 2 2 2
T
m m
1 2
Forces acting on the car:

R – T – F1 = m1a
 T = R – F1 – m1a
R  F1  F2
T  R  F  m1
1 m1  m2
m R  m R  m F  m F  m1R  m1F1  m1F2
T 1 2 1 1 2 2
m m
1 2
m F m Rm F
T 1 2 2 2 2
m m
1 2
Lift example
Example: A man of mass m1 is travelling upwards in a lift of

mass m2 which has constant acceleration a. The tension in
the cable of the lift is T.
Find in terms of m1, m2, g and T,
a) The acceleration of the lift.
b) The normal contact force, R, between the man
and the floor of the lift.

Lift example solution
When considering the motion of the man and the lift together
the normal contact force is an internal force and does not
appear on the diagram.
a) Applying Newton’s second law:

T – m1g – m2g = (m1 + m2)a
T  m1g  m2 g
a 
m1  m2

In order to calculate the normal contact force between the man

and the floor of the lift, the motion of the man and the lift must
be considered separately. The normal contact force can be
calculated by looking at either the man or the lift. You could
use the unused method to check the answer.
b) Forces acting on the man:
R is now an external force

and must appear on the
diagram.


R – m1g = m1a
R = m1a + m1g
Substituting in
answer to part a).
T  m1g  m2 g
R  m1  m1g
m1  m2
m1T  m12 g  m1m2 g  m12 g  m1m2 g
R
m1  m2
m1T
R
m1  m2

Forces acting on the lift:
Newton’s third law dictates that
the force that the man exerts on
the floor of the lift is equal and
opposite to the force on the man.
T – N – m2g = m2a So, N = R
N = T – m2g – m2a
T  m1g  m2 g
N T m g m
2 2 m1  m2
m1T  m T  m1m2 g  m22 g  m T  m1m2 g  m 2 g
2 2 2
N
m1  m2
m1T
N
m1  m2
Contents Pulleys
Pulleys
Towing
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Towing question 1
A car is pulling a caravan along a straight horizontal road.

The mass of the car is 1200 kg and the mass of the caravan
is 900 kg.
The car and caravan are subject to resistive forces of 600 N
and 550 N respectively.
There is a constant driving force of 2200 N acting on the car.
a) Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the car

and caravan.
b) Find the tension in the towbar.

Towing question solution
a) Applying Newton’s second law to the whole system:

2200 – 600 – 550 = (900 + 1200) × a
2100a = 1050
a = 0.5
Therefore the acceleration of the car

and caravan is 0.5 m s–2.

b) Applying Newton’s second Law to the car only,

2200 – 600 – T = 1200 × 0.5
T = 2200 – 600 – 600
T = 1000
Therefore the tension in the towbar is 1000 N.

Towing question 2
A train comprises an engine of mass 40,000 kg coupled to two

trucks, each of mass 8000 kg. The train moves along a
horizontal road. The resistances to the motion of the engine,
middle truck and last truck are 15,000 N, 5000 N and 2000 N
respectively. The tension in the coupling between the two
trucks is 0.
a) Show that the train is decelerating and find the
magnitude of this deceleration.
b) Find the tension in the coupling between the engine
and the middle truck.
c) Determine whether the engine is exerting a braking or
driving force, and find the magnitude of this force.

a) Applying Newton’s second law to the last truck:

0 – 2000 = 8000a
–2000
a= = –0.25
8000
Therefore the train is decelerating at a rate of 0.25 m s–2.

b) Applying Newton’s second law to the middle truck:

T – 5000 = 8000 × –0.25
T = 5000 – 2000
T = 3000

Use F = ma on the whole train:

E – 15,000 – 5000 – 2000 = 56,000 × –0.25
E = 15,000 + 5000 + 2000 – 14,000
E = 8000
Therefore the engine is exerting a driving force of 8000 N.

Contents Pulleys
Pulleys
Towing
40
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The coefficient of friction
Friction is a very common force that acts on objects moving

relative to each other (for example a block sliding along a
table) to eventually slow them down.
Many of the examples involving moving objects have

involved a resistive force. This is often due to friction.
Friction depends on the roughness of the bodies touching

and on the normal contact force. The roughness is
characterised by the coefficient of friction, μ, and the
frictional force is then F = μR.
As μ gets closer to 1, the rougher the contact between the

surfaces. As μ gets closer to 0, the smoother the contact.

Question 5
A children’s slide is inclined at an angle of 25° to the

horizontal. A child of mass 30 kg goes down the slide with a
constant speed.
a) Draw a diagram showing all the forces.
b) Calculate R, the normal contact force.
c) Calculate the coefficient of friction between the child and
the slide.
a) a=0 R
25° 30g

Question 5 Solution
b) Resolving perpendicular to the plane,

R = 30g cos25°
R = 266 (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore R is 266 N.
c) Applying Newton’s Second Law down the plane,
30g cos65° – F = 0
F = 124 (to 3 s.f.)
but, F = R
  = 124 ÷ 266 = 0.466 (to 3 s.f.)

Question 6
A children’s slide is inclined at an angle  to the horizontal. A

child of mass 25 kg goes down the slide with a constant
speed.
Calculate  given that  = 0.5.
a=0 R
 = 0.5
F
θ 25g

Question 6 Solution
Resolving perpendicular to the plane, R = 25g cos

Applying Newton’s Second Law down the slope,
25g cos(90 – )° – F = 0
 F = 25g cos(90 – )°
We know that cos(90 – )° = sin, so F = 25g sin.
=F
R
 0.5= 25 g sin
25 g cos
We know that sin ÷ cos = tan, so cancelling gives us:
tan = 0.5
  = 26.6° (to 3 s.f.)
Question 7
A small wooden block is projected across a horizontal floor.

Initially it has a speed of 3 ms–1, and it comes to rest after
travelling 2 m.
a) Find the acceleration of the block.
b) Find the coefficient of friction between the block and
the floor.
R a
m F
mg

Question 7 Solution
a) Using v2 = u2 + 2as with s = 2, u = 3 and v = 0:

R a = –2.25 0 = 9 + 4a  a = –2.25
The block is therefore
m F decelerating at 2.25 ms–2.
mg
b) Resolving perpendicularly, R = mg
Applying Newton’s Second Law: 

–F = m × –2.25  F = 2.25m
μ = F = 2.25
mg
m = 0.230 (to 3 s.f.)
R
Question 8
A lift is accelerating upwards at 2 ms–2. A woman of mass 60

kg is standing in the lift.
Find the normal contact force between the woman and the
floor of the lift.
Applying Newton’s Second Law: 

R – 60g = 60 × 2
R = 60g + 120
R a = 2 ms–2
R = 708
Therefore the normal contact force
60g is 708 N.

Question 9
A particle of mass m kg is sliding down a rough plane inclined

at 20° to the horizontal. The coefficient of friction between
the particle and the surface of the plane is 0.2.
Find the acceleration of the particle down the slope.
a=0 R μ = 0.2
20° mg

Question 9 Solution
Resolving perpendicular to the plane, R = mg cos20°
F = R = 0.2mg cos20°
Applying Newton’s Second Law down the plane:
mg cos70° – F = mga
 F = mg cos70° – mga = 0.2mg cos20°
mg cos70  0.2mg cos 20 cos 70° – 0.2 cos 20°

a= =
mg
= 0.154 (to 3 s.f.)
 the particle is accelerating at 0.154 ms–2.

Contents Examination-style questions
Pulleys
Towing
Examination-style questions
51
51 of
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Examination-style question 1
Two particles, A and B, of masses 1 kg and 2 kg respectively,

are connected by a light, inextensible string which passes
over a smooth, fixed pulley.
This pulley is at the top of a rough plane inclined at an angle
of 30° to the horizontal.
A is resting on the plane 2.5 m from the pulley. B is hanging
freely over the pulley 1 m above the ground. The coefficient
of friction between particle A and the slope is 0.25.
a) Find the acceleration of the system when it is released
from rest.
b) Find the time taken for B to reach the ground.
c) Find the distance travelled by A up the slope after B has
reached the ground.

Solution 1
a) Resolving perpendicular to the plane, R = gcos30°

Using F = R: F = ¼gcos30° = 2.12 (to 3 s.f.)
Consider A: T – 2.12 – gcos60° = a
Consider B: 2g – T = 2a
Adding: 2g – 2.12 – gcos60° = 3a
1
a = (2g – 2.12 – gcos60°) = 4.19 (to 3 s.f.)
3

Solution 1
For B , u=0
a = 4.19
s=1
t=?
Using s = ut + ½at2
1 = 0 + 0.5 × 4.19 × t2
t2 = 0.477…
t = 0.691 (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore B takes 0.691 seconds to reach the ground.

Solution 1

Solution 1
Consider A until B reaches the ground:

u=0
a = 4.19
t = 0.691 v = velocity
v=?
Using v = u + at: v = 0 + 4.19 × 0.691

= 2.90 (to 3 s.f.)
So, the velocity of particle A at the moment that B reaches

the ground, is 2.90 m s–1.

Solution 1
When B reaches the ground the

string becomes slack and there is no
longer a force pulling A up the slope.
Using F = ma up the slope: –2.12 – gcos60° = a

 a = –7.02 (to 3 s.f.)
For A: u = 2.90
a = –7.02
v=0
s=? (v 2  u 2 ) 2.902
Using v2 = u2 + 2as: s= 
2a 14.04
s = 0.599 (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore, A travels a further 0.599 m up the
slope after B stops.
Two particles, A and B, have masses 3m kg and km kg

respectively, where k>3. The particles are connected by a
light, inextensible string which passes over a smooth, fixed
pulley.
g
The system has an acceleration of m s–2 when it is
5
released from rest.
a) Find the tension in the string in terms of m and g.
b) Find the value of k.

Solution 2
3mg
a) Consider particle A: T – 3mg =
18mg 5
T=
5
b) Consider particle B: kmg – 18mg  kmg
5 5
4kmg 18mg so, 4kmg = 18mg

5 5
4k = 18
Therefore, k = 4.5
A car of mass 850 kg is being towed by a tow-truck of mass

1500 kg. The car and the tow-truck are joined by a light
towbar, which is at an angle of 20° to the ground.
The car and the tow-truck experience resistances to motion
of 250 N and 600 N respectively.
The driving force exerted by the tow-truck is 3200 N.
a) Find the acceleration of the car and tow-truck.

b) Find the tension in the towbar.

Solution 3
Applying Newton’s second law to the whole system:

3200 – 600 – 250 = 2350 × a
2350a = 2350
a=1
Therefore the acceleration of the system is 1 m s–2.

Solution 3
Applying Newton’s second law to the car:

Tcos20° – 250 = 850 × 1
850  250
T=
cos20
T = 1170 (to 3 s.f.)

A particle of mass m kg slides down a rough plane inclined at

25° to the horizontal.
The particle passes through a point A with speed 3 ms–1, and
2 seconds later passes a point B with speed 9 ms–1.
a) Find the acceleration of the particle.
b) Find F in terms of m.
c) Find the coefficient of friction between the particle and the
surface of the slope.

Solution 4
93
a) Acceleration = = 3 ms–2
2
b) a = 3 ms–2 R
25° mg
Applying Newton’s Second Law down the plane:

mg cos65° – F = m × 3
F = mg cos65° – 3m
c) Resolving perpendicular to the plane:
R = mg cos25°
F mg cos65  3m
= = = 0.129 (to 3 s.f.)
R mg cos25
Examination-style Question 5
A sledge of mass 70 kg is pulled up a slope inclined at an

angle  to the horizontal where tan = 40
7.
The slope is modelled as a rough inclined plane and the rope

as a light, inextensible string acting parallel to the line of
greatest slope.
The coefficient of friction between the sledge and the slope is
0.3 and the sledge is accelerating up the slope with an
acceleration of 0.4 ms–2.
Find the tension in the rope.

Solution 5
a = 0.4 ms–2 R
T
 = 0.3
F
θ 70g
7
Before we resolve the forces, look at tan = 40 .
From the right-angled triangle with smaller sides of length 7

and 40, which has hypotenuse length 402 + 72 ≈ 41, we can
deduce the values of sin and cos :
sin ≈ 7 ÷ 41 and cos ≈ 40 ÷ 41

Solution 5
Resolving perpendicular to the plane,

R = 70g cos  R = 669.3
F = R = 0.3 × 669.3 = 200.8
Applying Newton’s Second Law up the plane,
T – 200.8 – 70g cos(90 – )° = 70 × 0.4
T – 200.8 – 70g sin = 70 × 0.4
T = 200.8 + 117.1 + 28
 T = 346 (to 3 s.f.)
Therefore the tension in the rope is 346 N.

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AS-Level Maths:

We talk about connected particles when we are considering

1. In the first situation, two masses are connected by a

2. In the second situation, is one mass tows another;

3 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Applying Newton’s second law:

This example shows

Adding: m2g – m1gsin = m1a + m2a

Particles of mass 3 kg and 7 kg are attached to each end of

6 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

a) Consider the 3 kg particle: T – 3g = 3a

A particle A of mass 3 kg is resting on a smooth,

8 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

9 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Constant acceleration formula

10 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

A particle A of mass 4 kg is resting on a rough plane

11 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Resolve perpendicular to the plane:

Example 4: A particle A of mass 3 kg is resting on a sloping

13 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

In this example, gravity and the

Consider particle A: T + 3gcos70° = 3a

Therefore the acceleration of the system is 7.38 m s–2.

Example 5: Two particles of mass 2 kg and 5 kg are

15 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

a) Resolve perpendicular to the plane: R1 = 2gcos25°

Adding: 5gcos60° – 5gcos30° – 2gcos65° – 2gcos25° = 14

b) Consider the 2 kg particle: T – 2gcos65° – 2gcos25° = 4

The tension in the string is 12.9 N.

17 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Example 6: Two particles A and B are connected by a light

18 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Consider the 3m kg particle: T = 3ma

Whether a force is internal or external has nothing to do with

The next two examples illustrate the distinction between

21 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Example: A car of mass m1 pulls a trailer of mass m2 along a

22 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

a) When considering the motion of the car and trailer as a

Applying Newton’s second law:

23 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

In order to calculate the tension in the coupling, the motion of

T is now an external force and must appear on the diagram.

24 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Applying Newton’s second law:

Forces acting on the car:

Applying Newton’s second law:

Example: A man of mass m1 is travelling upwards in a lift of

27 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

a) Applying Newton’s second law:

28 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

In order to calculate the normal contact force between the man

R is now an external force

29 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Applying Newton’s second law:

30 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

A car is pulling a caravan along a straight horizontal road.

a) Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the car

33 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

a) Applying Newton’s second law to the whole system:

Therefore the acceleration of the car

34 of 67 © Boardworks Ltd 2005