AQA M3 (Mechanics 3) 2008 June

Question 1
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1 The speed, \(v \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), of a wave travelling along the surface of a sea is believed to depend on
the depth of the sea, \(d \mathrm {~m}\),
the density of the water, \(\rho \mathrm { kg } \mathrm { m } ^ { - 3 }\),
the acceleration due to gravity, \(g\), and
a dimensionless constant, \(k\)
so that $$v = k d ^ { \alpha } \rho ^ { \beta } g ^ { \gamma }$$ where \(\alpha , \beta\) and \(\gamma\) are constants.
By using dimensional analysis, show that \(\beta = 0\) and find the values of \(\alpha\) and \(\gamma\).
Question 2
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2 The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are directed due east and due north respectively.
Two runners, Albina and Brian, are running on level parkland with constant velocities of \(( 5 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) and \(( 3 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) respectively. Initially, the position vectors of Albina and Brian are \(( - 60 \mathbf { i } + 160 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) and \(( 40 \mathbf { i } - 90 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) respectively, relative to a fixed origin in the parkland.
  1. Write down the velocity of Brian relative to Albina.
  2. Find the position vector of Brian relative to Albina \(t\) seconds after they leave their initial positions.
  3. Hence determine whether Albina and Brian will collide if they continue running with the same velocities.
Question 3
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3 A particle of mass 0.2 kg lies at rest on a smooth horizontal table. A horizontal force of magnitude \(F\) newtons acts on the particle in a constant direction for 0.1 seconds. At time \(t\) seconds, $$F = 5 \times 10 ^ { 3 } t ^ { 2 } , \quad 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 0.1$$ Find the value of \(t\) when the speed of the particle is \(2 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\).
(4 marks)
Question 4
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4 Two smooth spheres, \(A\) and \(B\), have equal radii and masses \(m\) and \(2 m\) respectively. The spheres are moving on a smooth horizontal plane. The sphere \(A\) has velocity ( \(4 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j }\) ) when it collides with the sphere \(B\) which has velocity \(( - 2 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } )\). After the collision, the velocity of \(B\) is \(( \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } )\).
  1. Find the velocity of \(A\) immediately after the collision.
  2. Find the angle between the velocities of \(A\) and \(B\) immediately after the collision.
  3. Find the impulse exerted by \(B\) on \(A\).
  4. State, as a vector, the direction of the line of centres of \(A\) and \(B\) when they collide.
    (1 mark)
Question 5
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5 A boy throws a small ball from a height of 1.5 m above horizontal ground with initial velocity \(10 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\alpha\) above the horizontal. The ball hits a small can placed on a vertical wall of height 2.5 m , which is at a horizontal distance of 5 m from the initial position of the ball, as shown in the diagram.
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{eed9842d-cd89-4eb7-b5ba-9380971be196-3_499_1180_1283_424}
  1. Show that \(\alpha\) satisfies the equation $$49 \tan ^ { 2 } \alpha - 200 \tan \alpha + 89 = 0$$
  2. Find the two possible values of \(\alpha\), giving your answers to the nearest \(0.1 ^ { \circ }\).
    1. To knock the can off the wall, the horizontal component of the velocity of the ball must be greater than \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). Show that, for one of the possible values of \(\alpha\) found in part (b), the can will be knocked off the wall, and for the other, it will not be knocked off the wall.
      (3 marks)
    2. Given that the can is knocked off the wall, find the direction in which the ball is moving as it hits the can.
Question 6
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6 A small smooth ball of mass \(m\), moving on a smooth horizontal surface, hits a smooth vertical wall and rebounds. The coefficient of restitution between the wall and the ball is \(\frac { 3 } { 4 }\). Immediately before the collision, the ball has velocity \(u\) and the angle between the ball's direction of motion and the wall is \(\alpha\). The ball's direction of motion immediately after the collision is at right angles to its direction of motion before the collision, as shown in the diagram.
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{eed9842d-cd89-4eb7-b5ba-9380971be196-4_483_344_657_854}
  1. Show that \(\tan \alpha = \frac { 2 } { \sqrt { 3 } }\).
  2. Find, in terms of \(u\), the speed of the ball immediately after the collision.
  3. The force exerted on the ball by the wall acts for 0.1 seconds. Given that \(m = 0.2 \mathrm {~kg}\) and \(u = 4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), find the average force exerted by the wall on the ball.
Question 7
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7 A projectile is fired with speed \(u\) from a point \(O\) on a plane which is inclined at an angle \(\alpha\) to the horizontal. The projectile is fired at an angle \(\theta\) to the inclined plane and moves in a vertical plane through a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane. The projectile lands at a point \(P\), lower down the inclined plane, as shown in the diagram.
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{eed9842d-cd89-4eb7-b5ba-9380971be196-5_415_1098_495_463}
  1. Find, in terms of \(u , g , \theta\) and \(\alpha\), the greatest perpendicular distance of the projectile from the plane.
    1. Find, in terms of \(u , g , \theta\) and \(\alpha\), the time of flight from \(O\) to \(P\).
    2. By using the identity \(\cos A \cos B + \sin A \sin B = \cos ( A - B )\), show that the distance \(O P\) is given by \(\frac { 2 u ^ { 2 } \sin \theta \cos ( \theta - \alpha ) } { g \cos ^ { 2 } \alpha }\).
    3. Hence, by using the identity \(2 \sin A \cos B = \sin ( A + B ) + \sin ( A - B )\) or otherwise, show that, as \(\theta\) varies, the maximum possible distance \(O P\) is \(\frac { u ^ { 2 } } { g ( 1 - \sin \alpha ) }\).
      (5 marks)