Edexcel M2 2005 January — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM2 (Mechanics 2)
Year2005
SessionJanuary
TopicMomentum and Collisions 1

6. A particle \(P\) of mass \(3 m\) is moving with speed \(2 u\) in a straight line on a smooth horizontal table. The particle \(P\) collides with a particle \(Q\) of mass \(2 m\) moving with speed \(u\) in the opposite direction to \(P\). The coefficient of restitution between \(P\) and \(Q\) is \(e\).
  1. Show that the speed of \(Q\) after the collision is \(\frac { 1 } { 5 } u ( 9 e + 4 )\). As a result of the collision, the direction of motion of \(P\) is reversed.
  2. Find the range of possible values of \(e\). Given that the magnitude of the impulse of \(P\) on \(Q\) is \(\frac { 32 } { 5 } m u\),
  3. find the value of \(e\).
    (4)