IIT–JEE PHYSICS

Two and Three Blocks

Problem in Friction
• The block on which a net force is applied to pull or
Decide push, friction on both of its surfaces direction opposite
ST EP
direction to the force.
1 of friction • Friction between two surfaces in contact makes action
forces reaction pair, these forces act in opposite direction with
equal magnitude.

• If coefficients of static and kinetic friction are

Decide range of different
ST EP
friction forces fs < sN fk = kN
2 between each pair of • If coefficients of static and kinetic friction are
surfaces in contact. same f < N

ST EP Decide maximum possible acceleration

3 each of those blocks, which accelerate

only due to friction.

• If friction in zero anywhere below the block on which

Sequence force is applied, slipping first starts there.
ST EP

4 of • Out of the blocks (accelerating due to friction forces only)

which has least maximum possible acceleration start slip-
Slipping ping next. It starts slipping with respect to that block
which has next higher maximum possible acceleration.

Solve
ST EP

5 the
Questions

E 1
1. In the given figure block A is placed on block B and both are placed on A
10kg
a smooth horizontal plane. Assume lower block to be sufficiently long. s=0.2, k=0.1
B
The force F pulling the block B horizontally is increased according to 20kg F
law F = 10t N smooth

(a) When does block A start slipping on block B? What will be force F and acceleration just before slipping starts?
(b) When F is increased beyond the value obtained in part (a), what will be acceleration of A ?
(c) Draw acceleration-time graph.

Sol. Direction of friction forces

Block A moves forward always, due to friction, therefore friction on it must be in
A
f forward direction.
B
f F Friction between two adjacent surfaces are equal and opposite because they make
Newton's is third law action reaction pair.
Range of Value of friction
Before slipping starts, friction is static fs < 20 N
After slipping starts, friction is kinetic fk = 10 N

Maximum possible acceleration

A can accelerate only due to friction, its maximum possible acceleration (when fs = fsm = 20 N)
mAg=100N

maA=10aAM
A = A
Block A So 20 = 10aAM  aAM = 2 m/s2
fsm=20N
N1=100N

Sequence of slipping
Since ground is smooth, block B first starts slipping on the ground and carries A together with it. When acceleration
of A & B becomes equal to aAM, Block A starts slipping on B.

(a) Just before the moment A starts slipping, both were moving together with acceleration aAM.
Considering them as a one body.

A A
F=10t (mA+mB)aAM=60
B B

(On a smooth stationary surface we will not show the normal forces i.e. FBD of combined block showing horizontal
forces only).
Value of F F = 60 N
and Time 10t = 60 t = 6s

(b) If F is increased beyond 60 N, A slides and kinetic friction acts on it. Now acceleration of A

A = A
10aA
 10 = 10aA  aA = 1 m/s2
fk=10
(c) When F < 60 N, both are moving with same acceleration a. We treat then as one body.

A A
1
F=10t 30a So 10t = 30a a = t
B = B 3

2
 This acceleration increases to aAM = 2 m/s, when F = 60 N at t = 6 s. Thereafter A starts slipping and its acceleration
provided by kinetic friction, drops to a constant value aA = 1 m/s2. However acceleration of B keeps on increasing according
to equation
10
F=10t 20aB
1 1
B = B 10t – 10 = 20aB  aB = t 
2 2

Graph between acceleration and time

2. Block A is placed on another block B, which rests on a rough horizontal ground. A

Horizontal force F pulling the block B is increased gradually.  s=0.2, k=0.1 10kg
B
(a) Find the maximum value of F so that no motion occurs. 20kg F
 s=0.3, k=0.2
(b) Find maximum F so that A does not slide on B.
(c) If F is increased beyond the value obtained in part (b) what are
acceleration of both the blocks ? Explain your answer in terms of F.
(d) If F is increased according to law F =10t N draw a–t graph
Sol. Directions of friction forces Range of values of frictional forces
A A
f1k = 10 N (A is slipping)
f1
B
f1s = 20 N (A is not slipping)
B f1
f2 F
F
f2 f2k = 60 N (B is slipping)

Before B starts slipping After B starts slipping f2s < 90 N (B is at rest)

Maximum possible acceleration

A can move only due to friction. Its maximum possible acceleration is
10aAm
Block A A = A  aAm=2 m/ s2

f1 sm=20

Sequence of slipping
When F > f2s , block B starts slipping on ground and carries block A together with it till its acceleration reaches
value aAM. Thereafter A also starts slipping on B.

(a) F = 90 N

(b) When A does not slide on B, both move with the same acceleration (aAm) and can be treated as one body, which
can have maximum acceleration aAM = 2 m/s2.

A A
F (10+20)× 2
B = B
F – 60 = 60  F = 120 N
f2k=60

3
(c) When F is increased beyond F = 120 N, block A starts sliding and friction between A & B drops to f1K = 10 N. Both
the blocks now move with different acceleration so we treat them separate bodies. Now acceleration A also drops to
a constant value aA.
10aA
Acceleration of A : A = A 10 = 10 aA aA = 1 m/s2

f1k = 10
f1k=10
20aB F  70
Acceleration of B : F= So F–70 = 20aB  a B 
20
f2k=60

(d) If F = 10t, values of acceleration of both the blocks in different

time intervals are as under:

• F < 90 N  t<9s aA = aB = 0
t
• 90 N < F < 120 N 9 s < t < 12 s aA = aB =  2 and
3
In the interval both the blocks move as one body

F=10t = 30a 1 0 t  60 t
a  2
30 3
60
t
• F > 120 N  t > 12s aA = 1; a B   3 .5
2

3. Block A is placed on another block B, which rests on a rough horizontal ground. A

F
Horizontal force pulling A is increased gradually  s=0.6, k=0.5 10kg
(a) Find maximum F so that none of the blocks move. Which block starts B
slidingfirst? 10kg
(b) Express acceleration of each block as function of F for all positive values  s=0.2, k=0.1
ofF.
(c) If F=10t draw a-t graph

Sol. Directions of friction forces Range of values of friction forces

f1s < 60 N
f1 F
f1k = 50 N
f1
f2 f2s < 40 N
f2k = 20 N

Maximum possible acceleration of B : Block B acceleration due to friction only. Its maximum acceleration is
f1s=60
B = B 10aBm
60–20 = 10aBm  aBm = 4 m/s2
f2k=20

Sequence of slipping : Smaller, limiting friction is between B and ground so it will start sliding first. Then both
will move together till acceleration B reaches its maximum possible values 4 m/s2. Thereafter A starts sliding
on B

4
(a) Till the F reaches the limiting friction between block B and the ground none of the blocks move.

A F
B
=0
F = 40 N
f2 Sm=40
(b) If F < 40 aA = aB=0 ...(i)

If F > 40 N, block B starts sliding and carries A together with it with the same acceleration till acceleration reach
to 4 m/s2. At this moment A starts slipping. Before this moment we may treat both of them as single body.
Friction on B is kinetic.

A F A
B B F  20
= 20aAB  F – 20 = 20aAB  a AB  a A  a B 
20
20

When A starts sliding on B, aA = aB = aB =4, from the above equation, we have F = 100 N.
When F  100 N block A also starts slipping on B and friction between A & B drops to value 50 N.
Now since they move with different acceleration we treat them separately.

F 10aA F  50
A = A
Block A aA 
10
50

50
10aB 50  2 0
Block B B = B  aB   3 m/s2
10

20

(c) F < 40 N t<4s aA = aB = 0 a (m/ s2)

5
t–
=
A
a

t 5
40 < F < 100 4 < t < 10 aA = aB = –1 aB
2 3

1
100 < F  t > 10 aA=t –5, aB = 3 m/s2 0
t (s)
4 10
4. Block A is placed on B and B is placed on block C, which rests on smooth horizontal ground as shown in the
figure. Block A is pulled horizontally by a force F which increases gradually.
A
(a) Decide sequence of slipping. =0.1 10kg
B
(b) If F is increased gradually find acceleration of each block for all values of F. 20kg
=0.2
C
(c) If F = 15t N, draw a–t graph. =0 30kg F

Sol. Direction of friction forces : Range of values of friction forces

A
f1 f1 < 10 N (A does not slides on B)
B f1 f1 = 10 N (A slides on B)
f2
C f2 < 60 N (B does not slides on C)
f2 F
f2 = 60 N (B slides on C)

5
 Maximum possible acceleration : Blocks A and B move due to friction forces only, we find their maximum possible
acceleration.

Block A A = A 10aAm aAm = 1 m/s2

f1sm=10

10

= B
60  10
Block B B 20aBm a Bm   2 .5 m / s 2
20
60
(a) Sequence of slipping
Since ground is smooth the block C starts sliding first
A starts slipping on B secondly till that moment all the three blocks move with same acceleration, which can
achieve maximum value of aAM = 1 m/s2.
Thirdly B starts sliding on C, till that moment B & C move with the same acceleration aBm = 2.5 m/s2

(b) Before A starts slipping, all the three were moving with the same acceleration aAM = 1 m/s2. We therefore
treat then as a single body.

A A
60aABC F
B B a ABC 
= 60
F
C C
F
When A starts sliding aABC < aAM  < 1  F < 60 N
60
When F  60 N, block A starts slipping on B and its acceleration decided by friction f1, achieves a constant value
aA = 1 m/s2.

Now, F is increased beyond 60 N and B and C will continue to move together till their acceleration aBC becomes
aBm = 2.5 m/s2, when slipping between B and C starts. Till this moment, we treat B and C as one body.
10

B B
(20+30)aBC F  10
F =  a BC 
C C 50

F  10
When slipping between B & C starts : aBC = aBm  = 2.5  F  135 N
50

When F > 135 N, block B also starts slipping on C. Now acceleration of A & B achieves the maximum value
aBm = 2.5 m/s2 and acceleration of block C is decided by F.

60
F  60
C F= C 30aC F – 60 = 30 aC aC =
30

Acceleration of blocks for different values of force.

F
• F  60 N aA = aB = aC= aABC =
60
F  10
• 60 < F  135 N aA = aAm = 1 m/s2, aB = aC = aBC =
50
F  60
• 135 < F aA = aAm=1, aB = aBm = 2.5, and aC =
30

6
(c) If F = 15t 2
a(m/ s )
F t
• F  60 t 4s aA = aB = aC = = = 0.25t

2
t–
60 4

.5
=0
• 60 < F  135 4<t9 aA = 1 m/s2

aC
2.5 aB
F  10 .2
aB = aC = = 0.3t – 0.2 2 –0
50 .3t
0
1 aA
• 135 < F 9<t aA = 1 m/s2 5t
0.2
aB = 2.5 m/s2
t(s)
4s 9s
F  60
aC = = 0.5t – 2
30

5. Block C rests on smooth horizontal ground and blocks A and B are placed on A
10kg
=0.1
C as shown in the figure. Block B is pulled horizontally by a force F, which B
20kg F
=0.2
increases gradually
C
30kg
(a) If F is increased gradually, express acceleration of each block.
(b) If F = 10t, draw a–t graph

Sol. Directions of friction forces Range of values of frictional forces

A f1 < 10 (A does not slide on B)
f1
B f1 f1 = 10 (A slides on B)
f2 F
C
f2 < 60 (B does not slide on C)
f2
f2 = 60 (B slides on C)

Maximum possible acceleration Blocks A and C move only due to friction. Their maximum possible acceleration
are

10aAM
A = A
Block A  aAM = 1 m/s2
10

60
30aCM
Block C C = C aCM = 2 m/s2

Sequence of slipping :
Since ground is smooth C starts sliding when F is applied.
A will starts sliding next. Till this occur all the blocks move together with acceleration aABC = aAM = 1 m/s2
Slipping between B & C occurs in last, when acceleration of B and C reaches aCm = 2 m/s2.

(a) Before A starts sliding all the blocks move together, therefore we can treat them as one body.

A A
(10+20+30)aABC F
B F B a ABC 
60
C = C

When block A starts sliding aABC < aAM therefore from the above equation, we have F  60.

7
 When F > 60; block A starts sliding. Its acceleration decided by friction f1, equals to a constant value aAm= 1 m/s2

Now blocks A and B keep on moving together with the same acceleration till their acceleration aBC becomes
aCM = 2 m/s2. During this period.
10
(20+30)aBC
F B
B
F  10
C = C F – 10 = 50aBC  aBC =
50

When slipping between B and C starts, their acceleration aBC becomes aCM =2 m/s2. Now from the above equation,

F  10
we have  2  F  11 0N
50

If F > 110 N, B starts slipping on C and acceleration of C becomes constant aCM = 2 m/s2.

10

B F F  70
Now acceleration of B : =B 20aB F–70 = 20aB  a B 
20
60

F t
(b) F < 60 N t<6s aA = aB = aC = aABC = 
60 6
a(m/ s2)
60 < f  110 6 < t  11 aA = 1 m/s2

/2
–7
t/ 2
aB =
F  10 t 1 aC
aB = aC = aBC =   2

/5
–1
50 5 5 t/
5
a=

1 aA
110  F 110 < t aA = 1 m/s2
t/ 6
a=
F  70 t 7 t(s)
aB =   6s 11s
20 2 2

aC = 2 m/s2

6. A block A is placed on B and B is placed on C, which rests on smooth ground. Block A is pulled with a horizontal
forces F, which increases gradually.

(a) Find maximum value of friction force. A 10kg F

 =0.1
(b) Express acceleration of each block as a function of F.  =0.2 B 20kg

C 30kg
(c) If F = 10t N; draw acceleration time graph.  =0

Sol. Direction of frictional forces : Range of values of friction

A f1  10 N (A does no slide on B)
f1 F
B f1 = 10 N (A slides on B)

C f2 f2  60 N (B does not slide on C)

8
 f2  60 N (B slides on C)
Maximum possible acceleration
Blocks B & C move only due to friction. Since the force f2 pulling C can not exceed f1, the blocks B and C
always move together. Therefore we treat them as one body.

(20+30)aBCM
10
B B
aBCM = 0.2 m/s2
C C

Sequence of sleeping
Since ground is smooth, block C starts sliding first due to friction f2 pulling it.
Blocks B and C always move together, next slipping occurs between blocks A & B.

(a) Friction f2 can not exceed f1, therefore maximum friction force is 10 N.

(b) All the blocks move together till slipping starts between A & B when their acceleration becomes aABC = 0.2
m/s2. Till this moment we can treat them as one body.

A F A
(10+20+30)aABC
B B F
a ABC 
60
C C

When A starts slipping on B, acceleration aABC = 0.2 m/s2. From the above equation, we have
F = 60aBCm = 60 × 0.2 = 12 N
When F  12 N, A starts slipping on B and B and C move together with acceleration aBCM = 0.2 m/s. Only
block A is left whose acceleration can be calculated as

F 10 aA F  10
a
10
10

(c) If F = 10t, we have

F t
F  12 0  t  1.2 aA = aB = aC= 
60 6

F  10
F > 12 1.2 < t aA   t 1
10
a B  a C  a BCM  0 .2

7. Block A is placed on block B and B is placed on another block C, which rests on rough horizontal ground. Block
C is pulled horizontally by a force F, which increases gradually.
A 10kg
(a) Find maximum friction between any pair of surfaces in contact.  =0.5
B 10kg
 =0.2
(b) Express acceleration of each block as a function of F.
C 10kg F
 =0.1
9
 (c) Draw a–t graph if F=15t.

Sol. Direction of Frictional Forces Range of values of friction forces

f1  50 N when A does not slides on B.
A f f1 = 50 N when A slides on B.
1

B f2  40 N when B does not slides on C.

C f2 = 40 N when B slides on C.
F
f3  30 N when C does not slide on ground.
f3 = 30 N when C slides on ground.
Maximum Possible acceleration
Blocks A and B accelerate only due to friction forces. The limiting friction between A and B can never exceed
the friction between B and C, therefore acceleration of A cannot exceed that of B and blocks A & B always
move together. We can treat then as one body.

A A
aABM = 2 m/s2
B B 20aABM

f2=40

Sequence of slipping
Since ground is smooth, block C starts sliding when F is applied. Slipping between B & C occurs next. Slipping
between A & B never occurs.

(a) Since A & B always move together, friction f1 can not exceed f2.
f1  f2 max = 40 N
(b) For 0  F  30. None of the blocks move
For 30 < F, block C starts sliding pulling the blocks B & A together with it. A will never slip on B.
Till acceleration of C reaches value aABM = 2 m/s2 all the blocks will move together with the same acceleration
aABC, when B starts sliding on C. Till this moment we can treat them as one body.

A A
F  30
B B 30aABC a ABC 
30
F C
C

30

When aABC reaches value aABM = 2 m/s2, B starts sliding on C. From the above equation, we obtain value of
F, when B starts sliding on C.

F  30
2 =  F = 90 N
30
When 90 < F, Block B slides on C, but A and B always move together with acceleration aABM. Now acceleration
of C is

10
 40
10aC F  70
C F a
10
30
Range of F: Acceleration
0  F  30 aA = aB = aC = 0
F  30
30 < F  90 aA = aB = aC= aABC =
30
90 < F aA = aB = aAB = 2
F  70
aC =
10
(c) If F = 15t, we have
a(m/ s2)

F < 30 N t 2 aA = aB = aC =0

aC= 3 t 7
t 2
30 < F < 90 N 2< t  6 aA = aB = aC = –1
2
aA=aB
90 N < F 6>t aA = aB = 2 m/s2 a=t
2
t(s)
aC = 1.5 t – 7 2s 4s 6s

8. Block A is placed on block B and B is placed on another block C, which A 10kg

 =0.5
B 10kg F
rests on rough horizontal ground. Block B is pulled horizontally by a force  =0.2
C 10kg
F, which increases gradually.  =0.1

(a) Express acceleration of various block as a function of F.

(b) Draw a–t graph if F=15t.

Sol. Direction of frictional forces Range of values of frictional forces

f1  50 N; when A does not slides on B.

f1  50 N; when A slides on B.
A f1

B F f2  40 N; when B does not slides on C.

C f2 = 40 N; when B slides on C.

f3  30 N; when C does not slides on ground.

f3 = 30 N; when C slides on ground.

Maximum possible acceleration Block A and C move due to frictional forces. Their maximum possible
acceleration are

11
 Sequence of slipping :
Block C starts sliding first when F > 30 and aCM = 1 m/s2. Thereafter acceleration of C remains constant, and
blocks A and B continue to move together. When acceleration of A & B reaches value aAM = 5 m/s2. A also
starts sliding on B.
(a) For 0  F  30 aA = aB = aC =0

For 30 < F All the block move together till B start slide on C

B F 30 aABC F 30
F 30 = 30 aABC  aABC =
30
C
30

When aC = aCM = 1 m/s2 B starts sliding on C from the above equation, value of F when B starts sliding on

F  30
C is 1=  F= 60 N
30

When 60 < F, A & B will move together till aAB = aAM = 5 m/s2. During this period, we can treat A and B
as one body.

A A
F 40
aAB=
B B 20 aAB 20
F
40

When A starts sliding on B its acceleration becomes aAM = 5 m/s2. From above equation

F  40
aAB = 5 m/s2, so =5  F = 140 N
20

When 140 < F, Acceleration A becomes constant but that of B increases with F. Acceleration of B is

50
F 90
F 10 aB aB=
10
40
Acceleration of the blocks for different F.
For 0  F  30 N aA = aB = aC = 0

12
 F  30
For 30 < F  60 N aABC = aA = aB = aC =
30

F  40
For 60 < F  140 N aC = 1; aAB = aA = aB =
20

F  90
For 140 < F aC =1, aA =5 , aB =
10

(b) If F=10t, draw a–t graph

a(m/ s2) aB=t 9
0 t 3s 0  F  30 N aA = aB = aC = 0
5 aA
t
3<t6s 30 < F  60 N aA = aB = aC = –1
3

AB
t 1 aC
6 < t  14 s F  140 aC =1 & aA = aB = –2 BC
2 A
t(s)
3s 6s 14s
14 < t 140 N < F aA = 5, aB = t–9, aC =1

9. Block A is placed on block B and B is placed on another block C, which rests on rough horizontal ground. Block

A is pulled horizontally by a force F, which increases gradually.

A 10kg F
 =0.5
(a) Express acceleration of various block as a function of F. B 10kg
 =0.2
C 10kg
 =0.1
(b) Draw a–t graph if F=15t.

Sol. Direction of frictional forces Range of values of frictional forces

f1  50 N, when A does not slides on B.

f1 = 50 N, when A slides on B.
A F
f1
B f2  40 N, when B does not slides on C.

C f2 = 40 N, when B slides on C.

f3  30 N, when C does not slides on ground.

f3 = 30 N, when C slides on ground.

Maximum possible acceleration

Blocks B & C move due to frictional forces only. Their maximum possible acceleration may be

13
 f1=50
10aBM
Block B B B aBM=1m/ s2

f2=40

f2=40
10aCM
Block C C C aCM=1m/ s2

f3=30

Sequence of slipping :
Since aBM = aCM, B cannot slide on C and f3 < f2 sliding occurs first between C & ground than between A & B.

(a) When F < f3, i.e. 0  F  30 none of them accelerates aA = aB = aC =0

For 30 < F all of them first move with same acceleration till A starts sliding on B. During this period we can
treat them as one body.

A F A

B B 30aABC F 30
aABC=
30
C C

30

When aABC = 1 m/s2, A starts sliding over B & B & C acquire constant acceleration of 1 m/s2.

F 10aA F 50
A A a=
A
10
50
Sliding between A & B occurs when aA = aB = aC =1

F  50
 1  F  60N
10

For 0  F  30 aA = aB = aC = 0

F  30
For 30 < F  60 aA = aB = aC =
30

F  50
For 60 < F aA =
10
aB = aC =1
a(m/ s2)

(b) If F = 10t, draw a-t graph A

a=t–5
0<t<3s F  30 N aA = aB = aC = 0

t 1
3<t<6s 30 < F  60 aA = aB = aC = 1 a= t –1 B &C
3 3
BC
A

t(s)
6s < t 60 < F aA = t – 5 3 6
aB = aC = 1

10. Answer the following questions on basis of following information

14
 Coefficient of friction between different surfaces in contact are shown in figure. Respective frictional forces are denoted
by f1, f2 and f3.
A
F
1 m1
B
2 m2
C
3 m3 ground

1. If block C necessarily slips on ground, which of the following is a sufficient condition?

(A) 3 < 2 < 1 only (B) f3 < f2 < f1 < F only

(C) f3 < f2 and f3 < F & f1 0 (D) 3 < 2 < 1 and f3 < F only

2. If there is no slipping between B and C for any value of F then

 m1   m1 
(A) 2   m  m  1 (B) 2   m  m  1
 1 2   1 2 

 m1  m 2   m1  m 2 
(C)  3   m  m  m  2 (D)  3   m  m  m  2
 1 2 3   1 2 3 

3. If there is no slipping between A and B for any value of F then

(A) 1 > 2 > 3 (b) m1 > m2 > m3 (C) 1 < 2 < 3 (D) None of these

Sol. Directions of friction forces

1. Ans. B

For slipping of m3 m1 F f1 > 0

F
f1
f1
m2
f1 f2 > 0
f2
f2
m3 f2 f3 > 0
f3
 F > f1 > f2 > f3

2. Ans. B

 m1  f1
For no slipping between B & C, f1 < f2 or 1m1g < 2(m1+m2)g  2   m  m  1 B
 1 2  f2

3. Ans. D

There is a limit for acceleration of B & C but there is no limit on the acceleration of A.
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