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Physics Guru is an online education and competitive examinations preparation portal founded by Manish Verma, an IIT Madras alumnus, providing learning resources for competitive examinations.

The emphasis is on conceptual understanding, analytical thinking and problem solving rather than simply memorising formulas and standard methods.

The objective is to help students understand what they are learning and develop the ability to solve problems they have not seen before.

Work Done in Hanging a Chain

A chain with increasing mass per unit length from one end as a function of distance x from lighter end as $\lambda (x) = kx$ lying horizontally is to be hung against a vertical wall in such a manner that the external agent has to do minimum work. The min. work done by external agent is given by,

(A) $\frac {1}{6} kgl^3 $
(B) $\frac {1}{3} kgl^3 $
(C) $\frac {1}{2} kgl^3 $
(D) $\frac {2}{3} kgl^3 $

Solution

A vertically hanging chain with heavy end upwards has much more potential energy in comparison to other situations. If the heavy end is downwards, the potential energy is minimum. Minimum work would be required if increase in potential energy is minimum.

If horizontal plane is taken as the reference level for potential energy, then the initial potential energy is 0.

Let us calculate the final potential energy of vertical chain with heavy end at the bottom just touching the horizontal plane.

Taking a small element dy of the chain at a height y above horizontal having mass dm.

$dU = dm.g.y$

$\Rightarrow dU = g.y.(\lambda dy) $

$\Rightarrow dU = g.y.[k(l-y)] dy $

$ \Rightarrow U = gk\int\limits_0^l {y(l - y)dy} $

$ \Rightarrow U = gk\left. {\left( {\frac{{{y^2}l}}{2} - \frac{{{y^3}}}{3}} \right)} \right|_0^l = gk\left( {\frac{{{l^3}}}{2} - \frac{{{l^3}}}{3}} \right) = \frac{1}{6}kg{l^3}$

Work done by external agent will cause this increase in potential energy.

Hence, Option (A).