Chapter 5, Problem 5.22CQ

As shown in Figure CQ5.22, student A, a 55-kg girl, sits on one chair with metal runners, at rest on a classroom floor. Student B, an 80-kg boy, sits on an identical chair. Both students keep their feet off the floor. A rope runs from student A’s hands around a light pulley and then over her shoulder to the hands of a teacher standing on the floor behind her. The low-friction axle of the pulley is attached to a second rope held by student B. All ropes run parallel to the chair runners. (a) If student A pulls on her end of the rope, will her chair or will B’s chair slide on the floor? Explain why. (b) If instead the teacher pulls on his rope end, which chair slides? Why this one? (c) If student B pulls on his rope, which chair slides? Why? (d) Now the teacher ties his end of the rope to student A’s chair. Student A pulls on the end of the rope in her hands. Which chair slides and why?

Figure CQ5.22