OCR MEI C4 — Question 3 18 marks

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleC4 (Core Mathematics 4)
Marks18
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicVectors: Lines & Planes
Type3D geometry applications
DifficultyStandard +0.3 This is a straightforward application of standard vector techniques: finding a direction vector, writing a line equation, calculating angles using dot products, and finding a line-plane intersection. All parts follow routine procedures with no novel insight required, though it involves multiple steps across several marks. Slightly easier than average due to the mechanical nature of the calculations.
Spec1.10a Vectors in 2D: i,j notation and column vectors1.10b Vectors in 3D: i,j,k notation1.10c Magnitude and direction: of vectors1.10d Vector operations: addition and scalar multiplication4.04a Line equations: 2D and 3D, cartesian and vector forms4.04c Scalar product: calculate and use for angles4.04f Line-plane intersection: find point

3 A straight pipeline AB passes through a mountain. With respect to axes \(\mathrm { O } x y z\), with \(\mathrm { O } x\) due East, Oy due North and \(\mathrm { O } z\) vertically upwards, A has coordinates \(( - 200,100,0 )\) and B has coordinates \(( 100,200,100 )\), where units are metres.
  1. Verify that \(\left. \overrightarrow { \mathrm { AB } } = \begin{array} { l } 300 \\ 100 \\ 100 \end{array} \right)\) and find the length of the pipeline.
    [0pt] [3]
  2. Write down a vector equation of the line AB , and calculate the angle it makes with the vertical.
    [0pt] [6]
    A thin flat layer of hard rock runs through the mountain. The equation of the plane containing this layer is \(x + 2 y + 3 z = 320\).
  3. Find the coordinates of the point where the pipeline meets the layer of rock.
  4. By calculating the angle between the line AB and the normal to the plane of the layer, find the angle at which the pipeline cuts through the layer.

Question 3:
Part (i)
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
\(\overrightarrow{AB} = \begin{pmatrix}100-(-200)\\200-100\\100-0\end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}300\\100\\100\end{pmatrix}\) *E1
\(AB = \sqrt{300^2+100^2+100^2} = 332\) mM1 A1 accept surds
Part (ii)
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
\(\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix}-200\\100\\0\end{pmatrix} + \lambda\begin{pmatrix}300\\100\\100\end{pmatrix}\)B1B1 oe
Angle is between \(\begin{pmatrix}3\\1\\1\end{pmatrix}\) and \(\begin{pmatrix}0\\0\\1\end{pmatrix}\)M1 \(\ldots\) and \(\begin{pmatrix}0\\0\\1\end{pmatrix}\)
\(\cos\theta = \dfrac{3\times0+1\times0+1\times1}{\sqrt{11}\sqrt{1}} = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{11}}\)M1 A1 complete scalar product method (including cosine) for correct vectors
\(\Rightarrow \theta = 72.45°\)A1 \(72.5°\) or better, accept \(1.26\) radians
Part (iii)
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
Meets plane of layer when \((-200+300\lambda)+2(100+100\lambda)+3\times100\lambda = 320\)M1
\(\Rightarrow 800\lambda=320 \Rightarrow \lambda=\dfrac{2}{5}\)A1
\(\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix}-200\\100\\0\end{pmatrix} + \dfrac{2}{5}\begin{pmatrix}300\\100\\100\end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}-80\\140\\40\end{pmatrix}\)M1
so meets layer at \((-80, 140, 40)\)A1
Part (iv)
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
Normal to plane is \(\begin{pmatrix}1\\2\\3\end{pmatrix}\)B1
Angle is between \(\begin{pmatrix}3\\1\\1\end{pmatrix}\) and \(\begin{pmatrix}1\\2\\3\end{pmatrix}\)
\(\cos\theta = \dfrac{3\times1+1\times2+1\times3}{\sqrt{11}\sqrt{14}} = \dfrac{8}{\sqrt{11}\sqrt{14}} = 0.6446\ldots\)M1 A1 complete method
\(\Rightarrow \theta = 49.86°\)A1
\(\Rightarrow\) angle with layer \(= 40.1°\)A1 ft \(90-\theta\); accept radians
# Question 3:

## Part (i)

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| $\overrightarrow{AB} = \begin{pmatrix}100-(-200)\\200-100\\100-0\end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}300\\100\\100\end{pmatrix}$ * | E1 | |
| $AB = \sqrt{300^2+100^2+100^2} = 332$ m | M1 A1 | accept surds |

## Part (ii)

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| $\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix}-200\\100\\0\end{pmatrix} + \lambda\begin{pmatrix}300\\100\\100\end{pmatrix}$ | B1B1 | oe |
| Angle is between $\begin{pmatrix}3\\1\\1\end{pmatrix}$ and $\begin{pmatrix}0\\0\\1\end{pmatrix}$ | M1 | $\ldots$ and $\begin{pmatrix}0\\0\\1\end{pmatrix}$ |
| $\cos\theta = \dfrac{3\times0+1\times0+1\times1}{\sqrt{11}\sqrt{1}} = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{11}}$ | M1 A1 | complete scalar product method (including cosine) for correct vectors |
| $\Rightarrow \theta = 72.45°$ | A1 | $72.5°$ or better, accept $1.26$ radians |

## Part (iii)

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Meets plane of layer when $(-200+300\lambda)+2(100+100\lambda)+3\times100\lambda = 320$ | M1 | |
| $\Rightarrow 800\lambda=320 \Rightarrow \lambda=\dfrac{2}{5}$ | A1 | |
| $\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix}-200\\100\\0\end{pmatrix} + \dfrac{2}{5}\begin{pmatrix}300\\100\\100\end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}-80\\140\\40\end{pmatrix}$ | M1 | |
| so meets layer at $(-80, 140, 40)$ | A1 | |

## Part (iv)

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Normal to plane is $\begin{pmatrix}1\\2\\3\end{pmatrix}$ | B1 | |
| Angle is between $\begin{pmatrix}3\\1\\1\end{pmatrix}$ and $\begin{pmatrix}1\\2\\3\end{pmatrix}$ | | |
| $\cos\theta = \dfrac{3\times1+1\times2+1\times3}{\sqrt{11}\sqrt{14}} = \dfrac{8}{\sqrt{11}\sqrt{14}} = 0.6446\ldots$ | M1 A1 | complete method |
| $\Rightarrow \theta = 49.86°$ | A1 | |
| $\Rightarrow$ angle with layer $= 40.1°$ | A1 | ft $90-\theta$; accept radians |

---
3 A straight pipeline AB passes through a mountain. With respect to axes $\mathrm { O } x y z$, with $\mathrm { O } x$ due East, Oy due North and $\mathrm { O } z$ vertically upwards, A has coordinates $( - 200,100,0 )$ and B has coordinates $( 100,200,100 )$, where units are metres.\\
(i) Verify that $\left. \overrightarrow { \mathrm { AB } } = \begin{array} { l } 300 \\ 100 \\ 100 \end{array} \right)$ and find the length of the pipeline.\\[0pt]
[3]\\
(ii) Write down a vector equation of the line AB , and calculate the angle it makes with the vertical.\\[0pt]
[6]\\
A thin flat layer of hard rock runs through the mountain. The equation of the plane containing this layer is $x + 2 y + 3 z = 320$.\\
(iii) Find the coordinates of the point where the pipeline meets the layer of rock.\\
(iv) By calculating the angle between the line AB and the normal to the plane of the layer, find the angle at which the pipeline cuts through the layer.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI C4  Q3 [18]}}