Edexcel M3 2017 June — Question 7

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2017
SessionJune
TopicSimple Harmonic Motion

7. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{698b44b5-801c-45ec-b9de-021e44487edb-24_173_968_223_488} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 6}
\end{figure} The fixed points \(A\) and \(B\) are 4 m apart on a smooth horizontal floor. One end of a light elastic string, of natural length 1.8 m and modulus of elasticity 45 N , is attached to a particle \(P\) and the other end is attached to \(A\). One end of another light elastic string, of natural length 1.2 m and modulus of elasticity 20 N , is attached to \(P\) and the other end is attached to \(B\). The particle \(P\) rests in equilibrium at the point \(O\), where \(A O B\) is a straight line, as shown in Figure 6.
  1. Show that \(A O = 2.2 \mathrm {~m}\). The point \(C\) lies on the straight line \(A O B\) with \(A C = 2.7 \mathrm {~m}\). The mass of \(P\) is 0.6 kg . The particle \(P\) is held at \(C\) and then released from rest.
  2. Show that, while both strings are taut, \(P\) moves with simple harmonic motion with centre \(O\). The point \(D\) lies on the straight line \(A O B\) with \(A D = 1.8 \mathrm {~m}\). When \(P\) reaches \(D\) the string \(P B\) breaks.
  3. Find the time taken by \(P\) to move directly from \(C\) to \(A\).