Edexcel M1 2003 January — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2003
SessionJanuary
TopicMoments

6. \begin{figure}[h]
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{42695f57-bf7a-4cf7-b05f-f76b0a85d82d-4_293_1165_352_464}
\end{figure} A uniform rod \(A B\) has length 3 m and weight 120 N . The rod rests in equilibrium in a horizontal position, smoothly supported at points \(C\) and \(D\), where \(A C = 0.5 \mathrm {~m}\) and \(A D = 2 \mathrm {~m}\), as shown in Fig. 3. A particle of weight \(W\) newtons is attached to the rod at a point \(E\) where \(A E = x\) metres. The rod remains in equilibrium and the magnitude of the reaction at \(C\) is now twice the magnitude of the reaction at \(D\).
  1. Show that \(W = \frac { 60 } { 1 - x }\).
  2. Hence deduce the range of possible values of \(x\).