Mechanics Set II (Dynamics, Kinematics, Statics)

Sky Hook The science fiction writer R. A. Heinlein describes a "skyhook" satellite that consists of a long rope placed in
orbit at the equator, aligned along a radius from the center of the earth, and moving so that the rope appears suspended in
space above a fixed point on the equator. The bottom of the rope hangs free just above the surface of the earth (radius R).
Assuming that the rope has uniform mass per unit length (and that the rope is strong enough to resist breaking!), find the
length of the rope.
1)
An articulated contraption consists of three rhombuses
whose sides are in the proportions 3:2:1. The vertex A3 moves along
a horizontal direction with a constant speed V. Determine the speeds
of the vertices A1, A2, B2 at the moment that all the angles of the
contraption are right angles.

3. A block of mass M rests on

a fixed plane inclined at angle
. You apply a horizontal force of Mg on the block, as shown in the figure on the
left. (a) Assume that the friction force between the block and the plane is large
enough to keep the block at rest. What are the normal and friction forces (call them
N and f ) that the plane exerts on the block?
(b) Let the coefficient of static friction be . For what range of angles will the block
remain still?
4. A rope wraps an angle around a pole. You grab one end and pull with a tension T0. The other end is attached to a large
object, say, a boat. If the coefficient of static friction between the rope and the pole is , what is the largest force the rope
can exert on the boat, if the rope is not to slip around the pole?
5. A. A ladder of mass M and length L leans against a frictionless wall. If the coefficient of friction with the ground is ,
what is the smallest angle the ladder can make with the ground and not slip? (assume that the mass distribution along the
length of the ladder is uniform)
B. Now assume that a person of mass m stands on the ladder of the way-up. In this case, what is the smallest angle the
ladder can make with the ground and not slip? (approximate the person as a point mass )
6. An inclined plane with inclined angle and mass M is placed on a frictionless table. A piece of wood with friction
coefficient < tan is put on the inclined plane (see
figure). A horizontal force F acts on the system as shown
F
in the figure. What is the range of magnitude of F where
m
M
the piece of wood can remain stationary on the inclined
plane?

7. With two fingers, you hold an ice cream cone motionless upside down,as shown in the
figure. The mass of the cone is m, and the coefficient of static friction between your fingers
and the cone is . When viewed from the side, the angle of the tip is 2. What is the
minimum normal force you must apply with each finger in order to hold up the cone? In
terms of , what is the minimum value of that allows you to hold up the cone? Assume that
you can supply as large a normal force as needed.

8. Three identical cylinders are arranged as in the figure.

The coefficient of friction between the cylinders is 1,
and between the cylinders and the floor is 2. What minimum values must 1 and 2
exceed so that the system can be in static equilibrium?