Edexcel M3 2015 June — Question 2

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2015
SessionJune
TopicWork, energy and Power 2

2. A spacecraft \(S\) of mass \(m\) moves in a straight line towards the centre of the Earth. The Earth is modelled as a sphere of radius \(R\) and \(S\) is modelled as a particle. When \(S\) is at a distance \(x , x \geqslant R\), from the centre of the Earth, the force exerted by the Earth on \(S\) is directed towards the centre of the Earth. The force has magnitude \(\frac { K } { x ^ { 2 } }\), where \(K\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(K = m g R ^ { 2 }\)
    (2) When \(S\) is at a distance \(3 R\) from the centre of the Earth, the speed of \(S\) is \(V\). Assuming that air resistance can be ignored,
  2. find, in terms of \(g , R\) and \(V\), the speed of \(S\) as it hits the surface of the Earth.