
A light inextensible rope has a block of mass attached at one end, and a block of mass attached at the other end. The rope passes over a smooth pulley which is fixed at the top of a rough plane inclined at an angle of to the horizontal. Block is held at rest at the bottom of the plane and block hangs below the pulley (see diagram). The coefficient of friction between and the plane is . Block is released from rest and the system starts to move. When each of the blocks has moved a distance of each has speed .

Show that .


Important Questions on The Work-Energy Principle and Power
Particle , of mass , and particle , of mass , are attached to the ends of a light, inextensible string of length . The string passes over a small smooth pulley fixed at the top of a fixed triangular wedge, . The angles and are each and the side is fixed to horizontal ground. The distance from to is . Surface is smooth and surface is rough, with coefficient of friction Particle is held at the bottom of the slope and is then gently released.
Find the work done against friction when particle moves a distance .

Particle , of mass , and particle , of mass , are attached to the ends of a light, inextensible string of length . The string passes over a small smooth pulley fixed at the top of a fixed triangular wedge, . The angles and are each and the side is fixed to horizontal ground. The distance from to is . Surface is smooth and surface is rough, with coefficient of friction Particle is held at the bottom of the slope and is then gently released.
Find the change in the total potential energy when particle moves a distance .

Particle , of mass , and particle , of mass , are attached to the ends of a light, inextensible string of length . The string passes over a small smooth pulley fixed at the top of a fixed triangular wedge, . The angles and are each and the side is fixed to horizontal ground. The distance from to is . Surface is smooth and surface is rough, with coefficient of friction Particle is held at the bottom of the slope and is then gently released.
Use the work-energy principle to find the speed of the particles when particle reaches the ground at .

Particle , of mass , and particle , of mass , are attached to the ends of a light, inextensible string of length . The string passes over a small smooth pulley fixed at the top of a fixed triangular wedge, . The angles and are each and the side is fixed to horizontal ground. The distance from to is . Surface is smooth and surface is rough, with coefficient of friction Particle is held at the bottom of the slope and is then gently released.
Explain why the work done by the tension does not need to be included in the work-energy calculation.
