In the pulley arrangement shown, mass A is four times mass B. At one instant B is released while the system is already moving; A falls through h=20 cm before hitting the ground. Take g=10 m s⁻². Find the maximum additional height, in cm, reached by B above its initial position.

Question

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

For mₐ=4mᵦ the initial accelerations are aₐ=g/4 and aᵦ=g/2 from the string constraint. A falls 0.2 m in 0.4 s; B rises 0.4 m and has speed 2 m s⁻¹. After A stops, B rises another v²/(2g)=0.2 m. Total rise=0.6 m=60 cm.