Edexcel M3 2006 January — Question 3

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2006
SessionJanuary
TopicVariable Force

3. A rocket is fired vertically upwards with speed \(U\) from a point on the Earth's surface. The rocket is modelled as a particle \(P\) of constant mass \(m\), and the Earth as a fixed sphere of radius \(R\). At a distance \(x\) from the centre of the Earth, the speed of \(P\) is \(v\). The only force acting on \(P\) is directed towards the centre of the Earth and has magnitude \(\frac { c m } { x ^ { 2 } }\), where \(c\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(v ^ { 2 } = U ^ { 2 } + 2 c \left( \frac { 1 } { x } - \frac { 1 } { R } \right)\). The kinetic energy of \(P\) at \(x = 2 R\) is half of its kinetic energy at \(x = R\).
  2. Find \(c\) in terms of \(U\) and \(R\).
    (3)