Equilibrium of a Particle and Common Forces in Mechanics – Equilibrium of concurrent forces: NEET MCQs with Answers
15 free questions on Equilibrium of a Particle and Common Forces in Mechanics – Equilibrium of concurrent forces for NEET (UG), starting with previous-year NEET and AIPMT questions. Try each one, then tap Show answer for the answer and a short explanation.
Syllabus covered: Equilibrium of concurrent forces.
Question 1
Previous-year questionTwo masses M₁ = 5 kg and M₂ = 10 kg are connected at the ends of an inextensible string passing over a frictionless pulley. When the masses are released, the acceleration of the masses will be [AIPMT 2000]
△ The original question carries a diagram; the arrangement it shows is described in full in the wording above, so no figure is needed to solve it.
△ The original question carries a diagram; the arrangement it shows is described in full in the wording above, so no figure is needed to solve it.
- g
- g/2
- g/3
- g/4
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Answer: (C) g/3
Explanation: Since M₂ > M₁, the 10 kg mass descends and the 5 kg mass rises, both with the same magnitude of acceleration a. For M₂: M₂g − T = M₂a For M₁: T − M₁g = M₁a Adding to eliminate T: (M₂ − M₁)g = (M₁ + M₂)a a = [(M₂ − M₁)/(M₁ + M₂)] g = [(10 − 5)/(5 + 10)] g = (5/15)g = g/3.
Question 2
Previous-year questionTwo blocks A and B, of masses 3m and m respectively, are connected by a massless and inextensible string. The whole system is suspended from the ceiling by a massless spring, with A above B. The magnitudes of the acceleration of A and of B immediately after the string between them is cut are respectively [NEET 2017]
△ The original question carries a diagram; the arrangement it shows is described in full in the wording above, so no figure is needed to solve it.
△ The original question carries a diagram; the arrangement it shows is described in full in the wording above, so no figure is needed to solve it.
- g and g/3
- g/3 and g
- g and g
- g/3 and g/3
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Answer: (B) g/3 and g
Explanation: Before the string is cut the whole system hangs in equilibrium, so the spring force balances the total weight: kx = (3m + m)g = 4mg A spring cannot change its extension instantaneously, so immediately after the cut the spring force is still 4mg. For block B (mass m): the string is gone, so the only force on it is its weight mg. a_B = mg/m = g, directed downwards. For block A (mass 3m): it experiences the spring force 4mg upwards and its own weight 3mg downwards. F_net = 4mg − 3mg = mg upwards a_A = mg/3m = g/3, directed upwards. Hence the accelerations of A and B are g/3 and g respectively.
Question 3
Previous-year questionA mass of 1 kg is suspended by a thread. It is first lifted up with an acceleration of 4.9 m/s², and then lowered with an acceleration of 4.9 m/s². The ratio of the two tensions is [AIPMT 1998]
- 3 : 1
- 1 : 3
- 1 : 2
- 2 : 1
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Answer: (A) 3 : 1
Explanation: When the mass is lifted upwards with acceleration a: T₁ − mg = ma ⇒ T₁ = m(g + a) = 1(9.8 + 4.9) = 14.7 N When it is lowered with acceleration a: mg − T₂ = ma ⇒ T₂ = m(g − a) = 1(9.8 − 4.9) = 4.9 N Therefore T₁ : T₂ = 14.7 : 4.9 = 3 : 1. The ratio is exactly 3 : 1 because a happens to be exactly g/2, giving (3g/2) : (g/2).
Question 4
Previous-year questionA lift of mass 1000 kg is moving upwards with an acceleration of 1 m/s². The tension developed in the string which is connected to the lift is (g = 9.8 m/s²) [AIPMT 2002]
- 9800 N
- 10800 N
- 11000 N
- 10000 N
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Answer: (B) 10800 N
Explanation: For a lift accelerating upwards: T − mg = ma T = m(g + a) = 1000(9.8 + 1) = 1000 × 10.8 = 10800 N. Note that 9800 N would be the tension if the lift were at rest or moving with constant velocity; the extra 1000 N is what produces the acceleration.
Question 5
Previous-year questionA monkey of mass 20 kg is holding a vertical rope. The rope will not break when a mass of 25 kg is suspended from it, but will break if the mass exceeds 25 kg. What is the maximum acceleration with which the monkey can climb up along the rope? (Take g = 10 m/s²) [AIPMT 2003]
- 25 m/s²
- 2.5 m/s²
- 5 m/s²
- 10 m/s²
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Answer: (B) 2.5 m/s²
Explanation: Maximum tension the rope can bear: T_max = 25 × 10 = 250 N For the monkey climbing upwards with acceleration a: T − mg = ma a = (T − mg)/m = (250 − 20 × 10)/20 = (250 − 200)/20 = 50/20 = 2.5 m/s². If the monkey tried to climb faster than this the tension would exceed 250 N and the rope would snap.
Question 6
Previous-year questionA man weighs 80 kg. He stands on a weighing scale in a lift which is moving upwards with a uniform acceleration of 5 m/s². What would be the reading on the scale? (Take g = 10 m/s²) [AIPMT 2003]
- 800 N
- 1200 N
- zero
- 400 N
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Answer: (B) 1200 N
Explanation: The reading of the scale is the normal reaction R it exerts on the man — his apparent weight. For upward acceleration: R − mg = ma R = m(g + a) = 80(10 + 5) = 80 × 15 = 1200 N. The man feels heavier than his true weight of 800 N. Had the lift accelerated downwards at 5 m/s², the reading would have been 80(10 − 5) = 400 N, and in free fall it would read zero.
Question 7
Previous-year questionThe mass of a lift is 2000 kg. When the tension in the supporting cable is 28000 N, its acceleration is (take g = 10 m s⁻²) [AIPMT 2009]
- 30 m s⁻² downwards
- 4 m s⁻² upwards
- 4 m s⁻² downwards
- 14 m s⁻² upwards
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Answer: (B) 4 m s⁻² upwards
Explanation: Applying Newton's second law to the lift, taking upwards as positive: T − mg = ma 28000 − (2000)(10) = 2000a 28000 − 20000 = 2000a 8000 = 2000a a = 4 m s⁻² Since the result is positive, the acceleration is directed upwards. This makes sense: the tension exceeds the weight, so there is a net upward force.
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Question 8
Previous-year questionA person of mass 60 kg is inside a lift of mass 940 kg and presses the button on the control panel. The lift starts moving upwards with an acceleration of 1.0 m/s². If g = 10 m/s², the tension in the supporting cable is [AIPMT 2011]
- 9680 N
- 11000 N
- 1200 N
- 8600 N
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Answer: (B) 11000 N
Explanation: The cable supports the lift together with the person, so the total mass is m = 940 + 60 = 1000 kg For upward acceleration, the free-body equation is T − mg = ma T = m(g + a) = 1000(10 + 1) = 11000 N.
Question 9
Previous-year questionA small block slides down a smooth inclined plane, starting from rest at time t = 0. Let sₙ be the distance travelled by the block in the interval t = n − 1 to t = n. The ratio sₙ/sₙ₊₁ is [NEET 2021]
- 2n/(2n − 1)
- (2n − 1)/2n
- (2n − 1)/(2n + 1)
- (2n + 1)/(2n − 1)
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Answer: (C) (2n − 1)/(2n + 1)
Explanation: On a smooth incline the acceleration is the constant a = g sin θ, and the block starts from rest (u = 0). Distance covered in the nth second: sₙ = u + (a/2)(2n − 1) = (g sin θ/2)(2n − 1) Distance covered in the (n + 1)th second: sₙ₊₁ = (g sin θ/2)(2n + 1) Dividing, the common factor cancels: sₙ/sₙ₊₁ = (2n − 1)/(2n + 1). The angle of the incline never enters the ratio.
Question 10
Twelve identical coins, each of mass m, are stacked one on another on a table. What is the magnitude of the force exerted on the 5th coin (counted from the bottom) by all the coins above it?
- 8mg
- 12mg
- 5mg
- 7mg
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Answer: (D) 7mg
Explanation: There are 12 − 5 = 7 coins above the 5th coin. These coins are at rest, so together they press down on it with a force equal to their total weight. That force is 7mg.
Question 11
A uniform sphere of weight W hangs at rest against a smooth vertical wall by a light string fixed to the wall; the string makes angle θ with the wall. T is the tension and R the normal reaction of the wall. Consider: (a) T cos θ = W (b) T sin θ = R (c) R = W cos θ (d) the vector sum of T, R and W is zero. Which statements are correct?
- a, c and d
- a, b and d
- a, b, c and d
- b and c only
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Answer: (B) a, b and d
Explanation: The sphere is in equilibrium under three forces, so their vector sum is zero. Resolving vertically gives T cos θ = W and horizontally gives T sin θ = R. Dividing these, R = W tan θ, not W cos θ, so statement (c) is wrong.
Question 12
A light spring balance lies horizontally between two fixed smooth pulleys. A string tied to each hook of the balance passes over the nearer pulley and carries a 3 kg mass hanging freely. The system is at rest. What does the spring balance read? (g = 10 m/s²)
- 60 N
- 15 N
- 30 N
- Zero
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Answer: (C) 30 N
Explanation: Each hanging mass is in equilibrium, so the tension in each string is 3 × 10 = 30 N. The balance is pulled by 30 N at each end, and a spring balance reads the tension in it, not the sum of the two pulls. So it reads 30 N.
Question 13
A block of mass 8 kg hangs from a ceiling by a light rope. A horizontal force of 60 N is applied at the midpoint of the rope, and the system comes to rest. In equilibrium, the angle that the upper half of the rope makes with the vertical is (g = 10 m/s²):
- tan⁻¹(3/4)
- tan⁻¹(3/5)
- tan⁻¹(4/3)
- tan⁻¹(3/8)
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Answer: (A) tan⁻¹(3/4)
Explanation: The lower half of the rope hangs vertically and carries the full weight of 80 N. At the midpoint, the upper tension T must balance both forces: T sin θ = 60 N and T cos θ = 80 N. Hence tan θ = 60/80 = 3/4.
Question 14
A uniform ball of weight W hangs at rest against a smooth vertical wall, held by a light string fixed to the wall above it. The string makes an angle θ with the wall. The tension in the string is T and the normal reaction of the wall is N. Which of the following relations is NOT correct?
- T cos θ = W
- N = W tan θ
- T = N + W
- T² = N² + W²
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Answer: (C) T = N + W
Explanation: The ball is in equilibrium under three forces, so their vector sum is zero. Resolving vertically gives T cos θ = W, and horizontally T sin θ = N, so N = W tan θ. Squaring and adding gives T² = N² + W². Since N and W are perpendicular, their magnitudes cannot simply be added to give T.
Question 15
A 7 kg object hangs at rest from a spring balance attached to a ceiling while a vertical upward force of 15 N also acts on the object. The reading of the balance is (g = 10 m/s²)
- 15 N
- 85 N
- 70 N
- 55 N
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Answer: (D) 55 N
Explanation: Three vertical forces act on the object: the balance pull T upward, the 15 N force upward and the weight of 70 N downward. Equilibrium gives T + 15 = 70, so T = 55 N. The balance reads this tension.
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