OCR MEI M1 — Question 2

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
TopicVectors Introduction & 2D

2 Fig. 4 shows the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) in the directions of the cartesian axes \(\mathrm { O } x\) and \(\mathrm { O } y\), respectively. O is the origin of the axes and of position vectors. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{496a9dfb-d330-4777-b5f9-a9d1b653dd7f-1_374_372_1431_911} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 4}
\end{figure} The position vector of a particle is given by \(\mathbf { r } = 3 t \mathbf { i } + \left( 18 t ^ { 2 } - 1 \right) \mathbf { j }\) for \(t \geqslant 0\), where \(t\) is time.
  1. Show that the path of the particle cuts the \(x\)-axis just once.
  2. Find an expression for the velocity of the particle at time \(t\). Deduce that the particle never travels in the \(\mathbf { j }\) direction.
  3. Find the cartesian equation of the path of the particle, simplifying your answer.