Edexcel M2 2011 January — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM2 (Mechanics 2)
Year2011
SessionJanuary
TopicMomentum and Collisions 1

  1. A particle \(P\) of mass \(m \mathrm {~kg}\) is moving with speed \(6 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) in a straight line on a smooth horizontal floor. The particle strikes a fixed smooth vertical wall at right angles and rebounds. The kinetic energy lost in the impact is 64 J . The coefficient of restitution between \(P\) and the wall is \(\frac { 1 } { 3 }\).
    1. Show that \(m = 4\).
      (6)
    After rebounding from the wall, \(P\) collides directly with a particle \(Q\) which is moving towards \(P\) with speed \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The mass of \(Q\) is 2 kg and the coefficient of restitution between \(P\) and \(Q\) is \(\frac { 1 } { 3 }\).
  2. Show that there will be a second collision between \(P\) and the wall.