4.
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\caption{Figure 2}
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A boy sees a box on the end \(Q\) of a plank \(P Q\) which overhangs a swimming pool. The plank has mass 30 kg , is 5 m long and rests in a horizontal position on two bricks. The bricks are modelled as smooth supports, one acting on the rod at \(P\) and one acting on the rod at \(R\), where \(P R = 3 \mathrm {~m}\). The support at \(R\) is on the edge of the swimming pool, as shown in Figure 2. The boy has mass 40 kg and the box has mass 2.5 kg . The plank is modelled as a uniform rod and the boy and the box are modelled as particles.
The boy steps on to the plank at \(P\) and begins to walk slowly along the plank towards the box.
- Find the distance he can walk along the plank from \(P\) before the plank starts to tilt.
- State how you have used, in your working, the fact that the box is modelled as a particle.
A rock of mass \(M \mathrm {~kg}\) is placed on the plank at \(P\). The boy is then able to walk slowly along the plank to the box at the end \(Q\) without the plank tilting. The rock is modelled as a particle.
- Find the smallest possible value of \(M\).