Edexcel M3 2003 June — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2003
SessionJune
TopicCircular Motion 2

6. \begin{figure}[h]
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c0a3336d-b0ca-4588-80d1-445e2a5e493c-4_489_1154_1138_508}
\end{figure} A particle is at the highest point \(A\) on the outer surface of a fixed smooth sphere of radius \(a\) and centre \(O\). The lowest point \(B\) of the sphere is fixed to a horizontal plane. The particle is projected horizontally from \(A\) with speed \(u\), where \(u < \sqrt { } ( a g )\). The particle leaves the sphere at the point \(C\), where \(O C\) makes an angle \(\theta\) with the upward vertical, as shown in Fig. 2.
  1. Find an expression for \(\cos \theta\) in terms of \(u , g\) and \(a\). The particle strikes the plane with speed \(\sqrt { \left( \frac { 9 a g } { 2 } \right) }\).
  2. Find, to the nearest degree, the value of \(\theta\).