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JEE Main 2020 (7 Jan, Shift 2) · Torque, Couple & Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies

Torque, Couple & Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies question from JEE Main 2020 (7 Jan, Shift 2)

Q30JEE Main 2020 · 7 JAN · SHIFT 2Difficult

Torque, Couple & Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies

Figure

Consider a uniform cubical box of side a on a rough floor that is to be moved by applying minimum possible force F at a point b above its centre of mass (see figure). If the coefficient of friction is μ\mu = 0.4, the maximum possible value of 100 × ba\frac{b}{a} for box not to topple before moving is .......

Numerical answer type. Work it out, then open the answer.

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Answer: 50

  1. To just slide, the horizontal force is F=μmgF = \mu mg. It acts at height a2+b\frac{a}{2} + b above the floor.
  2. No toppling about the front edge: F(a2+b)≤mga2⇒b≤a(1−μ)2μ=0.75aF\left(\frac{a}{2} + b\right) \le mg\frac{a}{2} \Rightarrow b \le \frac{a(1-\mu)}{2\mu} = 0.75a
  3. But the force must act on the face, so b≤a2b \le \frac{a}{2}. This is less than 0.75a0.75a, so the box never topples.
  4. Maximum possible b=a2b = \frac{a}{2}, so 100×ba=50100 \times \frac{b}{a} = 50.
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