Edexcel M1 2022 January — Question 2

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2022
SessionJanuary
TopicMomentum and Collisions

2. A particle \(P\) has mass \(k m\) and a particle \(Q\) has mass \(m\). The particles are moving towards each other in opposite directions along the same straight line when they collide directly. Immediately before the collision, \(P\) has speed \(3 u\) and \(Q\) has speed \(u\).
As a result of the collision, the direction of motion of each particle is reversed and the speed of each particle is halved.
  1. Find the value of \(k\).
  2. Find, in terms of \(m\) and \(u\), the magnitude of the impulse exerted on \(Q\) in the collision.