Edexcel M4 (Mechanics 4) 2002 June

1. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} Two smooth uniform spheres \(A\) and \(B\), of equal radius, are moving on a smooth horizontal plane. Sphere \(A\) has mass 2 kg and sphere \(B\) has mass 3 kg . The spheres collide and at the instant of collision the line joining their centres is parallel to \(\mathbf { i }\). Before the collision \(A\) has velocity ( \(3 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) and after the collision it has velocity \(( - 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). Before the collision the velocity of \(B\) makes an angle \(\alpha\) with the line of centres, as shown in Fig. 1, where \(\tan \alpha = 2\). The coefficient of restitution between the spheres is \(\frac { 1 } { 2 }\). Find, in terms of \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\), the velocity of \(B\) before the collision.
(9)

2. Ship \(A\) is steaming on a bearing of \(060 ^ { \circ }\) at \(30 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) and at 9 a.m. it is 20 km due west of a second ship \(B\). Ship \(B\) steams in a straight line.

1. Find the least speed of \(B\) if it is to intercept \(A\). Given that the speed of \(B\) is \(24 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\),
2. find the earliest time at which it can intercept \(A\).

3. The engine of a car of mass 800 kg works at a constant rate of 32 kW . The car travels along a straight horizontal road and the resistance to motion of the car is proportional to the speed of the car. The car starts from rest and \(t\) seconds later it has a speed of \(v \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).

1. Show that $$800 v \frac { \mathrm {~d} v } { \mathrm {~d} t } = 32000 - k v ^ { 2 } , \text { where } k \text { is a positive constant. }$$ Given that the limiting speed of the car is \(40 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), find
2. the value of \(k\),
3. \(v\) in terms of \(t\).

4. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} Four identical uniform rods, each of mass \(m\) and length \(2 a\), are freely jointed to form a rhombus \(A B C D\). The rhombus is suspended from \(A\) and is prevented from collapsing by an elastic string which joins \(A\) to \(C\), with \(\angle B A D = 2 \theta , 0 \leq \theta \leq \frac { 1 } { 3 } \pi\), as shown in Fig. 2. The natural length of the elastic string is \(2 a\) and its modulus of elasticity is \(4 m g\).

1. Show that the potential energy, \(V\), of the system is given by $$V = 4 m g a \left[ ( 2 \cos \theta - 1 ) ^ { 2 } - 2 \cos \theta \right] + \text { constant } .$$
2. Hence find the non-zero value of \(\theta\) for which the system is in equilibrium.
3. Determine whether this position of equilibrium is stable or unstable.

5. At time \(t = 0\) particles \(P\) and \(Q\) start simultaneously from points which have position vectors \(( \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m }\) and \(( - \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m }\) respectively, relative to a fixed origin \(O\). The velocities of \(P\) and \(Q\) are \(( \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) and \(( 2 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) respectively.

1. Show that \(P\) and \(Q\) collide and find the position vector of the point at which they collide. A third particle \(R\) moves in such a way that its velocity relative to \(P\) is parallel to the vector ( \(- 5 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k }\) ) and its velocity relative to \(Q\) is parallel to the vector \(( - 2 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } )\). Given that all three particles collide simultaneously, find
2. 1. the velocity of \(R\),
   2. the position vector of \(R\) at time \(t = 0\).

6. \begin{figure}[h] \end{figure} A particle \(P\) of mass 2 kg is attached to the mid-point of a light elastic spring of natural length 2 m and modulus of elasticity 4 N . One end \(A\) of the elastic spring is attached to a fixed point on a smooth horizontal table. The spring is then stretched until its length is 4 m and its other end \(B\) is held at a point on the table where \(A B = 4 \mathrm {~m}\). At time \(t = 0 , P\) is at rest on the table at the point \(O\) where \(A O = 2 \mathrm {~m}\), as shown in Fig. 3. The end \(B\) is now moved on the table in such a way that \(A O B\) remains a straight line. At time \(t\) seconds, \(A B = \left( 4 + \frac { 1 } { 2 } \sin 4 t \right) \mathrm { m }\) and \(A P = ( 2 + x ) \mathrm { m }\).

1. Show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } x } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } + 4 x = \sin 4 t$$
2. Hence find the time when \(P\) first comes to instantaneous rest. END