Q. 35 When a body slides down from rest along a smooth inclined plane making an angle of 45° with the horizontal, it takes time T. When the same body slides down from rest along a rough inclined plane making the same angle and through the same distance, it is seen to take time pT, where p is some number greater than 1. Calculate the coefficient of friction between the body and the rough plane.


Hint: Acceleration of body on rough incline plane decreases.
Step 1: Find the acceleration of the body on a smooth incline plane.
Consider the diagram where a body slides down from along an inclined plane of inclination θ(=45)
 
On Smooth inclined plane Acceleration Of a body sliding down a smooth inclined
 
            a=g sin θHere,  θ=45        a=g sin 45=g2
Step 2: Find the length (s) of the incline plane
Let the traveled distance be
 
Using the equation of motion. s=ut+12at2, we get 
    s = 12g2T2or s = gT222
Step 3: Find the acceleration of the body on the rough inclined plane.
On rough inclined plane Acceleration of the body a=g(sin θμ cos θ)
=g(sin 45μcos 45)=g(1μ)2As,sin 45=cos 45=12
Step 4: Find the coefficient of friction by applying the equation of motion.
Again using the equation of motion, s=ut+12at2, we get 
S=0(pT)+12g(1μ)2(ρT)2or    S=g(1μ)p2T222                        ...ii
From Eqs. (i) and (ii), we get
 
gT222=g(1μ)p2T222or (1μ)p2=1or 1μ=1p2or μ=(11p2)