OCR M3 2012 June — Question 6

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2012
SessionJune
TopicMomentum and Collisions 2

6
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{cc74a925-f1c8-4f59-a421-b46444cae5ec-5_387_867_258_575} Two smooth uniform spheres \(A\) and \(B\), of equal radius, have masses 2 kg and \(m \mathrm {~kg}\) respectively. They are moving on a horizontal surface when they collide. Immediately before the collision, \(A\) has speed \(5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and is moving towards \(B\) at an angle of \(\alpha\) to the line of centres, where \(\cos \alpha = 0.6\). \(B\) has speed \(2 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) and is moving towards \(A\) along the line of centres (see diagram). As a result of the collision, \(A\) 's loss of kinetic energy is \(7.56 \mathrm {~J} , B\) 's direction of motion is reversed and \(B\) 's speed after the collision is \(0.8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). Find
  1. the speed of \(A\) after the collision,
  2. the component of \(A\) 's velocity after the collision, parallel to the line of centres, stating with a reason whether its direction is to the left or to the right,
  3. the value of \(m\),
  4. the coefficient of restitution between \(A\) and \(B\).
    \(7 S _ { A }\) and \(S _ { B }\) are light elastic strings. \(S _ { A }\) has natural length 2 m and modulus of elasticity \(120 \mathrm {~N} ; S _ { B }\) has natural length 3 m and modulus of elasticity 180 N . A particle \(P\) of mass 0.8 kg is attached to one end of each of the strings. The other ends of \(S _ { A }\) and \(S _ { B }\) are attached to fixed points \(A\) and \(B\) respectively, on a smooth horizontal table. The distance \(A B\) is \(6 \mathrm {~m} . P\) is released from rest at the point of the line segment \(A B\) which is 2.9 m from \(A\).
  5. For the subsequent motion, show that the total elastic potential energy of the strings is the same when \(A P = 2.1 \mathrm {~m}\) and when \(A P = 2.9 \mathrm {~m}\). Deduce that neither string becomes slack.
  6. Find, in terms of \(x\), an expression for the acceleration of \(P\) in the direction of \(A B\) when \(A P = ( 2.5 + x ) \mathrm { m }\).
  7. State, giving a reason, the type of motion of \(P\) and find the time taken between successive occasions when \(P\) is instantaneously at rest. For the instant 0.6 seconds after \(P\) is released, find
  8. the distance travelled by \(P\),
  9. the speed of \(P\).