Standard wedge - block problem.

Consider a wedge of mass m m whose upper surface is a quarter circle and is smooth. The lower part is rough. A small block of same mass is kept at the topmost position and the initial position is shown in figure. The block slides down the wedge.

Find the minimum value of coefficient of friction between floor and lower surface of wedge so that the wedge remains stationery during the block's motion on it.

Details and assumptions
- Assume that block and wedge don't topple.
- The given information is complete. Nothing else is needed.


The answer is 0.75.

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1 solution

Shikhar Jaiswal
Mar 11, 2014

Let the angle which the block makes with the horizontal while sliding down the wedge at any instant be θ \theta

Let the block's velocity be 'v'

Using Energy Conservation

1 2 m v 2 = m g R sin θ . . ( 1 ) \frac {1}{2}mv^2=mgR\sin \theta\ ..(1)

Also..as the block is in circular motion

N m g sin θ = m v 2 R . . ( 2 ) N-mg\sin \theta=\frac {mv^2}{R} ..(2)

where N N is Normal Force exerted by the wedge on the block

On solving the above to equations..we get

N = 3 m g sin θ N=3mg\sin \theta

Now..from the FBD of the wedge we get

f = N cos θ = μ N 1 . . ( 3 ) f=N\cos \theta=\mu N_{1} ..(3)

where N 1 N_{1} is normal force on wedge by the ground

Again from the FBD of wedge..we get

N 1 = N sin θ + m g . . . . ( 4 ) N_{1}=N\sin \theta+mg ....(4)

Substituting the value of N 1 N_{1} in eqn 3 3

μ = N cos θ m g + N sin θ \mu =\frac {N\cos \theta}{mg+N\sin \theta}

Now putting N = 3 m g sin θ N=3mg\sin \theta

we get μ = 3 2 sin 2 θ 1 + 3 ( sin θ ) 2 \mu=\frac {\frac {3}{2}\sin 2\theta}{1+3(\sin \theta)^2} .. 5 5

To minimize μ . . . . d μ d θ = 0 \mu.... \frac {d\mu}{d\theta}=0

3 cos 2 θ ( 1 + 3 ( sin θ ) 2 ) ( 3 2 sin 2 θ ) ( 3 sin 2 θ ) = 0 \Rightarrow 3\cos 2\theta(1+3(\sin \theta)^2)-(\frac {3}{2}\sin 2\theta)(3\sin 2\theta)=0

Now putting cos 2 θ = 1 2 ( sin θ ) 2 \cos 2\theta=1-2(\sin\theta)^2 and sin 2 θ = 2 sin θ cos θ \sin 2\theta=2\sin \theta \cos \theta

we get

sin θ = 1 5 \sin \theta = \sqrt{\frac {1}{5}}

Substituting s i n θ sin \theta in eqn 5 5

we get

μ = 0.75 \boxed{\mu=0.75}

Just wanted to thank you Jatin for the hint you gave in your previous problem. I couldn't have done your problem without it :)

Karthik Kannan - 7 years, 3 months ago

Can anyone tell me how to upload a diagram????....the solution can be understood well

Shikhar Jaiswal - 7 years, 3 months ago

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Hi,

First, there is a mistake. Never say f = μ N 1 f = \mu N_{1} . You should have said that f μ N 1 f \leq \mu N{1} , and hence, μ f N 1 \mu \geq \frac{f}{N_{1}} . You should have said that f = F h f = F_{h} , where F h = 3 m g sin θ cos θ F_{h} = 3 mg \sin \theta \cos \theta is the horizontal force on the wedge.Then μ 3 m g sin θ cos θ 1 + 3 sin 2 θ \mu \geq \frac{3 mg \sin \theta \cos \theta}{1 + 3 \sin^2 \theta} . This will be satisfied for all values for theta. Hence, μ \mu is greater than or equal to max value of RHS which is 0.75 0.75 .

On image posting:

First get a url for the image and then type:

![](image url) \text{![](image url)}

jatin yadav - 7 years, 3 months ago

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Yes....you are right...i should have written it like that.....Thanks!

Shikhar Jaiswal - 7 years, 3 months ago

OK boss! :D

Tunk-Fey Ariawan - 7 years, 2 months ago

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@Tunk-Fey Ariawan Ha ha!

This was one of the first things told by my teacher that you should never have a habit of writing f = μ N f= \mu N

jatin yadav - 7 years, 2 months ago

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@Jatin Yadav In my opinion, it should be

f s μ s N f_s\le\mu_sN and f k = μ k N . f_k=\mu_kN.

Tunk-Fey Ariawan - 7 years, 2 months ago

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@Tunk-Fey Ariawan Yes, you are right! We generally mean μ s \mu_{s} by μ \mu

jatin yadav - 7 years, 2 months ago

@Jatin Yadav In eq 4, shouldn't we add the force due to the weight of the small block?

A Former Brilliant Member - 7 years, 1 month ago

In eq 4, shouldn't we add the force due to the weight of the small block?

A Former Brilliant Member - 7 years, 1 month ago

can you please post the pic of FBD diagram

Max B - 7 years, 1 month ago

Very stupid @Brilliant member if u are truly a brilliant member He has considered them different objects and not a complete system .. He has taken normal of that mass m ...

Jitender Sharma - 2 years, 1 month ago

easy question

Ronak Agarwal - 7 years ago

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