5 A particle \(P\), of mass 2.5 kg , is in equilibrium suspended from a fixed point \(A\) by a light elastic string of natural length 3 m and modulus of elasticity 36.75 N . Another particle \(Q\), of mass 1 kg , is released from rest at \(A\) and falls freely until it reaches \(P\) and becomes attached to it.
- Show that the speed of the combined particles, immediately after \(Q\) becomes attached to \(P\), is \(2 \sqrt { 2 } \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\).
The combined particles fall a further distance \(X \mathrm {~m}\) before coming to instantaneous rest.
- Find a quadratic equation satisfied by \(X\), and show that it simplifies to \(35 X ^ { 2 } - 56 X - 80 = 0\).