Edexcel FM1 2021 June — Question 3

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleFM1 (Further Mechanics 1)
Year2021
SessionJune
TopicMomentum and Collisions 2

  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question, \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular unit vectors in a horizontal plane.]
A smooth uniform sphere \(P\) has mass 0.3 kg . Another smooth uniform sphere \(Q\), with the same radius as \(P\), has mass 0.5 kg . The spheres are moving on a smooth horizontal surface when they collide obliquely. Immediately before the collision the velocity of \(P\) is \(( u \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\), where \(u\) is a positive constant, and the velocity of \(Q\) is \(( - 4 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) At the instant when the spheres collide, the line joining their centres is parallel to \(\mathbf { i }\).
The coefficient of restitution between \(P\) and \(Q\) is \(\frac { 3 } { 5 }\)
As a result of the collision, the direction of motion of \(P\) is deflected through an angle of \(90 ^ { \circ }\) and the direction of motion of \(Q\) is deflected through an angle of \(\alpha ^ { \circ }\)
  1. Find the value of \(u\)
  2. Find the value of \(\alpha\)
  3. State how you have used the fact that \(P\) and \(Q\) have equal radii.