| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M2 (Mechanics 2) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Session | October |
| Marks | 13 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Centre of Mass 1 |
| Type | Folded lamina |
| Difficulty | Challenging +1.2 This is a standard M2 centre of mass question involving a folded lamina with composite shapes. Parts (a) and (b) require systematic application of the composite body formula with careful coordinate geometry to track the folded section. Part (c) involves equilibrium with moments, leading to a solvable equation. While requiring multiple steps and careful bookkeeping, it follows a well-established template for this topic with no novel insights needed—moderately above average difficulty for A-level. |
| Spec | 6.04b Find centre of mass: using symmetry6.04c Composite bodies: centre of mass6.04e Rigid body equilibrium: coplanar forces |
5.
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{99d06f7b-f5cc-4c19-ae26-8f715eda8ee8-16_419_531_214_708}
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\caption{Figure 3}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
Figure 3 shows a uniform rectangular lamina $A B C D$ with sides of length $3 a$ and $k a$, where $k > 3$. The point $E$ on side $A D$ is such that $D E = 3 a$. Rectangle $A B C D$ is folded along the line $C E$ to produce the folded lamina $L$ shown in Figure 4.
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{99d06f7b-f5cc-4c19-ae26-8f715eda8ee8-16_455_536_941_703}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Figure 4}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
Find, in terms of $a$ and $k$,
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item the distance of the centre of mass of $L$ from $A B$,
\item the distance of the centre of mass of $L$ from $A E$.
The folded lamina $L$ is freely suspended from $A$ and hangs in equilibrium with $A B$ at $45 ^ { \circ }$ to the downward vertical.
\item Find, to 3 significant figures, the value of $k$.
\begin{center}
\end{center}
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M2 2018 Q5 [13]}}