Edexcel M1 2023 January — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2023
SessionJanuary
TopicNewton's laws and connected particles

6. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{84c0eead-0a87-4d87-b33d-794a94bb466c-18_502_1429_280_319} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} A boat is pulled along a river at a constant speed by two ropes.
The banks of the river are parallel and the boat travels horizontally in a straight line, parallel to the riverbanks.
  • The tension in the first rope is 500 N acting at an angle of \(40 ^ { \circ }\) to the direction of motion, as shown in Figure 3.
  • The tension in the second rope is \(P\) newtons, acting at an angle of \(\alpha ^ { \circ }\) to the direction of motion, also shown in Figure 3.
  • The resistance to motion of the boat as it moves through the water is a constant force of magnitude 900 N
The boat is modelled as a particle. The ropes are modelled as being light and lying in a horizontal plane. Use the model to find
  1. the value of \(\alpha\)
  2. the value of \(P\)