CAPE Applied Mathematics Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 2 · Question 5(a)(ii)

A particle of mass 5 kg rests on a rough plane inclined at sin⁻¹(1/10) to the horizontal. A light inelastic string connects it over a smooth weightless pulley at the top of the incline to a hanging 6 kg mass. The coefficient of friction between the 5 kg mass and the surface is 1/4. Take g = 10 m s⁻².

The particle is released from rest. Determine the tension, T, in the string and the acceleration, a, of the particle.