What Happens To The Cube?

A uniform cube is held on an inclined place, which makes an angle of θ > 4 5 \theta > 45^\circ with the horizontal.

The surface of the inclined plane is rough, and the coefficient of friction between the cube and the plane is μ > tan θ \mu > \tan \theta .

What happens to the cube after it is released from rest?

It remains stationary It starts sliding down It topples None of these choices

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1 solution

From the figure above, we see that the normal reaction on the incline is the perpendicular component of the cube's weight, i.e. M g cos A Mg \cos{A} and the force that pulls it down the plane is the other component, i.e. M g sin A Mg \sin{A} .

Since, the coefficient of friction μ \mu is greater than tan A \tan {A} , and so, by multiplying M g cos A Mg \cos{A} on both the sides, we can write:

μ M g cos A M g sin A \mu Mg \cos{A} \ge Mg \sin{A}

which implies that the object won't slide down the plane.

Now, for the remaining two options, if we try and find the clockwise torque about the poinr of contact, O , we can write, τ C W = a 2 M g sin A {\tau}_{CW} = \dfrac {a} {2} Mg \sin{A} , and the anticlockwise torque can be written as τ A C W = a 2 M g cos A {\tau}_{ACW} = \dfrac {a} {2} Mg \cos{A} , where a a is the edge length of the cube.

Since A A is greater than 45 {45}^{\circ} , so, sin A cos A \sin{A} \ge \cos{A} , and as a result τ C W τ A C W {\tau}_{CW} \ge {\tau}_{ACW} , which causes the cube to topple about this point.

Exactly! Excellent solution.

Swapnil Das - 5 years, 1 month ago

Also, since friction is not equal to 0, there is no way the cube is going to slide. Our surface is not frictionless; that is why it topples. Nice solution.

Hana Wehbi - 5 years, 1 month ago

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