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2014 Paper 2 Q9
D: 1600.0 B: 1484.0

A uniform rectangular lamina \(ABCD\) rests in equilibrium in a vertical plane with the \(A\) in contact with a rough vertical wall. The plane of the lamina is perpendicular to the wall. It is supported by a light inextensible string attached to the side \(AB\) at a distance \(d\) from \(A\). The other end of the string is attached to a point on the wall above \(A\) where it makes an acute angle \(\theta\) with the downwards vertical. The side \(AB\) makes an acute angle \(\phi\) with the upwards vertical at \(A\). The sides \(BC\) and \(AB\) have lengths \(2a\) and \(2b\) respectively. The coefficient of friction between the lamina and the wall is \(\mu\).

  1. Show that, when the lamina is in limiting equilibrium with the frictional force acting upwards, \begin{equation} d\sin(\theta +\phi) = (\cos\theta +\mu \sin\theta)(a\cos\phi +b\sin\phi)\,. \tag{\(*\)} \end{equation}
  2. How should \((*)\) be modified if the lamina is in limiting equilibrium with the frictional force acting downwards?
  3. Find a condition on \(d\), in terms of \(a\), \(b\), \(\tan\theta\) and \(\tan\phi\), which is necessary and sufficient for the frictional force to act upwards. Show that this condition cannot be satisfied if \(b(2\tan\theta+ \tan \phi) < a\).


Solution:

TikZ diagram
  1. \begin{align*} \text{N2}(\uparrow): && T \cos \theta + F -W &= 0 \\ && W &= T\cos \theta + \mu R \tag{1} \\ \text{N2}(\rightarrow): && R-T\sin \theta &= 0 \\ && R &= T \sin \theta \tag{2}\\ \\ (1)+(2): && W&=(\cos \theta + \mu \sin \theta)T \tag{3} \\ \overset{\curvearrowright}{A}: && 0 &= W(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi) - Td\sin(\phi+\theta) \tag{4} \\ \\ (3)+(4): && 0 &= (\cos \theta + \mu \sin \theta)(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi)-d\sin(\phi+\theta) \\ \Rightarrow && d\sin(\phi+\theta) &= (\cos \theta + \mu \sin \theta)(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi) \end{align*} as required.
  2. If \(F\) is operating downwards, it's equivalent to \(-\mu\), ie: \[d\sin(\phi+\theta) = (\cos \theta - \mu \sin \theta)(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi)\]
  3. For the frictional force to be acting upwards, we need \begin{align*} && d\sin(\phi+\theta) &\geq \cos \theta(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi) \\ \Rightarrow && d &\geq \frac{\cos \theta(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi)}{\sin(\phi + \theta)} \\ &&&= \frac{\cos \theta(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi)}{\sin\phi \cos\theta+\cos\phi\sin \theta)}\\ &&&= \frac{(b\sin \phi + a \cos \phi)}{\sin\phi+\cos \phi \tan \theta)}\\ &&&= \frac{a+b\tan \phi}{\tan\theta+\tan\phi }\\ \end{align*} We know that \(d < 2b\), so \begin{align*} && 2b &>\frac{a+b\tan \phi}{\tan\theta+\tan\phi }\\ \Rightarrow && 2b \tan \theta + 2b \tan \phi &> a + b \tan \phi \\ \Rightarrow &&b(2 \tan \theta + \tan \phi) &> a\\ \end{align*} Therefore we will have problems if the inequality is reversed!

2010 Paper 1 Q9
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

TikZ diagram
The diagram shows a uniform rectangular lamina with sides of lengths \(2a\) and \(2b\) leaning against a rough vertical wall, with one corner resting on a rough horizontal plane. The plane of the lamina is vertical and perpendicular to the wall, and one edge makes an angle of \(\alpha\) with the horizontal plane. Show that the centre of mass of the lamina is a distance \(a\cos\alpha + b\sin\alpha\) from the wall. The coefficients of friction at the two points of contact are each \(\mu\) and the friction is limiting at both contacts. Show that \[ a\cos(2\lambda +\alpha) = b\sin\alpha \,, \] where \(\tan\lambda = \mu\). Show also that if the lamina is square, then \(\lambda = \frac{1}{4}\pi -\alpha\).


Solution:

TikZ diagram
The horizontal distance to \(X\) is \(a\cos \alpha\). The horizontal distance to \(G\) from \(X\) is \(b \sin \alpha\), therefore the centre of mass is a distance \(a \cos \alpha + b \sin \alpha\) from the wall.
TikZ diagram
\begin{align*} \text{lim eq}: && F_W &= \mu R_W \\ && F_G &= \mu R_G\\ \text{N2}(\rightarrow): && \mu R _G &= R_W \\ \text{N2}(\uparrow): && \mu R_W + R_G &= W \\ \Rightarrow && (1+\mu^2)R_G &= W \\ \overset{\curvearrowleft}{Y}: && R_G 2a \cos \alpha - F_G 2a \sin \alpha - W (a \cos \alpha + b \sin \alpha) &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && 2a R_G \cos \alpha -2a \mu R_G \sin \alpha - (1+\mu^2)R_G(a \cos \alpha + b \sin \alpha) &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && a(1-\mu^2)\cos \alpha - (b(1+\mu^2)+2a\mu) \sin \alpha &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && a(1-\tan^2 \lambda )\cos \alpha - (b(1-\tan^2 \lambda)+2a\tan \lambda) \sin \alpha &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow&& a(2-\sec^2 \lambda) \cos \alpha - (b\sec^2 \lambda+2a\mu) \sin \alpha &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && a (2\cos \lambda - 1)\cos \alpha - 2a \sin \lambda \cos \lambda \sin \alpha &= b \sin \alpha \\ \Leftrightarrow && a\cos 2 \lambda \cos \alpha - a\sin 2 \lambda \sin \alpha &= b \sin \alpha \\ \Leftrightarrow && a\cos (2 \lambda +\alpha) &= b \sin \alpha \end{align*} as required. If the lamina is a square, \(a = b\), so \begin{align*} && \cos(2\lambda + \alpha) &= \sin \alpha \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= \cos(2\lambda + \alpha) -\sin \alpha \\ &&&= \sin \left (\frac{\pi}{2} - 2 \lambda - \alpha \right )-\sin \alpha \\ &&&= 2 \cos\left ( \frac{\frac{\pi}{2} - 2 \lambda - \alpha +\alpha}{2} \right) \sin\left ( \frac{\frac{\pi}{2} - 2 \lambda - \alpha -\alpha}{2} \right) \\ &&&= 2 \cos\left ( \frac{\pi}4 -\lambda\right) \sin\left ( \frac{\pi}4 -\lambda-\alpha \right) \\ \Rightarrow && \lambda -\frac{\pi}{4} = -\frac{\pi}{2} & \text{ or } \frac{\pi}{4} - \lambda - \alpha = 0 \\ \Rightarrow && \alpha &= \frac{\pi}{4}-\lambda \end{align*}

1989 Paper 2 Q12
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

A uniform rectangular lamina of sides \(2a\) and \(2b\) rests in a vertical plane. It is supported in equilibrium by two smooth pegs fixed in the same horizontal plane, a distance \(d\) apart, so that one corner of the lamina is below the level of the pegs. Show that if the distance between this (lowest) corner and the peg upon which the side of length \(2a\) rests is less than \(a\), then the distance between this corner and the other peg is less than \(b\). Show also that \[ b\cos\theta-a\sin\theta=d\cos2\theta, \] where \(\theta\) is the acute angle which the sides of length \(2b\) make with the horizontal.


Solution:

TikZ diagram
We must have \(G\) between the two pegs (vertically), otherwise we will induce a moment. Considering moments about the peg, if the second peg is outside the centre then we must induce a moment and therefore we cannot be in equilibrium. \begin{align*} \text{N2}(\nearrow):&& 0 &= R_1-mg\sin\theta \\ \text{N2}(\nwarrow):&&0&= R_2-mg \cos \theta \\ \Rightarrow && R_1 &= mg \sin\theta \\ && R_2 &= mg \cos\theta \\ \\ \overset{\curvearrowleft}{G}: && 0 &= R_1(a-d\sin\theta) -R_2(b-d \cos\theta) \\ \Rightarrow && 0&= a \sin\theta -d \sin^2\theta - b\cos \theta+d \cos^2 \theta \\ \Rightarrow && b \cos \theta - a \sin \theta &= d \cos 2 \theta \end{align*}