OCR Mechanics 1 2018 September — Question 10

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleMechanics 1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2018
SessionSeptember
TopicProjectiles

10 A small ball \(P\) is projected with speed \(5 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\theta\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\) and moves freely under gravity. The horizontal and vertically upwards displacements of the ball from \(O\) at any subsequent time \(t\) seconds are \(x \mathrm {~m}\) and \(y \mathrm {~m}\) respectively. The ball is modelled as a particle and the acceleration due to gravity is taken to be \(10 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\).
  1. Show that the equation of the trajectory of \(P\) is $$y = x \tan \theta - \frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 5 } \left( 1 + \tan ^ { 2 } \theta \right)$$ It is given that \(\tan \theta = 3\).
  2. Using part (i), find the maximum height above the level of \(O\) of \(P\) in the subsequent motion.
  3. Find the values of \(t\) when \(P\) is moving at an angle \(\alpha\) to the horizontal, where \(\tan \alpha = \frac { 1 } { 3 }\).
  4. Give two possible reasons why the values of \(t\) found in part (iii) may not be accurate.
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{28beb431-45d5-4300-88fe-00d05d78790b-09_435_714_267_678} Two particles \(P\) and \(Q\), with masses 2 kg and 8 kg respectively, are attached to the ends of a light inextensible string. The string passes over a small smooth pulley which is fixed at a point on the intersection of two fixed inclined planes. The string lies in a vertical plane that contains a line of greatest slope of each of the two inclined planes. Plane \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) is inclined at an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal and plane \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) is inclined at an angle of \(\theta\) to the horizontal. Particle \(P\) is on \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(Q\) is on \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) with the string taut (see diagram).
    \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) is rough and the coefficient of friction between \(P\) and \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) is \(\frac { \sqrt { 3 } } { 3 }\).
    \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) is smooth.
    The particles are released from rest and \(P\) begins to move towards the pulley with an acceleration of \(g \cos \theta \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\).
  5. Show that \(\theta\) satisfies the equation $$4 \sin \theta - 5 \cos \theta = 1 .$$
  6. By expressing \(4 \sin \theta - 5 \cos \theta\) in the form \(R \sin ( \theta - \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < 90 ^ { \circ }\), find, correct to 3 significant figures, the tension in the string.