Mathematics (AS & A Level) · Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 42 · Question 6

P Q ! Two particles P and Q, each of mass m kg, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string. The string passes over a fixed smooth pulley which is attached to the edge of a rough plane. The plane is inclined at an angle ! to the horizontal, where tan ! = 7 24. Particle P rests on the plane and particle Q hangs vertically, as shown in the diagram. The string between P and the pulley is parallel to a line of greatest slope of the plane. The system is in limiting equilibrium. 4

Read automatically from the paper; the printed page above is exact.