| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Marks | 7 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Newton's laws and connected particles |
| Type | Car towing trailer, horizontal |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward M1 mechanics problem requiring application of Newton's second law (F=ma) to a two-body system. Part (a) involves a single calculation using the total mass and forces, while part (b) requires isolating the trailer. Both parts use standard techniques with clear given values and no conceptual subtleties, making it easier than average for A-level. |
| Spec | 3.03c Newton's second law: F=ma one dimension3.03k Connected particles: pulleys and equilibrium |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| (a) \(F - 400 = 2150 \times 0·2\) giving \(F = 400 + 430 = 830 \text{ N}\) | M1 A1 A1 | 3 marks |
| (b) \(F - 300 - T = 1800 \times 0·2\) giving \(T = 530 - 360 = 170 \text{ N}\) | M1 A1 M1 A1 | 4 marks total: 7 |
(a) $F - 400 = 2150 \times 0·2$ giving $F = 400 + 430 = 830 \text{ N}$ | M1 A1 A1 | 3 marks
(b) $F - 300 - T = 1800 \times 0·2$ giving $T = 530 - 360 = 170 \text{ N}$ | M1 A1 M1 A1 | 4 marks total: 7A car, of mass 1800 kg, pulls a trailer of mass 350 kg along a straight horizontal road. When the car is accelerating at $0.2$ ms$^{-2}$, the resistances to the motion of the car and trailer have magnitudes 300 N and 100 N respectively. Find, at this time,
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item the driving force produced by the engine of the car, [3 marks]
\item the tension in the tow-bar between the car and the trailer. [4 marks]
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 Q3 [7]}}