Edexcel M1 — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
TopicPulley systems

8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{bf4361b8-acd2-4133-81b7-2f68d018486f-4_478_529_1142_589} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 2}
\end{figure} Figure 2 shows two particles \(P\) and \(Q\), of mass 3 kg and 2 kg respectively, attached to the ends of a light, inextensible string which passes over a smooth, fixed pulley. The system is released from rest with \(P\) and \(Q\) at the same level 1.5 metres above the ground and 2 metres below the pulley.
  1. Show that the initial acceleration of the system is \(\frac { g } { 5 } \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\).
  2. Find the tension in the string.
  3. Find the speed with which \(P\) hits the ground. When \(P\) hits the ground, it does not rebound.
  4. What is the closest that \(Q\) gets to the pulley.