The following question was set in the University of London Inter mediate B.Sc. Applied Mathematics paper, 1922.

“Two masses of 2 lbs. and 3 lbs. are fastened at the ends of a light string of length 2 feet and placed on a smooth horizontal shelf 5 feet above the ground. The 2 1b. mass is placed on the edge of the shelf and the 3 lb. mass one foot away from the edge on a line perpendicular to the edge through the mass of 2 lbs. If the mass is gently pushed over the edge find the time that elapses before the 3 lb. mass strike the ground” (g=32 f.p.s2)