A monkey of mass 40 kg climbs on a rope (Fig. 5.20) which can stand

solution:

Case (a)

Mass of the monkey, m = 40 kg

Acceleration due to gravity, g = 10 m/s

Maximum tension that the rope can bear, $T_{\max }=600 \mathrm{~N}$

Acceleration of the monkey, $a=6 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^{2}$ upward

Using Newton's second law of motion, we can write the equation of motion as:

$T-m g=m a$

$\therefore T=m(g+a)$

$=40(10+6)$

$=640 \mathrm{~N}$

Since $T>T_{\max }$, the rope will break in this case.

Case (b)

Acceleration of the monkey, $a=4 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^{2}$ downward

Using Newton’s second law of motion, we can write the equation of motion as:

$m g-T=m a$

$\therefore T=m(g-a)$

$=40(10-4)$

$=240 \mathrm{~N}$

Since $T
Case (c)

The monkey is climbing with a uniform speed of 5 m/s. Therefore, its acceleration is zero, i.e., a = 0.

Using Newton’s second law of motion, we can write the equation of motion as:

T – mg = ma

T – mg = 0

$\therefore T=m g$

$=40 \times 10$

= 400 N

Since $T
Case (d)

When the monkey falls freely under gravity, its will acceleration become equal to the acceleration due to gravity, i.e., a = g

Using Newton’s second law of motion, we can write the equation of motion as:

mg – T = mg

$\therefore T=m(g-g)=0$

Since $T