General Physics I

Dynamics of Solids - Set 11

Prof. Suliana Manley

1. The leaning ladder

A ladder, of mass m and length L is leaning against a vertical wall. The angle between the wall and the
ladder is α and the coefficient of static friction between the foot of the ladder and the ground is µ. There is
no friction between the ladder and the wall. What is the maximum angle αmax able before the foot of the
ladder begins to slip and the ladder falls down?

2. The beam
We consider a beam of mass M and length l embedded into a wall and held up by a cord that makes an
angle α with the beam (see diagram below). The system is in static equilibrium.

Determine the vector expressions for the forces applied on the beam and mark their point of application on
the diagram above.

3. Machines, ancient and modern (Former exam question)

A string (massless and inextensible) passes over a pulley (uniform disk of radius R) of mass M , connecting
two objects. This system represents a basic machine that we will model in this exercise. Assume that the
string never slips, and take the acceleration under gravity to be g.

1. First, we will use this system to model a counterbalanced funicular. Consider the scenario (right),
where a mass M represents the counterweight and another mass 2M represents the funicular’s car.
The car sits on an inclined plane a distance d from the bottom. The effective coefficient of friction
between the car and the plane is µ (for both static and kinetic friction), and the plane makes an angle
β with the horizontal.

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General Physics I Dynamics of Solids - Set 11

a. Determine conditions on βu and βd , the values of the incline angles which allow the counterweight
to move up or down. Note: it is not required that you solve for (isolate) βu and βd .
The system is released from rest at t = 0, and the counterweight moves up.
b. Give an expression for the acceleration, af , of the car in terms of g and β. What is the maximum
possible value of af ? Verify that your expression satisfies this limit.
c. What does this expression become in the case where the pulley is massless and the incline is vertical
(limit β → π/2)?
d. What is velocity of the car when it reaches the bottom of the slope? Write explicitly in one sentence
your strategy for solving this part of the problem.
2. In the second part, we will use this system to model a rocket-powered elevator. Consider the scenario
sketched here, where the elevator (of mass m∗2 ) and its counterweight (of mass m1 ) initially both hang
vertically at rest. The elevator has a rocket mechanism, which allows it to eject mass downward at a
rate λ, and with a velocity u relative to the elevator, resulting in a time-dependent mass m2 (t). In this
part, the mass of the pulley is considered negligible.

a. Give an expression for the acceleration of the elevator, ae , assuming it moves upward. What does
this expression reduce to in the case of constant mass? Compare with your result in part (1, c).

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General Physics I Dynamics of Solids - Set 11

b. Sketch the velocity, ve , of the elevator as a function of time. Indicate on the graph the maximum
value of the acceleration. What is the maximum value of the acceleration of the elevator, ae,max , if the
total mass of the fuel is mf ?
c. What is the maximum possible acceleration (downward), ac,max , of the counterweight? At what
time, tc , can this be reached, assuming there is sufficient fuel in the rocket? Describe in words what
happens to each mass after this time, assuming they are not limited by the length of the rope or the
position of the pulley. Sketch the tension in the rope as a function of time, making note of the values
at the intercepts (t = 0 and T = 0).

4. Homework
A wheel in the shape of a uniform disk of radius R and mass mp is mounted on a frictionless horizontal axis.
The wheel has moment of inertia about the center of mass Icm = (1/2)mR2 . A massless cord is wrapped
around the wheel and one end of the cord is attached to an object of mass m2 that can slide up or down a
frictionless inclined plane. The other end of the cord is attached to a second object of mass m1 that hangs
over the edge of the inclined plane. The plane is inclined from the horizontal by an angle θ. Once the objects
are released from rest, the cord moves without slipping around the disk. Calculate the speed of block 2 as
a function of distance that it moves down the inclined plane using energy techniques. Assume there are no
energy losses due to friction.