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March 24, 2008

Monkey & Banana

A ten meter rope is looped through a pulley attached to the ceiling.
Half the rope dangles on one side, the other half on the other.
At one end of the rope is tied a one kilo bunch of bananas.
At the other end of the rope is a one kilo monkey.If the monkey
tries to climb the rope, what will happen?

11 comments:

Gopi Komanduri said...

I think monkey will getr down because , when money is trying to climb up , the center of mass will be pushed up towards the pulley . But the center of mass is sistuated at the same place on other end (banana's end) . so to equate the masses at both ends , center of mass at money end should get down , which happens only when ropes comes down some length towrds monkey's end .
Gopi.k
gopikrishnakomanduri@yahoo.com

Gopi Komanduri said...

for marbels problem .. The answer could be 1/4 ..

Unknown said...

IT DEPENDS ON HOW MONKEY IS CLIMBING THE ROPE.
IF IT IS CLIMBING WITH CONSTANT VELOCITY NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO POSITION OF BANANA.
IF MONKEY IS ACCELERATING OR DEACC. WHILE CLIMBING THEN BANANA WILL MOVE UP OR DOWN RESPECTIVELY.

Anonymous said...

i agree wit saurabh

Anonymous said...

BS!
Monkey & bananas are initially at rest. When M starts to climb B will rise at the same rate. M & B will maintain the same elevation no matter what M does.

Anonymous said...

The monkey cannot climb at a constant velocity. The monkey starts out in a stopped position. If it maintains velocity it must remain stopped. It HAS to accelerate in order to start climbing. This will pull the bananas up. The monkey will stay in the same spot (approx - there are other factors such as friction) until the bananas reach the pulley. They will get stuck and then the monkey can go up. Where is he going though? Does he want the bananas? If so he can just reach over and grab them. How far down is the floor? Are there any crocodiles or anything?

Varun Rao said...

Both monkey and bananas will reach the pulley.

Anonymous said...

@Last anon

The bananas are also at rest. Since they weigh the same as the monkey and are subjected to the same accelerating forces (gravity + monkey pulling on rope), they will move EXACTLY as the monkey does. It doesn't matter whether the monkey is constantly accelerating, reaches a terminal velocity, or even stops and starts again - they will maintain the same height with respect to each other. Obviously, if you wish to include real-world friction, it will mean that the bananas will lag slightly behind until limiting friction is overcome and the monkey stops accelerating.

Thinker said...

The monkey is adding force to the mass by pulling himself up; so the equal mass no longer applies I think.

Anonymous said...

monkey wouldn't climb the rope as because the banana beside.. if the monkey doesn't know that is banana then it may climb either side both tries will pull down the banana as it leave the hand to climb the rope again

Anonymous said...

friends up-to my idea the monkey never try to climb or move away from banana's.. first it will try to complete the banana's..