| Exam Board | AQA |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2012 |
| Session | June |
| Marks | 10 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Newton's laws and connected particles |
| Type | Block on rough horizontal surface – accelerating (finding acceleration or applied force) |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.3 This is a standard M1 connected particles question requiring a force diagram, resolving vertically to find normal reaction (R = 8g - 0.5T), then horizontally with friction (F = 0.3R) to find T. The calculation is straightforward with familiar techniques, making it slightly easier than average for M1, though the multi-part structure and angle resolution keep it close to typical difficulty. |
| Spec | 1.10h Vectors in kinematics: uniform acceleration in vector form3.02g Two-dimensional variable acceleration3.02h Motion under gravity: vector form |
6 A child pulls a sledge, of mass 8 kg , along a rough horizontal surface, using a light rope. The coefficient of friction between the sledge and the surface is 0.3 . The tension in the rope is $T$ newtons. The rope is kept at an angle of $30 ^ { \circ }$ to the horizontal, as shown in the diagram.\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{828e8db1-efcf-4878-8292-ba5bbd80115c-4_273_775_516_644}
Model the sledge as a particle.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Draw a diagram to show all the forces acting on the sledge.
\item Find the magnitude of the normal reaction force acting on the sledge, in terms of $T$.
\item Given that the sledge accelerates at $0.05 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }$, find $T$.
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{AQA M1 2012 Q6 [10]}}