AQA M3 2007 June — Question 7

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2007
SessionJune
TopicProjectiles

7 A particle is projected from a point on a plane which is inclined at an angle \(\alpha\) to the horizontal. The particle is projected up the plane with velocity \(u\) at an angle \(\theta\) above the plane. The motion of the particle is in a vertical plane containing a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane.
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  1. Using the identity \(\cos ( A + B ) = \cos A \cos B - \sin A \sin B\), show that the range up the plane is $$\frac { 2 u ^ { 2 } \sin \theta \cos ( \theta + \alpha ) } { g \cos ^ { 2 } \alpha }$$
  2. Hence, using the identity \(2 \sin A \cos B = \sin ( A + B ) + \sin ( A - B )\), show that, as \(\theta\) varies, the range up the plane is a maximum when \(\theta = \frac { \pi } { 4 } - \frac { \alpha } { 2 }\).
  3. Given that the particle strikes the plane at right angles, show that $$2 \tan \theta = \cot \alpha$$