AQA M3 2015 June — Question 2 5 marks

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2015
SessionJune
Marks5
TopicProjectiles

2 A projectile is launched from a point \(O\) on top of a cliff with initial velocity \(u \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of elevation \(\alpha\) and moves in a vertical plane. During the motion, the position vector of the projectile relative to the point \(O\) is \(( x \mathbf { i } + y \mathbf { j } )\) metres where \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are horizontal and vertical unit vectors respectively.
  1. Show that, during the motion, the equation of the trajectory of the projectile is given by $$y = x \tan \alpha - \frac { 4.9 x ^ { 2 } } { u ^ { 2 } \cos ^ { 2 } \alpha }$$
  2. When \(u = 21\) and \(\alpha = 55 ^ { \circ }\), the projectile hits a small buoy \(B\). The buoy is at a distance \(s\) metres vertically below \(O\) and at a distance \(s\) metres horizontally from \(O\), as shown in the diagram.
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{bcd20c69-cace-408c-8961-169c19ff0231-04_601_935_964_548}
    1. Find the value of \(s\).
    2. Find the acute angle between the velocity of the projectile and the horizontal just before the projectile hits \(B\), giving your answer to the nearest degree.
      [0pt] [5 marks]