Edexcel M5 2005 June — Question 6

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM5 (Mechanics 5)
Year2005
SessionJune
TopicVariable Force

6. A rocket-driven car moves along a straight horizontal road. The car has total initial mass \(M\). It propels itself forwards by ejecting mass backwards at a constant rate \(\lambda\) per unit time at a constant speed \(U\) relative to the car. The car starts from rest at time \(t = 0\). At time \(t\) the speed of the car is \(v\). The total resistance to motion is modelled as having magnitude \(k v\), where \(k\) is a constant. Given that \(t < \frac { M } { \lambda }\), show that
  1. \(\frac { \mathrm { d } v } { \mathrm {~d} t } = \frac { \lambda U - k v } { M - \lambda t }\),
  2. \(v = \frac { \lambda U } { k } \left\{ 1 - \left( 1 - \frac { \lambda t } { M } \right) ^ { \frac { k } { \lambda } } \right\}\).
    (6)
    (Total 13 marks)