| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Session | January |
| Marks | 8 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Momentum and Collisions |
| Type | Collision with two possible outcomes |
| Difficulty | Standard +0.3 This is a standard M1 collision problem requiring impulse calculation and conservation of momentum. While it has a twist with two possible outcomes (P can move in either direction after collision), the solution follows routine mechanics procedures: apply impulse-momentum theorem to one particle, then use conservation of momentum to find k. The algebra is straightforward and the problem type is common in M1 textbooks. |
| Spec | 6.03a Linear momentum: p = mv6.03b Conservation of momentum: 1D two particles6.03e Impulse: by a force6.03f Impulse-momentum: relation |
\begin{enumerate}
\item Two particles $P$ and $Q$ have masses $4 m$ and $k m$ respectively. They are moving towards each other in opposite directions along the same straight line on a smooth horizontal table when they collide directly. Immediately before the collision the speed of $P$ is $3 u$ and the speed of $Q$ is $u$. Immediately after the collision both particles have speed $2 u$ and the direction of motion of $Q$ has been reversed.\\
(a) Find, in terms of $k , m$ and $u$, the magnitude of the impulse received by $Q$ in the collision.\\
(b) Find the two possible values of $k$.\\
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 2017 Q5 [8]}}