RAFFLES INSTITUTION

Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Tutorial 4 Forces Suggested Solutions

D1 Pgas  Patm  h  g


 100  103   0.10  13.6  103   9.81
 113 kPa

D2 (a) W  Fspring  U
U
mg  kx  Vwater  water g
Vwater  water g  mg
x
k W
 2.0 
 650  1000  9.81   2.0  9.81 Fspring
 
150
 0.070 m
(b) 1 1
Energy stored  kx 2  150  0.070   0.37 J
2

2 2

D3 By Archimedes’ principle, upthrust acting on object is the weight Z of displaced water.

T
Looking at the object as a system in equilibrium,
Z T Y Z
T Y  Z ..... (1)
Y
Looking at the beaker of water and object as a system in equilibrium,

T  Fbalance on beaker  Y  X
T
Fbalance on beaker  Y  X  T ..... (2) Fbalance on beaker

Sub (1) into (2),

Fbalance on beaker  Y  X  T
 Y  X  Y  Z 
Y X
 X Z

By Newton’s 3rd Law,

Fbeaker on balance  Fbalance on beaker  X  Z

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D4 (a) (i) Since the ice is floating on the lake,

U  Wice
 mg
 (150)(9.81)
 1470 N

(ii) By Archimedes’ principle,

Wwaterdisplaced = U = 1470 N

(iii)
U  Wwaterdisplaced   wVw g
Wwaterdisplaced 1471.5
Vw    0.15 m3
wV g (1000)(9.81)

(iv) Volume of water produced when all the ice melts  mice / water
 (150) / (1000)
 0.15 m3

(b) Since the weight of the ice is equal to the weight of the water it displaces, the mass of
the ice is equal to the mass of water it displaces. When the ice melts, it will produce the
same volume of water it displaces and hence there is no change in the level of the water.

(c) (i)

Note: Weight acts from the centre of gravity of the object. Upthrust acts from the centre
of gravity of the displaced fluid.

(ii) W and U form a couple since they are equal and opposite in U
direction. Hence, they will exert an anticlockwise torque on the
object causing it to rotate anticlockwise until it is brought to its
equilibrium position. At the equilibrium position, the lines of action
of both W and U are aligned (i.e. no perpendicular distance W
between them).

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D5 Similarity
The directions of friction and drag are both opposite to that of the motion (or the tendency of
motion)

When moving against friction or drag force, the mechanical energy of the object is dissipated
as heat.

Reject “slows down motion” as it is friction which causes the car to move.

Difference
The magnitude of drag force depends on the speed of the object whereas frictional force is
independent of speed.

Friction can exist when there is no motion, i.e. static friction.

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D6 (a) Since ball is in equilibrium,

T3 = mg = (5.0)(9.81) = 49.05 N  49.1 N

Horizontally:
T1 cos 40 = T2 cos 50
T cos50
T1  2 ---- (1)
cos 40

Vertically:
T1 sin 40 + T2 sin 50 = T3 = 49.05 ---- (2)

Sub (1) into (2):

T2 cos50
sin 40  T2 sin50  49.05
cos 40
T2 (tan 40 cos 50 + sin 50) = 49.05
T2 = 37.57 N  37.6 N

From (1):
cos 50
T1  (37.57)  31.5 N
cos 40

(b) Since ball is in equilibrium,

T3 = mg = (10)(9.81) = 98.1 N

Method 1: Resolving forces

Vertically:
T1 sin 60 = T3
9.81
T1   113.3 N  113 N
sin 60

Horizontally:
T2 = T1 cos 60 = (113.3)(cos 60) = 56.7 N

Method 2: Forming triangle of forces

98.1
tan 60 
T2 60
T2 = 56.7
98.1 T3 T1
sin 60 
T1 60
T1 = 113 N
T2

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D7 Since picture is in equilibrium,

2T sin   W
5
T 
2 sin 

Since T  25 N
5
 25
2 sin 
5
sin    0.10
2  25 
  5.7 (2 s.f.)

D8 Method 1: Resolving forces

For B: Resolving along the line joining the spheres

W sin30  3.0  103
W  6.0  103 N

Resolving perpendicular to the line joining the spheres

TB  W cos30  5.2  103 N

Resolving forces on A
TA cos  W  (3.0  103 )(sin30) ...(1) (vertically)
3
TA sin  (3.0  10 )(cos30) ...(2) (horizontally)

(2) (3.0  103 )(cos30) (3.0  103 )(cos30)

: tan  
(1) W  (3.0  10 )(sin30) (6.0  103 )  (3.0  103 )(sin30)
3

  19.1

Substituting  into (2), TA  7.9 mN

Method 2: Forming triangle of forces

W 3.0  103
 30
sin90 sin30
3
W  6.0  10 N W
TB TA
3
TB 3.0  10 W

sin60 sin30
120
TB  5.2  103 N 60 3.0×103 N
3.0×103 N

    6.0 10    
2 2
TA2  3.0  103 3
 2 3.0  103 6.0  103 cos120
3
TA  7.9  10 N

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D9 Let x be the distance of the c.g. from the bottom of the mallet

23.0 cm 7.0 cm
Taking moment about the c.g.,
Whandle xhandle-cg  Whead xhead-cg
 23.0   7.0  x
0.45  9.81   x    1.80  9.81   (23.0  ) x
 2   2  Whandle Whead
4.4145 x  50.76675  467.937  17.658 x
x  23.5 cm

D10 Method 1: Resolving forces (weight) 2.6 m

When the truck is about to topple, N2 = 0.
Taking moment about the left wheel,
N2
2.6 N1
(W cos  )( )  (W sin  )(2.4) CG
2
2.6 4.0 m 2.4 m
tan  
2  2.4 
f2
  28 (2 s.f.) f1 θ

W θ

Method 2:
At the critical angle, the line of force of the weight of the truck
R
coincides with the contact force at the left wheel. Hence,
1.3 C.G
tan 
2.4 2.4 m
  28 (2 s.f.)
θ

1.3 m

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

C1 Ans: E

Method 1
By balancing the forces at the connection points.

Starting from rods P and R. Since W is downwards, R must be diagonally upwards to the
right and P must be to the left. Hence R is in compression and P in tension.

Looking at the connection between Q, R and S. Since R is in compression, the force is

diagonally downwards to the left. Q must be diagonally upwards to the left to balance the
downward force and S must be to the right to balance the left forces from Q and R. Hence Q
is in tension and S in compression.

Method 2
Imagine all the rods as springs.

When you have a downward force W on spring P and R, P will stretch and R will compress.
This will in turn compress S and stretches Q. Hence R, S are in compression and P, Q are
in tension.

**Although this method is faster and easier to grasp, it doesn’t really help in understanding
your concepts.

C2 Horizontally,
N2 cos 60  N1 cos 60
N2
 N2  N1
60o
Vertically,
N1 30o N 2 sin 60   N1 sin 60   W
30o Solving,
30o  W 
N1  N2  0.58 W  i.e. 
 3
W

C3 (a) (i) L N
Extension =
2

W
(ii) Considering the top 2 blocks as one object acting on the bottom block.
Taking moment about the top right corner of the bottom block,
N
L 
Wx  W   x 
 2 
L
x
4
L W
Extension =
4 W x

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(iii) Considering the top 3 blocks as one object acting on the bottom block.
Taking moment about the top right corner of the bottom block,
N
L 
2Wx  W   x 
2 
L
x
6
L
Extension =
6 2W

W x

(b) Consider n number of blocks on the bottom block,

Taking moment about the top right corner of the bottom block,

 n  1 Wx  W  
L
 x
2 
L
x
2n
Hence if total extension for n number of blocks on the bottom block
n
L

2
i 1 i

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(c) W/2 W/2

Forces acting on the top block

If both blocks at the bottom are about to topple, the normal reaction forces acting on
the top block would be at the two furthest sides.
N

3W/2
Not counting the top block, extension of 1st block = L/2
N

3W/2
W x
Taking moment about the top right corner of the bottom block,
3 L 
Wx  W   x 
2 2 
L
x
5
Extension of 2nd block = L/5
Similarly it can be found that the extensions for the 3rd, 4th, n blocks are L/7, L/9,
L
respectively.
2  n  1  3
n
L L
Hence total distance spanned by n blocks   
i 1 2  i  1  3 2
 n L L
2    1.0 m
 i 1 2  i  1  3 2 
 
Using Excel Spreadsheet, n = 40.
Therefore total number of blocks needed (including the bottom 2 blocks that are not
overhanging and the top block) = 40 + 3 = 43.