Edexcel M3 2005 June — Question 3

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2005
SessionJune
TopicWork, energy and Power 2

3. A light elastic string has natural length \(2 l\) and modulus of elasticity \(4 m g\). One end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(A\) and the other end to a fixed point \(B\), where \(A\) and \(B\) lie on a smooth horizontal table, with \(A B = 4 l\). A particle \(P\) of mass \(m\) is attached to the mid-point of the string. The particle is released from rest at the point of the line \(A B\) which is \(\frac { 5 l } { 3 }\) from \(B\). The speed of \(P\) at the mid-point of \(A B\) is \(V\).
  1. Find \(V\) in terms of \(g\) and \(L\).
  2. Explain why \(V\) is the maximum speed of \(P\).
    (Total 9 marks)