Edexcel M4 2016 June — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM4 (Mechanics 4)
Year2016
SessionJune
TopicMoments

6. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{b01b3a41-3ed1-4104-b20d-4cfb845df4a1-11_664_786_221_587} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a uniform rod \(A B\), of length \(2 l\) and mass \(4 m\). A particle of mass \(2 m\) is attached to the rod at \(B\). The rod can turn freely in a vertical plane about a fixed smooth horizontal axis through \(A\). One end of a light elastic spring, of natural length \(2 l\) and modulus of elasticity \(k m g\), where \(k > 4\), is attached to the rod at \(B\). The other end of the spring is attached to a fixed point \(C\) which is vertically above \(A\), where \(A C = 2 l\). The angle \(B A C\) is \(2 \theta\), where \(\frac { \pi } { 6 } < \theta \leqslant \frac { \pi } { 2 }\)
  1. Show that the potential energy of the system is $$4 m g l \left\{ ( k - 4 ) \sin ^ { 2 } \theta - k \sin \theta \right\} + \text { constant }$$ Given that there is a position of equilibrium with \(\theta \neq \frac { \pi } { 2 }\)
  2. show that \(k > 8\) Given that \(k = 10\)
  3. determine the stability of this position of equilibrium.