Chapter 1

Statics : Mechanics 1
1.1 Limiting equilibrium
Statics is about particles that are not moving.
In such situations the friction force,
Fr max = µ R, is the maximum friction force that can be present.
So,
0 ≤ Fr ≤ Fr max
We are mostly interested in a particle that is on the verge of moving - in limiting
equilibrium - and for such a particle Fr takes on the maximum value.

1.2 How to find µ in 'real life'.

To find µ for a book on a table, tip the table until the book just starts to slide.

R
Fr

mg sin α°

α° α°

mg mg cos α°

Parallel to the slope;

R = mg cos α
Perpendicular to the slope;
Fr = mg sin α
Link;
Fr = µ R
mg sin α = µ mg cos α
sin α = µ cos α
sin α
µ =
cos α
µ = tan α
So µ is simply tan α.
Angle α is easy enough to measure, and tan α can then be found from a calculator.
Notice that we did not need to know the weight of the book.

This is a special situation in which no force, other than gravity, acted on the book.
1.3 An Example in which more than 'just gravity' acts
A box of mass 4 kg is on the verge of sliding down a rough slope, inclined at 25° to
the horizontal, when restrained by a rope as shown.
The coefficient of friction between box and slope is 0.2.

µ = 0.2

4 kg

25°
(i) What is the weight of the box ?

( ii ) The weight is to be resolved into component parts.

(a) What is the component parallel to the slope ?

(b) What is the component perpendicular to the slope ?

( iii ) Draw a good sized diagram showing all forces acting on the block except
for weight.
In place of the weight, insert your two part ( ii ) answers.
( iv ) Calculate the normal reaction, R.

(v) Calculate the friction force, Fr.

Is Fr acting up or down the slope ?

( vi ) Find the tension in the restraining rope.

1.4 Exercise

Question 1.
A box of mass 3.4 kg is on the verge of sliding UP a rough slope, inclined at 21° to
the horizontal, when pulled by a rope as shown.
The coefficient of friction between box and slope is 0.34.

3.4 kg µ = 0.34

21°
(i) What is the weight of the box ?

( ii ) The weight is to be resolved into component parts.

(a) What is the component parallel to the slope ?

(b) What is the component perpendicular to the slope ?

( iii ) Draw a good sized diagram showing all forces acting on the box except
for weight.
In place of the weight, insert your two part ( ii ) answers.
( iv ) Calculate the normal reaction, R.

(v) Calculate the friction force, Fr.

Is Fr acting up or down the slope ?

( vi ) Find the tension in the pulling rope.

Question 2.
A heavy book of mass 5 kg is acted on by a horizontal force of 20 N.
The coefficient of friction, µ, between book and coffee table is 0.42.

5 kg
20 N

(i) Calculate the normal reaction.

( ii ) Calculate the maximum possible friction force that could become available
to prevent motion, and hence state if the 20 N force will cause the book to
move or not.
Question 3.
A horizontal force of 80 N is just sufficient to prevent a crate of mass 18 kg from
sliding DOWN a rough slope, inclined at 36° to the horizontal, as shown.
This question is about determining the coefficient of friction, µ, between the crate
and the slope.

µ = ?
18 kg
80 N

36°
(i) What is the weight of the box ?

( ii ) The weight is to be resolved into component parts.

(a) What is the component parallel to the slope ?

(b) What is the component perpendicular to the slope ?

( iii ) The 80 N force is to be resolved into component parts.

(a) What is the component parallel to the slope ?

(b) What is the component perpendicular to the slope ?

( iv ) Draw a good sized diagram showing all forces acting on the block except
for weight and the 80 N force.
In place of the weight, insert your two part ( ii ) answers.
In place of the 80 N force, insert your two part ( iii ) answers.

(v) Calculate the normal reaction, R.

( vi ) Is the friction, Fr acting up or down the slope ?

Calculate Fr.

( vii ) Hence determine the value of µ, the coefficient of friction, between

the crate and the slope.
Question 4.
This is an examination question from June 2001.

30 N

30°
A small parcel of mass 3 kg is held in equilibrium on a rough plane by the action
of a horizontal force of magnitude 30 N acting in a vertical plane through a line
of greatest slope. The plane is inclined at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, as shown.
The parcel is modelled as a particle.
The parcel is on the point of moving up the slope.

(a) Draw a diagram showing all the forces acting on the parcel.
[ 2 marks ]
(b) Find the normal reaction on the parcel.
[ 4 marks ]
(c) Find the coefficient of friction between the parcel and the plane.
[ 5 marks ]
Question 5.
This is an examination question from June 1997.

α°

A box of mass m is placed on a plane, which is inclined at an angle α to the

horizontal, where tan α = 34 . The plane is rough and the coefficient of friction
between the box and the plane is 12 . The box is kept in equilibrium on the plane by
applying a horizontal force of magnitude P to it, acting in a vertical plane containing
a line of greatest slope of the plane, as shown. Given that P has the smallest possible
value which will enable the box to remain in equilibrium,

(a) draw a diagram, showing all the forces acting on the box, and indicating
clearly the direction in which they act.

(b) find P in terms of m and g.

If instead P were to have the largest value which would enable the box to stay in
equilibrium on the plane,

(c) state how the diagram of forces acting on the box should, if at all, be changed.

[ 12 marks ]
 These lesson notes are available from www.piLEARN.com
They may be freely duplicated and distributed but copyright remains with the author.
© 2015 Martin Hansen
Chapter 2
Statics : Mechanics 1
2.1 Practice

Example
A box of mass 12 kg is at rest on a rough plane inclined at 30° to the horizontal.
A force of 80 N acts upward, parallel to the line of greatest slope of the plane.
The box is in limiting equilibrium, on the verge of moving up the plane.

RN
80 N

12 kg

FN
30°
Weight
WN
Find (a) The friction force, F.
(b) The normal reaction, R.
(c) The coefficient of friction, µ.
2.2 Exercise
In this exercise, where required, take g = 9.8 m.s - 2

Question 1.
A box of mass 15 kg is at rest on a rough plane inclined at 35° to the horizontal.
A force of 25 N acts upward, parallel to the line of greatest slope of the plane.
The box is in limiting equilibrium, on the verge of moving down the plane.

RN
25 N

15 kg
FN
35°
Weight
WN
Find (a) The friction force, F.
(b) The normal reaction, R.
(c) The coefficient of friction, µ.
 Question 2.
A yacht and cradle of mass 450 kg is held at rest on a slipway by a rope.
The yacht and cradle are modelled as a particle and the slipway considered to be a
rough plane inclined at 15° to the horizontal.
The coefficient of friction between the particle and the plane is 0.2.
The rope is modelled as a light, inextensible string.
The rope is considered to be parallel to a line of greatest slope of the plane.
The system is at rest but with the particle (yacht and cradle) in limiting equilibrium,
on the verge of sliding DOWN the slipway.

(a) Draw a clear diagram showing all significant forces.

(b) Calculate the tension, T, in the rope.

Question 3.
M1 past exam question, 4th November 2003, Q3.

P
S
30°

A heavy suitcase S of mass 50 kg is moving along a horizontal floor under the

action of a force of magnitude P newtons.
The force acts at 30° to the floor, as shown in the diagram.
S moves in a straight line at constant speed.
The suitcase is modelled as a particle and the floor as a rough horizontal plane.
The coefficient of friction between S and the floor is 23 .

Calculate the value of P.

Question 4.
M1 past exam question, 2nd November 2004, Q8.

60°

A heavy package is held in equilibrium on a slope by a rope.

The package is attached to one end of the rope, the other end being held by a man
standing at the top of the slope.
The package is modelled as a particle of mass 20 kg.
The slope is modelled as a rough plane inclined at 60° to the horizontal.
The rope is modelled as a light inextensible string.
The string is assumed to be parallel to a line of greatest slope of the plane, as shown.
At the contact between the package and the slope, the coefficient of friction is 0.4.

(a) Find the minimum tension in the rope for the package to stay in
equilibrium on the slope.
[ 8 marks ]

The man now pulls the package up the slope.

Given that the package moves at constant speed,

(b) find the tension in the rope.

[ 4 marks ]

(c) State how you have used, in your answer to part ( b ), the fact that
the package moves

(i) up the slope,

( ii ) at constant speed.
[ 2 marks ]
 These lesson notes are available from www.piLEARN.com
They may be freely duplicated and distributed but copyright remains with the author.
© 2015 Martin Hansen
Solution to the Example
A box of mass 12 kg is at rest on a rough plane inclined at 30° to the horizontal.
A force of 80 N acts upward, parallel to the line of greatest slope of the plane.
The box is in limiting equilibrium, on the verge of moving up the plane.

RN
80 N

12 kg

FN
30°
Weight
WN
Find (a) The friction force, F.
(b) The normal reaction, R.
(c) The coefficient of friction, µ.

12 × 9.8 cos 240 80 0 − | F| 0

( 12 × 9.8 sin 240 )
+
(0) +
( | R| ) (
+
0 )
=
(0)

(a) Considering components along the axis parallel to the plane:

| F| = 12 × 9.8 cos 240 + 80
| F| = − 58.8 + 80
| F| = 21.2 N

(b) Considering components along the axis perpendicular to the plane:

| R| = − ( 12 × 9.8 sin 240 )
| R| = − ( − 101.8 )
| R| = 101.8 N

(c) The link between the parallel and the perpendicular is:
F = µ R
21.2 = µ × 101.8
µ = 0.21
 Question One
A box of mass 15 kg is at rest on a rough plane inclined at 35° to the horizontal.
A force of 25 N acts upward, parallel to the line of greatest slope of the plane.
The box is in limiting equilibrium, on the verge of moving down the plane.

RN
25 N

15 kg
FN
35°
Weight
WN
Find (a) The friction force, F.
(b) The normal reaction, R.
(c) The coefficient of friction, µ.

Solution One
15 × 9.8 cos 235 25 0 | F| 0
( 15 × 9.8 sin 235 )
+
(0) +
( | R| ) (
+
0 )
=
(0)

(a) Considering components along the axis parallel to the plane:

| F| = −[ 15 × 9.8 × cos 235 + 25 ]
| F| = − [ − 84.3 + 25 ]
| F| = 59.3 N

(b) Considering components along an axis perpendicular to the plane:

| R| = − ( 15 × 9.8 × sin 235 )
| R| = − ( − 120.4 )
| R| = 120.4 N

(c) The link between the parallel and the perpendicular is:
F = µ R
59.3 = µ × 120.4
µ = 0.49
Chapter 3
Statics : Mechanics 1
3.1 Examination Questions
M1 Exam question, 13th May 2013, Q3.

α
2 kg

30°
A box of mass 2 kg is held in equilibrium on a fixed rough inclined plane by a rope.
The rope lies in a vertical plane containing a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane.
The rope is inclined to the plane at an angle α, where tan α = 34 .
The plane is at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, as shown.
The coefficient of friction between the box and the inclined plane is 13 .
The box is on the point of slipping up the plane.
By modelling the box as a particle and the rope as a light inextensible string, find the
tension in the rope.

[ 8 marks }
3.2 Exercise

Question 1
M1 Exam question, 12th January 2005, Q4
P

XN

20°
A particle P of mass 2.5 kg rests in equilibrium on a rough plane under the
action of a force of magnitude X newtons acting up the line of greatest slope
of the plane, as shown.
The plane is inclined at 20° to the horizontal.
The coefficient of friction between P and the plane is 0.4.
The particle is in limiting equilibrium and is on the point of moving up the plane.
Calculate
(a) the normal reaction of the plane on P

[ 2 marks ]
(b) the value of X

[ 4 marks ]
The force of magnitude X newtons is now removed

(c) Show that P remains in equilibrium on the plane.

[ 4 marks ]
Question 2
M1 Exam question, 19th May 2003, Q4
20 N

A parcel of mass 5 kg lies on a rough plane inclined at an angle α to the horizontal,

where tan α = 34 . The parcel is held in equilibrium by the action of a horizontal force
of magnitude 20 N, as shown. The force acts in a vertical plane through a line of
greatest slope of the plane. The parcel is on the point of sliding down the plane.
Find the coefficient of friction between the parcel and the plane.
[ 8 marks ]
Question 3
M1 Exam question, 24th May 2010, Q7

PN

A particle of mass 0.4 kg is held at rest on a fixed rough plane by a horizontal force
of magnitude P newtons. The force acts in the vertical plane containing the line of
greatest slope of the inclined plane which passes through the particle.
The plane is inclined to the horizontal at an angle α, where tan α = 34 as shown.

The coefficient of friction between the particle and the plane is 13 .

Given that the particle is on the point of sliding up the plane, find

(a) the magnitude of the normal reaction between the particle and the plane,

[ 5 marks ]
(b) the value of P

[ 5 marks ]
Question 4 (Tough Question )
M1 Exam question, 23th May 2002, Q4
PN

30°
A box of mass 6 kg lies on a rough plane inclined at an angle of 30° to the horizontal.
The box is held in equilibrium by means of a horizontal force of magnitude P newtons,
as shown. The line of action of the force is in the same vertical plane as a line of
greatest slope of the plane. The coefficient of friction between the box and the plane
is 0.4. The box is modelled as a particle

Given that the box is in limiting equilibrium and on the point of moving up the plane,
find,
(a) the normal reaction exerted on the box by the plane

[ 4 marks ]
(b) the value of P

[ 3 marks ]
The horizontal force is removed.
(c) Show that the box will now start to move down the plane

[ 5 marks ]
All examination questions are © Pearson Education Ltd
and have appeared in the Edexcel GCE (A level) Mechanics M1 Applied Mathematics examination papers

These lesson notes are available from www.piLEARN.com

They may be freely duplicated and distributed but copyright remains with the author.
© 2015 Martin Hansen