arthham

JEE Advanced 2011 · Laws of Motion

A block is moving on an inclined plane making an angle 45∘45^\circ with the horizontal and the coefficient of friction is μ\mu. The force required to just push it up the inclined plane is 3 times the force required to just prevent it from sliding down. If we define N=10 μN = 10\,\mu, then NN is

Answer: 55

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Written solution

Step 1: Identify the given parameters.

Let the mass of the block be mm, the acceleration due to gravity be gg, the angle of inclination be θ\theta, and the coefficient of friction be μ\mu.

θ=45∘\theta = 45^\circ

Step 2: Express the force required to push the block up the incline.

The applied force FupF_{\text{up}} must overcome both the component of gravity along the incline and the maximum static friction force acting down the incline.

Fup=mgsin⁡θ+μmgcos⁡θF_{\text{up}} = mg\sin\theta + \mu mg\cos\theta

Step 3: Express the force required to prevent the block from sliding down.

The applied force FdownF_{\text{down}} and the friction force both act up the incline to balance the downward component of gravity.

Fdown=mgsin⁡θ−μmgcos⁡θF_{\text{down}} = mg\sin\theta - \mu mg\cos\theta

Step 4: Use the given relation to solve for the coefficient of friction.

The force to push the block up is three times the force to prevent it from sliding down.

Fup=3FdownF_{\text{up}} = 3F_{\text{down}}

Substitute the expressions for FupF_{\text{up}} and FdownF_{\text{down}} into the relation.

mgsin⁡θ+μmgcos⁡θ=3(mgsin⁡θ−μmgcos⁡θ)mg\sin\theta + \mu mg\cos\theta = 3(mg\sin\theta - \mu mg\cos\theta)

Divide both sides by mgmg.

sin⁡θ+μcos⁡θ=3sin⁡θ−3μcos⁡θ\sin\theta + \mu\cos\theta = 3\sin\theta - 3\mu\cos\theta

Rearrange the terms to solve for μ\mu.

4μcos⁡θ=2sin⁡θ4\mu\cos\theta = 2\sin\theta μ=12tan⁡θ\mu = \frac{1}{2}\tan\theta

Step 5: Calculate the value of μ\mu and NN.

Substitute θ=45∘\theta = 45^\circ into the equation.

μ=12tan⁡45∘\mu = \frac{1}{2}\tan 45^\circ μ=0.5\mu = 0.5

Calculate NN using the definition N=10μN = 10\mu.

N=10×0.5N = 10 \times 0.5 N=5N = 5

Answer: N=5N = 5

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