Edexcel M1 Specimen — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
SessionSpecimen
TopicPulley systems

8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{ab3c0d61-3cab-4050-8288-6052e8404eb1-24_862_412_310_774} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Two particles \(A\) and \(B\) have mass 0.4 kg and 0.3 kg respectively. The particles are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string. The string passes over a small smooth pulley which is fixed above a horizontal floor. Both particles are held, with the string taut, at a height of 1 m above the floor, as shown in Figure 3. The particles are released from rest and in the subsequent motion \(B\) does not reach the pulley.
  1. Find the tension in the string immediately after the particles are released.
  2. Find the acceleration of \(A\) immediately after the particles are released. When the particles have been moving for 0.5 s , the string breaks.
  3. Find the further time that elapses until \(B\) hits the floor.