AQA M3 2012 June — Question 3

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2012
SessionJune
TopicProjectiles

3 (In this question, take \(g = 10 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\).)
A projectile is fired from a point \(O\) with speed \(u\) at an angle of elevation \(\alpha\) above the horizontal so as to pass through a point \(P\). The projectile travels in a vertical plane through \(O\) and \(P\). The point \(P\) is at a horizontal distance \(2 k\) from \(O\) and at a vertical distance \(k\) above \(O\).
  1. Show that \(\alpha\) satisfies the equation $$20 k \tan ^ { 2 } \alpha - 2 u ^ { 2 } \tan \alpha + u ^ { 2 } + 20 k = 0$$
  2. Deduce that $$u ^ { 4 } - 20 k u ^ { 2 } - 400 k ^ { 2 } \geqslant 0$$