1992 Paper 2 Q14

Year: 1992
Paper: 2
Question Number: 14

Course: LFM Pure and Mechanics
Section: Pulley systems

Difficulty: 1600.0 Banger: 1500.0

Problem

\noindent
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\noindent In the diagram \(P_{1}\) and \(P_{2}\) are smooth light pulleys fixed at the same height, and \(P_{3}\) is a third smooth light pulley, freely suspended. A smooth light inextensible string runs over \(P_{1},\) under \(P_{3}\) and over \(P_{2},\) as shown: the parts of the string not in contact with any pulley are vertical. A particle of mass \(m_{3}\) is attached to \(P_{3}.\) There is a particle of mass \(m_{1}\) attached to the end of the string below \(P_{1}\) and a particle of mass \(m_{2}\) attached to the other end, below \(P_{2}.\) The system is released from rest. Find the tension in the string, and show that the pulley \(P_{3}\) will remain at rest if \[ 4m_{1}m_{2}=m_{3}(m_{1}+m_{2}). \]

No solution available for this problem.

Rating Information

Difficulty Rating: 1600.0

Difficulty Comparisons: 0

Banger Rating: 1500.0

Banger Comparisons: 0

Show LaTeX source
Problem source
\noindent \begin{center}
\psset{xunit=1.0cm,yunit=1.0cm,algebraic=true,dimen=middle,dotstyle=o,dotsize=3pt 0,linewidth=0.5pt,arrowsize=3pt 2,arrowinset=0.25} \begin{pspicture*}(-3.36,-3.71)(5.32,4.49) \pspolygon[linewidth=0pt,linecolor=white,hatchcolor=black,fillstyle=hlines,hatchangle=45.0,hatchsep=0.19](-3,4.22)(-3,4)(5,4)(5,4.22) \pscircle(-1,2){1} \pscircle(3,2){1} \pscircle(1,-1){1} \psline(0,2)(0,-1) \psline(2,2)(2,-1) \psline(-2,2)(-2,-1) \psline(4,2)(4,-1) \psline{->}(-2,-1.44)(-2,-2) \rput[tl](-2.25,-2.31){$m_1g$} \psline{->}(4,-1.44)(4,-2) \rput[tl](3.74,-2.25){$m_2g$} \psline{->}(1,-1)(1.02,-2.78) \rput[tl](0.72,-3.06){$m_3g$} \psline(-1,2)(-1,4) \psline(3,2)(3,4) \psline(-3,4)(5,4) \rput[tl](-1.19,1.67){$P_1$} \rput[tl](2.83,1.64){$P_2$} \rput[tl](0.83,-0.5){$P_3$} \begin{scriptsize} \psdots[dotstyle=*](-1,2) \psdots[dotstyle=*](3,2) \psdots[dotstyle=*](1,-1) \psdots[dotstyle=*](-2,-1) \psdots[dotstyle=*](4,-1) \end{scriptsize} \end{pspicture*}
\par\end{center}

\noindent In the diagram $P_{1}$ and $P_{2}$ are smooth light pulleys
fixed at the same height, and $P_{3}$ is a third smooth light pulley,
freely suspended. A smooth light inextensible string runs over $P_{1},$
under $P_{3}$ and over $P_{2},$ as shown: the parts of the string
not in contact with any pulley are vertical. A particle of mass $m_{3}$
is attached to $P_{3}.$ There is a particle of mass $m_{1}$ attached
to the end of the string below $P_{1}$ and a particle of mass $m_{2}$
attached to the other end, below $P_{2}.$ The system is released
from rest. Find the tension in the string, and show that the pulley
$P_{3}$ will remain at rest if 
\[
4m_{1}m_{2}=m_{3}(m_{1}+m_{2}).
\]