CAIE M1 2013 November — Question 4

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2013
SessionNovember
TopicFriction

4 Particles \(P\) and \(Q\) are moving in a straight line on a rough horizontal plane. The frictional forces are the only horizontal forces acting on the particles.
  1. Find the deceleration of each of the particles given that the coefficient of friction between \(P\) and the plane is 0.2 , and between \(Q\) and the plane is 0.25 . At a certain instant, \(P\) passes through the point \(A\) and \(Q\) passes through the point \(B\). The distance \(A B\) is 5 m . The velocities of \(P\) and \(Q\) at \(A\) and \(B\) are \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), respectively, both in the direction \(A B\).
  2. Find the speeds of \(P\) and \(Q\) immediately before they collide.