Physics Challenges for

Teachers and Students

Solutions to November 2004 Challenges
◗ A New Kid on the Block
Challenge: Four blocks are arranged on a smooth horizon- Now, looking at the entire system as a whole, F
tal surface as shown. The masses of the blocks are given acts to accelerate all the masses (m+m+M+M),
(see the diagram). The coefficient of static friction between
the top and the bottom blocks is s. What is the maximum
so:
value of the horizontal force F, applied to one of the bottom µ mg 2µs mg (m + M )
blocks as shown, that makes all four blocks move with the F = ΣFmax = mtotal amax = (m + m + M + M ) s =
same acceleration?
2m + M 2m + M

2µsmg (m + M ) F

2m + M

(Contributed by H. Scott Wiley, Science Academy

of South Texas, Weslaco, TX)

Solution: The maximum value of the friction ◗ Breaking Uneven

force comes from the coefficient of friction Challenge: A straight metal rod of length 3l is bent through
the right angle as shown. The bent rod is then placed on a
times the normal force between the blocks. rough horizontal table. A light string is attached to the ver-
The normal force, in this case, equals the tex of the right angle. The string is then pulled horizontally
weight of the top block, so fmax = µsmg. Where so that the rod slides at a constant velocity. Find the angle α
that side 2l would make with the string.
does friction need to be the greatest? The role
of friction between the back two blocks is to
2l
accelerate the bottom block (M). On the other
hand, the role of friction between the front two - ?
90˚
blocks is to accelerate the top block and every-
l
thing behind it (m+m+M). (Since all objects
move as one, we can think of any combination
as one object.) Clearly, friction will reach its
maximum value between the front two blocks Solution: The rod is in equilibrium, so the sum
first. Based on the maximum value of friction of the torques about the axis through the ver-
and the mass that needs to be accelerated by tex and perpendicular to the plane of the rod
this force, we can find the maximum accelera- is zero. Let the frictional force on the short leg
tion of these blocks: be f and the moment arm about the axis be a.
ΣFmax f max µ mg Then the frictional torque about the longer leg
amax = = = s is 2f and the moment arm of this force is a/2.
mtotal (m + m + M ) 2m + M Then
fmax

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 a2 a
sin θ = and cos θ= ward to the right with decreasing speed υ relative
l l 2 to the mount, and the block in reaction is travel-
ing to the left with speed V and slowing down so
that its acceleration A is to the right. Consider
the free-body diagram for the bob and the base
with mounting pole.
T

where θ and α are supplementary angles.  l

ac
T v
Consequently, V A
at
1 mg
tan θ = so
4
α = 108o –tan-1 0.25 = 166o.
V M A

(Contributed by Eugene P. Mosca, U.S. Naval

Academy, Annapolis, MD) The two forces on the bob are the tension T
and the weight mg. The acceleration of the bob
◗ A Vicious Semicircle relative to the ground is the vector sum of the
Challenge: A block of mass M can slide without friction acceleration A of the mount plus the acceleration
along a horizontal table. A simple pendulum of mass m and
length l is mounted on the block so that it can swing freely a of the bob relative to the mount. I have decom-
in the vertical plane. The pendulum is released from the posed a into two components: the centripetal
horizontal position as shown. Find the maximum tension of acceleration ac = υ2/l and the tangential accel-
the string during the subsequent motion of the pendulum.
Assume that the string is light and that the pendulum bob eration at, whose directions at the present instant
is very small. are as drawn. Newton’s second law for the bob in
m the radial direction is
υ2
T − mg cos θ = m − mA sin θ, (1)
l
M
while for the base in the horizontal direction we
have

T sin θ = MA . (2)
Solution: Let the counterclockwise angle that
the string makes with the vertical be θ, so that Solve Eq. (2) for A and substitute that into
the bob starts out at +90, swings around to Eq. (1) to get
–90 where every part of the system again
 m  υ2
comes instantaneously to rest, then oscillates T 1 + sin2 θ = mg cos θ + m . (3)
back and forth in this manner ad infinitum.
 M  l
It turns out, as I shall prove below, that the Next we use the conservation laws to find the
maximum tension occurs at 0 when the string speed υ, noting that the bob’s velocity relative
is vertical. I shall find an expression for the ten- to the ground is the vector sum of υ and V.
sion at any angle and then maximize it. Suppose the zero level of gravitational potential
I will consider the fourth quarter of a period energy is chosen to lie at the initial position of
of oscillation, in which the bob is traveling up- the bob, so that the total energy E of the system

THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 43, 2005 S2

is zero. This must also equal the sum of the and the massless mounting block slides over
kinetic and potential energies of the system at in exactly the right manner to always keep the
the current instant, string just barely taut. The tension in the string
is zero (since there cannot be a net horizontal
1  1
m (υ cos θ −V )2 + (υ sin θ )2  + MV 2 − mgl cos θ = 0 force exerted on a massless block) until the
2  2
angle reaches zero, at which point the tension
(4) suddenly (but smoothly) diverges to provide
Meanwhile, conservation of linear momentum the impulse needed to reverse the bob’s vertical
in the horizontal direction implies that motion.
(Contributed by Carl E. Mungan, U.S. Naval
m(υ cos θ – V ) = MV . (5) Academy, Annapolis, MD)

Solve Eq. (5) for V and substitute that into Column Editor's Note: If one does assume
Eq. (4) to prove that a priori that the maximum tension corresponds
to the moment when the bob passes through
the lowest point, the solution path may be dif-
υ2 M +m ferent, for example, this solution:
m = 2mg cos θ . (6)
l M + m sin2 θ The maximum tension occurs when the string
Substituting Eq. (6) into (3) leads to the is vertical. In that position (which I call “final”
desired expression for T as a function of θ, position), both the tension T of the string and
m the weight mg of the mass m are vertical, so (ac-
3 cos θ + (3 cos θ − cos3 θ ) (7) cording to Newton’s second law)
T M
= .
( )
mg 2
m
1 + sin2 θ T – mg = mamy ,
M
To maximize this, we should make the numera- where amy is the vertical acceleration of the
tor as big as possible and the denominator as mass m at that instant. This acceleration can be
small as possible. Both requirements are satis- written as amy = vrel
2
(centripetal acceleration),
fied when θ is 0. Therefore, l
Tmax m where vrel is the velocity of the mass m relative
= 3+2 . (8) to the pivot. Then,
mg M
2
vrel
It is interesting to explore the limiting cases T = m( g + ).
of this expression. If M / m → ∞ then Tmax = l
3mg, which is the tension at the bottom of the Let us calculate vrel using energy conservation.
swing (corresponding to a centripetal accelera- The energy of the system at the initial position
tion of 2g) of a pendulum bob traveling in a is Ei = mgl (I put the zero level of the gravita-
semicircular arc at the end of a mount fixed tional potential energy at the final position).
to the Earth (acting as a really massive block). The total energy at the final position is
On the other hand, consider what happens if
M / m → 0. Since there are no external hori-
1 1
E f = mvm2 + MvM2 . Then,
zontal forces on the system, the center of mass 2 2
1 2 1
cannot move sideways. If M = 0 this means mvm + MvM = mgl .
2

the bob does not move horizontally relative to 2 2

the Earth, but simply free-falls straight down, Note that, at the final position, both masses m

S3 THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 43 2005

 and M are moving, because the resultant force Mark Lenfestey (Homestead HS, Wayne, IN)
on the system (m+M) is zero (linear momen- Adam Plana (The Wheatley School, Old Westbury,
tum conservation). For this reason, NY)
    m  m2 Bayani I. Ramirez (San Jacinto College South,
mvm + MvM = 0 ⇒ vM = − vm ⇒ vM2 = 2 vm2 .
M M Houston, TX)
Then, Ben Stam and Tim Thomas, students (Oklahoma
School of Science and Mathematics Regional
1 2 1 m2 1 m
mvm + M 2 vm2 = mgl ⇒ (1 + )vm2 = Center, Enid, OK)
2 2 M 2 M
Leo H. van den Raadt (Heemstede, The Nether-
2 gl
gl ⇒ vm2 = . lands)
m
1+
M
We appreciate your submissions and hope to
Now as vrel = vm − vM = vm + m vm = (1 + m )vm , receive more solutions in the future.
M M
we have Note to contributors:
For the duration of the WYP contest, the sub-
m 2 2 m v2 m
vrel2 = (1 + ) vm = (1 + )(2 gl ) ⇒ rel = 2 g (1 + ). mission guidelines have been slightly changed.
M M l M
Please read carefully—especially if you are a
Putting this in the expression for T, we obtain regular contributor.
m m – only email submissions will be considered;
T = m( g + 2 g + 2 g ) = mg (3 + 2 ).
M M
– email your solutions to Boris Korsunsky at
The maximum tension of the string is korsunbo@[Link];
m
mg (3 + 2 ). – please email the solutions as Word files;
M Note that if M >> m, T 
– please email each solution as a separate file;
3mg, the “standard” result (for fixed mass M).
If, instead, M = m, T = 5mg. – note that each problem, in addition to a
(Contributed by Fernando Ferreira, Universidade very clever title, has a code such as F1. Please
da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal) name each file as “problem code-first initial-
last name.” For instance, “F1DVader” if your
name is Darth Vader and you are sending the
Several other readers also sent us correct solu-
solution to problem F1;
tions to the November Challenges. We would
like to recognize the following contributors: – please state your name, hometown, and pro-
fessional affiliation in each file.
Michael C. Faleski (Delta College, Midland, MI) We look forward to your (and your students’)
John F. Goehl Jr. (Barry University, Miami Shores, participation.
FL) Please send correspondence to:
Art Hovey (Milford, CT) Boris Korsunsky
korsunbo@[Link]

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