If to a rope, passed over a frictionless pulley, is suspended a ten-pound weight that exactly balances a monkey at ther other end, what happens to the weight if the monkey attempts to climb the rope?
? This is a good one. I am going to guess and say that nothing will happen to the weight as long as the monkey holds the other side of the rope. Unless he makes it to the top of the pulley and lets go :)
I'm with Natalie on this one. I suppose it has to do with the same law that Galilei discovered when he dropped two different weights from a tower and both items landed at the same time... until, as Natalie says, the monkey arrives at the pulley, by which time the weight on both ends of the rope would change
I had a big reply to this one, then hit the submit button, and got my Multiply Inbox. Hrrrmmmm - must be monday all over - except where it's Tuesday already :)
Anyway, nothing should happen, so long as a) the monkey doesn't lose his grip, jostling the rope and possbily taking some of his weight off, thus losing the balance, or b) he doesn't pass the half-way point, thus climbing (sailing) down the other side, again losing the balance.
I think as the monkey moves higher up the rope the weight on the other end should probably slowly lower down in proportion to the the height of the monkey!
The answer: Regardless of how the monkey climbs - fast slow or by jumps - monkey and weight always remain opposite. The monkey cannot get above or below the weight even by letting go of the rope, dropping and grabbing the rope again.
8 comments:
? This is a good one. I am going to guess and say that nothing will happen to the weight as long as the monkey holds the other side of the rope. Unless he makes it to the top of the pulley and lets go :)
I'm with Natalie on this one. I suppose it has to do with the same law that Galilei discovered when he dropped two different weights from a tower and both items landed at the same time... until, as Natalie says, the monkey arrives at the pulley, by which time the weight on both ends of the rope would change
I had a big reply to this one, then hit the submit button, and got my Multiply Inbox. Hrrrmmmm - must be monday all over - except where it's Tuesday already :)
Anyway, nothing should happen, so long as a) the monkey doesn't lose his grip, jostling the rope and possbily taking some of his weight off, thus losing the balance, or b) he doesn't pass the half-way point, thus climbing (sailing) down the other side, again losing the balance.
I don't think anything will happen unless/until the monkey reaches the pulley.
Is it possible for there to be such a thing as a frictionless pulley?? surely the lack of friction will cause the monkey to slip.
Oh Mel!! We simply must know the answer to this one :) Are we correct?
I think as the monkey moves higher up the rope the weight on the other end should probably slowly lower down in proportion to the the height of the monkey!
The answer: Regardless of how the monkey climbs - fast slow or by jumps - monkey and weight always remain opposite. The monkey cannot get above or below the weight even by letting go of the rope, dropping and grabbing the rope again.
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