Edexcel M3 2012 June — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2012
SessionJune
TopicCentre of Mass 2

6. Figure 3 Figure 3 shows a uniform equilateral triangular lamina \(P R T\) with sides of length \(2 a\).
  1. Using calculus, prove that the centre of mass of \(P R T\) is at a distance \(\frac { 2 \sqrt { } 3 } { 3 } a\) from \(R\). (6) \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{2c7ac0e1-14fd-4e50-935a-d82e7127c2f8-11_545_588_1121_678} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
    \end{figure} The circular sector \(P Q U\), of radius \(a\) and centre \(P\), and the circular sector TUS, of radius \(a\) and centre \(T\), are removed from \(P R T\) to form the uniform lamina \(Q R S U\) shown in Figure 4.
  2. Show that the distance of the centre of mass of QRSU from \(U\) is \(\frac { 2 a } { 3 \sqrt { 3 } - \pi }\)