| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2004 |
| Session | November |
| Marks | 8 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Momentum and Collisions |
| Type | Pile-driver or hammer impact |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward two-part momentum question requiring standard application of conservation of momentum for an inelastic collision, followed by Newton's second law with constant resistance. Both parts use direct formula application with no problem-solving insight needed, making it easier than average but not trivial due to the multi-step nature and need to handle forces correctly in part (b). |
| Spec | 6.03b Conservation of momentum: 1D two particles6.03f Impulse-momentum: relation |
A tent peg is driven into soft ground by a blow from a hammer. The tent peg has mass 0.2 kg and the hammer has mass 3 kg. The hammer strikes the peg vertically.
Immediately before the impact, the speed of the hammer is $16 \text{ m s}^{-1}$. It is assumed that, immediately after the impact, the hammer and the peg move together vertically downwards.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find the common speed of the peg and the hammer immediately after the impact. [3]
\end{enumerate}
Until the peg and hammer come to rest, the resistance exerted by the ground is assumed to be constant and of magnitude $R$ newtons. The hammer and peg are brought to rest 0.05 s after the impact.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\setcounter{enumi}{1}
\item Find, to 3 significant figures, the value of $R$. [5]
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 2004 Q4 [8]}}