In this question use g=9.8 m s−2g = 9.8 \text{ m s}^{-2}g=9.8 m s−2.
A museum curator attempts to reposition a bronze sculpture of mass 40 kg40 \text{ kg}40 kg across a rough horizontal gallery floor. The coefficient of friction between the sculpture and the floor is 0.550.550.55.
The curator first tries to push the sculpture with a horizontal force of 210 N210 \text{ N}210 N. Show that the sculpture does not move.
The curator then attaches a harness and pulls the sculpture. The harness acts at an angle of 25∘25^\circ25∘ above the horizontal. The curator exerts a tension of 210 N210 \text{ N}210 N in the harness. Determine whether the sculpture remains stationary under these conditions. Justify your answer with calculations.
107 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Maths Forces and Friction, covering 5.1 Resolving Forces, 5.2 Inclined Planes, and 5.3 Friction. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.