| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2012 |
| Session | January |
| Marks | 5 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Momentum and Collisions |
| Type | Direct collision, find impulse magnitude |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward M1 momentum question requiring direct application of conservation of momentum and impulse = change in momentum. The setup is clear, all values are given, and it involves standard two-step calculations with no conceptual subtlety or problem-solving insight required. |
| Spec | 6.03b Conservation of momentum: 1D two particles6.03f Impulse-momentum: relation |
\begin{enumerate}
\item A railway truck $P$, of mass $m \mathrm {~kg}$, is moving along a straight horizontal track with speed $15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }$. Truck $P$ collides with a truck $Q$ of mass 3000 kg , which is at rest on the same track. Immediately after the collision the speed of $P$ is $3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }$ and the speed of $Q$ is $9 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }$. The direction of motion of $P$ is reversed by the collision.
\end{enumerate}
Modelling the trucks as particles, find\\
(a) the magnitude of the impulse exerted by $P$ on $Q$,\\
(b) the value of $m$.\\
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 2012 Q1 [5]}}