Department of Physics

IIT Kanpur

PHY 102-HW2
Jan-May 2016

Figure 1: Figure for various problems

1. Forpsmall oscillations the time period of a pendulum is approximately given by T
2 l/g, independent of the amplitude 0 .
(a) For finite oscillation amplitude, use dt = dx/v to show that the exact expression
for T is
s Z
8l 0
d

T =
.
g 0
cos cos 0
(b) Find an approximation to this T , unto second order in 0 (i.e. upto 02 ). The final
answer will have the form
s 

l
02
+ ... .
T = 2
1+
g
16
Hint if needed: Make use of the identity, cos() = 1 2 sin2 (/2), to write T in
terms of the of sin function (which go to 0 as 0). Then make a substitution
sin(x) sin(/2)/ sin(0 /2). Finally expand your integrand in powers of 0 , and
evaluate the integral.
2. A bead of mass m is sliding on a long, rough rod (coefficient of kinetic friction ), which
is rotating in a plane with constant angular speed = about one end, say O. Ignore
gravity
(a) Write down the equation of motion for the bead in polar coordinates (for arbitrary
initial conditions).
(b) If the coefficient of friction increases linearly with the radial distance from the point
O, as (r) = kr, determine the beads terminal radial velocity, without solving the
radial equation of motion.
(c) If the coefficient of friction is uniform, solve the radial equation of motion to obtain
the beads radial position r(t) as a function of time t for the given initial conditions,
r(0) = 0 and r(0)

= u.
3. A book of mass M is positioned against a vertical wall. The coefficient of static friction
between the book and the wall is . We wish to keep the book from falling by pushing
it with a force of magnitude F applied at an angle with respect to the horizontal
(/2 < < /2, and for definiteness let us take = /2 to indicate the direction
towards the base of the wall). Draw a free body diagram of the systems, clearly indicating
all the forces.

Phy102: Introduction to Mechanics

H C verma, Amit Agarwal

Phy102

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HW2

(a) For a given , what is the minimum F required.

(b) For what , is the minimum F smallest? What is the corresponding minimum F ?
(c) What is the limiting value of , below which there does not exist any force F that
can keep the book up?
4. A mass m whirls around on a string, which passes through a ring. Initially the mass is
at a distance r0 from the centre and is revolving at an angular velocity 0 . The string
is pulled at a constant velocity V starting from t = 0, so that the radial distance of the
mass decreases as shown in Fig. 1(a). Draw a force diagram and obtain a differential
equation for . Find (t) and the force needed to pull the string.
5. A car is driven on a large revolving platform which rotates with constant angular speed
. At t = 0 a driver leaves the origin and follows a line painted radially outwards on the
platform with a constant speed v0 . The total weight of the car is W and the coefficient
of friction between the car and the platform is .
(a) Find the acceleration of the car as a function of time using polar coordinates.
(b) Find the time t at which the car just starts to skid.
(c) Find the direction of the frictional force with respect to the instantaneous position vector r, just before the car starts to skid. Show various components of the
acceleration and the frictional force clearly in a diagram.
6. A device called a capstan is used in ships to control a rope which is under great tension.
The rope is wrapped around a fixed drum, as shown in Fig. 1(b). The load on the rope
pulls it with a tension TA , and the sailor holds it with a much smaller force TB . Show
that when the rope is just about to slip, TA = TB e , where is the coefficient of friction
between the rope and the drum and is the total angle subtended by the rope on the
drum.

Extra Practice Problems:

7. A Block of mass M1 , lies on top of a another mass M2 , and the system is placed on top
of a frictionless horizontal table as shown in Fig. (1c). However there is friction between
the two blocks with the coefficient of friction being . What is the maximum horizontal
force that can be applied to the blocks for them to accelerate without slipping on top
of each other; what is the acceleration of both the blocks as a function of the applied
horizontal force F , when it is applied to the
(a) upper block,
(b) lower block.
8. A painter of mass M stands on a platform of mass m and pulls himself up by two
ropes which hang over a pulley (See Fig.[1d]). He pulls each rope with a force F , and
accelerates upwards with uniform acceleration a. Find a neglecting the fact that
no-one can do this for long. What is the tension in the rope?

Phy102

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HW2

9. A wheel of radius R rolls along the ground with velocity v. A pebble is carefully released
on top of the wheel so that it is instantaneously at rest on the wheel.

(a) show that the pebble will immediately fly off the wheel if v > Rg.

(b) show that in case where v < Rg, and the coefficient of friction is 1, the pebble
starts
to slide when the wheel has rotated by an angle given by cos( + /4) =
2
v /( 2Rg).