Edexcel M2 — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM2 (Mechanics 2)
TopicMomentum and Collisions 1

6. Particle \(S\) of mass \(2 M\) is moving with speed \(U \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) on a smooth horizontal plane when it collides directly with a particle \(T\) of mass \(5 M\) which is lying at rest on the plane. The coefficient of restitution between \(S\) and \(T\) is \(\frac { 3 } { 4 }\). Given that the speed of \(T\) after the collision is \(4 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\),
  1. find \(U\). As a result of the collision, \(T\) is projected horizontally from the top of a building of height 19.6 m and falls freely under gravity. \(T\) strikes the ground at the point \(X\) as shown in Figure 3. \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{ef2dd10c-5a3c-4868-af00-aaf7f2937d7e-4_663_928_740_523} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 3}
    \end{figure}
  2. Find the time taken for \(T\) to reach \(X\).
  3. Show that the angle between the horizontal and the direction of motion of \(T\), just before it strikes the ground at \(X\), is \(78.5 ^ { \circ }\) correct to 3 significant figures.
    (4 marks)