Published by:
CGP EDU Academic Team
Published on: September 12, 2026
A block of mass M is kept on a platform which is accelerating upward with a constant acceleration a. During the time interval T,

(i) The word done by gravity is ................
(ii) The work done by normal reaction is .........
(iii) The change in kinetic energy of the block is ..........
Text Solution
Verified by ExpertsThe correct answer is:
A
(i) The work done by gravity is:
The gravitational force acting on the block is $F_g = Mg$, where $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity. Since the platform is accelerating upwards with an acceleration $a$, the effective acceleration acting on the block is $g - a$.
The distance moved by the block in time $T$, under upward acceleration is given by the equation of motion:
$$ d = rac{1}{2}(g - a)T^2 $$
Therefore, the work done by gravity is:
$$ W_g = -F_g imes d = -Mg imes rac{1}{2}(g - a)T^2 = -rac{1}{2}Mg(g - a)T^2 $$
(ii) The work done by the normal reaction is:
The normal force $N$ exerted on the block must balance the weight of the block and provide the upward acceleration:
$$ N = M(g + a) $$
The work done by the normal reaction is given by:
$$ W_N = N imes d = M(g + a) imes rac{1}{2}(g - a)T^2 = rac{1}{2}M(g + a)(g - a)T^2 $$
(iii) The change in kinetic energy of the block is:
The change in kinetic energy $ riangle KE$ is equal to the work done by all forces acting on the block:
$$ riangle KE = W_N + W_g = rac{1}{2}M(g + a)(g - a)T^2 - rac{1}{2}Mg(g - a)T^2 $$
After simplification, using the work-energy principle, we can find the change in kinetic energy concerning the given parameters.
The gravitational force acting on the block is $F_g = Mg$, where $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity. Since the platform is accelerating upwards with an acceleration $a$, the effective acceleration acting on the block is $g - a$.
The distance moved by the block in time $T$, under upward acceleration is given by the equation of motion:
$$ d = rac{1}{2}(g - a)T^2 $$
Therefore, the work done by gravity is:
$$ W_g = -F_g imes d = -Mg imes rac{1}{2}(g - a)T^2 = -rac{1}{2}Mg(g - a)T^2 $$
(ii) The work done by the normal reaction is:
The normal force $N$ exerted on the block must balance the weight of the block and provide the upward acceleration:
$$ N = M(g + a) $$
The work done by the normal reaction is given by:
$$ W_N = N imes d = M(g + a) imes rac{1}{2}(g - a)T^2 = rac{1}{2}M(g + a)(g - a)T^2 $$
(iii) The change in kinetic energy of the block is:
The change in kinetic energy $ riangle KE$ is equal to the work done by all forces acting on the block:
$$ riangle KE = W_N + W_g = rac{1}{2}M(g + a)(g - a)T^2 - rac{1}{2}Mg(g - a)T^2 $$
After simplification, using the work-energy principle, we can find the change in kinetic energy concerning the given parameters.
Prepare Smarter with CGP Edu
Get practice questions, solutions, and test series in one place.
Write a Review
Share your experience with this question and solution.
Commentary
Send your comment, doubt, correction, or feedback to admin.
Similar Questions
Explore conceptually related problems
A spring 40 mm long is stretched by the application of a force. If 10 N force required to stretch t…
A coconut of mass m falls from the tree through a vertical distance of s and could reach ground wit…
Figure shows a particle sliding on a frictionless track which terminates in a straight horizontal s…
A bullet of mass 20 g is found to pass two points 30 m apart in a time interval of 4 second. Calcul…
In a ballistics demonstration, a police officer fires a bullet of mass 50.0 g with speed 200 m s –1…
It is well known that a raindrop or a small pebble falls under the influence of the downward gravit…