| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2002 |
| Session | January |
| Marks | 6 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Momentum and Collisions |
| Type | Coalescence collision |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward two-part mechanics question testing basic conservation of momentum (perfectly inelastic collision) followed by Newton's second law with constant deceleration. Both parts require only direct application of standard formulas with no problem-solving insight or geometric reasoning needed. The calculations are simple arithmetic with given values. |
| Spec | 3.02d Constant acceleration: SUVAT formulae6.03b Conservation of momentum: 1D two particles |
A railway truck $A$ of mass 1800 kg is moving along a straight horizontal track with speed 4 m s$^{-1}$. It collides directly with a stationary truck $B$ of mass 1200 kg on the same track. In the collision, $A$ and $B$ are coupled and move off together.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find the speed of the trucks immediately after the collision. [3]
\end{enumerate}
After the collision, the trucks experience a constant resistive force of magnitude $R$ newtons. They come to rest 8 s after the collision.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\setcounter{enumi}{1}
\item Find $R$. [3]
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 2002 Q2 [6]}}