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Is tension in a rope always the same?

joseph2008

2

hey guys, this is for the m1 exam today, is the tension in the rope same throughout? (in the same rope) even if one particle is on rough and another is on smooth (like is pyramid shape, one is rough, the other is smooth) or connected particles like car and trailer or pulley systems. Please reply guys, i need the help :smile:

Reply 1

dasmojo

7

For M1 it will be

Reply 2

nuodai

17

What do you mean by "one on rough, one on smooth"? Rough and smooth what?

Basically, if you've got a taut, inextensible string with two particles attached to either end, and there's tension in the string, then both particles experience the same tension force. If you have a system of strings, say if you have a truck towing a car, and the car is towing a trailer, then the tension in the tow between the truck and the car isn't necessarily the same as the tension in the tow between the car and the trailer. However, the tension felt by the trailer is the same as the tension felt by the car in that tow, and the tension felt by the truck is the same as the tension felt by the car in the other tow.

I hope this helps... it was a bit of a wordy response.

Reply 3

joseph2008

OP

2

dasmojo

For M1 it will be

is that always? atleast I don't have to worry about tht... thanks man

Reply 4

joseph2008

OP

2

nuodai

What do you mean by "one on rough, one on smooth"? Rough and smooth what?

sorry was a bit vague, I mean where you have those questions of 2 sloped planes, one plane is rough, the other is smooth, is the tension still same in that as well

Reply 5

TheAngoose

The rough and smooth part does not make a difference for M1 Instead you treat the two particles seperately and factor in friction for one but not the other :-)
Good Luck

Reply 6

obviouslystudying

1

TheAngoose

The rough and smooth part does not make a difference for M1 Instead you treat the two particles seperately and factor in friction for one but not the other :-)
Good Luck

Ive got a doubt too. If a force is applied to a particle on a rough plane, the normal contact R is only the weight of the particle or is it the weight component perpendicular to the plane and the plane perpendicular component of the force applied? (when using the coefficient of friction)

Reply 7

TheAngoose

obviouslystudying

Ive got a doubt too. If a force is applied to a particle on a rough plane, the normal contact R is only the weight of the particle or is it the weight component perpendicular to the plane and the plane perpendicular component of the force applied? (when using the coefficient of friction)

Do you mean that if there is force acting towards the plane, would it increase the reaction force?

If you do the answer is yes :-)
It would increase the frictional force.

The forces perpendicular to the plane always balance (otherwise the particle would move into the plane).

Reply 8

machiavelli123

15

As long as it's inextensible and smoooooooth.

Reply 9

anshul95

11

and also light as well. Because if the string was not light then the weight of the string would have to be factored in, which would also vary with the length of the string. If the pulley is smooth then tensions will be same on both sides. @machiavellia23 the fact the string is inextensible more used to say that the acceleration of both particles connected are the same

Reply 10

DFranklin

18

To be more precise: it doesn't make any difference whether the rope is extensible. If the only tangential forces are at the ends, the tension is constant.

(And so, if the string isn't light, we have to consider the force gravity on the string, so the tension isn't constant. If the pulley isn't smooth, then there's a tangential force and the tension isn't constant).

But for M1, or indeed any A-level question I've ever seen, you can take the tension to be constant.

Reply 11

obviouslystudying

1

TheAngoose

Do you mean that if there is force acting towards the plane, would it increase the reaction force?

If you do the answer is yes :-)
It would increase the frictional force.

The forces perpendicular to the plane always balance (otherwise the particle would move into the plane).

maybe a few minutes, but anyway, too late. Have finished 'it'.
and thanks

Is tension in a rope always the same?

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