3.02h Motion under gravity: vector form

414 questions

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Edexcel M1 2001 January Q6
15 marks Moderate -0.3
6. A parachutist drops from a helicopter \(H\) and falls vertically from rest towards the ground. Her parachute opens 2 s after she leaves \(H\) and her speed then reduces to \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). For the first 2 s her motion is modelled as that of a particle falling freely under gravity. For the next 5 s the model is motion with constant deceleration, so that her speed is \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at the end of this period. For the rest of the time before she reaches the ground, the model is motion with constant speed of \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Sketch a speed-time graph to illustrate her motion from \(H\) to the ground.
  2. Find her speed when the parachute opens. A safety rule states that the helicopter must be high enough to allow the parachute to open and for the speed of a parachutist to reduce to \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) before reaching the ground. Using the assumptions made in the above model,
  3. find the minimum height of \(H\) for which the woman can make a drop without breaking this safety rule. Given that \(H\) is 125 m above the ground when the woman starts her drop,
  4. find the total time taken for her to reach the ground.
  5. State one way in which the model could be refined to make it more realistic.
    (1 mark)
Edexcel M1 2008 January Q2
8 marks Moderate -0.8
2. A firework rocket starts from rest at ground level and moves vertically. In the first 3 s of its motion, the rocket rises 27 m . The rocket is modelled as a particle moving with constant acceleration \(a \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\). Find
  1. the value of \(a\),
  2. the speed of the rocket 3 s after it has left the ground. After 3 s , the rocket burns out. The motion of the rocket is now modelled as that of a particle moving freely under gravity.
  3. Find the height of the rocket above the ground 5 s after it has left the ground.
Edexcel M1 2009 January Q2
5 marks Moderate -0.8
2. A small ball is projected vertically upwards from ground level with speed \(u \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The ball takes 4 s to return to ground level.
  1. Draw, in the space below, a velocity-time graph to represent the motion of the ball during the first 4 s .
  2. The maximum height of the ball above the ground during the first 4 s is 19.6 m . Find the value of \(u\).
OCR M1 2005 January Q5
10 marks Moderate -0.3
5 Two particles \(A\) and \(B\) are projected vertically upwards from horizontal ground at the same instant. The speeds of projection of \(A\) and \(B\) are \(7 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and \(10.5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) respectively.
  1. Write down expressions for the heights above the ground of \(A\) and \(B\) at time \(t\) seconds after projection.
  2. Hence find a simplified expression for the difference in the heights of \(A\) and \(B\) at time \(t\) seconds after projection.
  3. Find the difference in the heights of \(A\) and \(B\) when \(A\) is at its maximum height. At the instant when \(B\) is 3.5 m above \(A\), find
  4. whether \(A\) is moving upwards or downwards,
  5. the height of \(A\) above the ground.
OCR M1 2009 January Q6
13 marks Moderate -0.3
6 Small parcels are being loaded onto a trolley. Initially the parcels are 2.5 m above the trolley.
  1. A parcel is released from rest and falls vertically onto the trolley. Calculate
    1. the time taken for a parcel to fall onto the trolley,
    2. the speed of a parcel when it strikes the trolley.
    3. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{470e70de-66ba-4dcc-a205-0c92f29471b1-4_327_723_603_751} Parcels are often damaged when loaded in the way described, so a ramp is constructed down which parcels can slide onto the trolley. The ramp makes an angle of \(60 ^ { \circ }\) to the vertical, and the coefficient of friction between the ramp and a parcel is 0.2 . A parcel of mass 2 kg is released from rest at the top of the ramp (see diagram). Calculate the speed of the parcel after sliding down the ramp.
OCR M1 2007 June Q5
11 marks Moderate -0.3
5 A particle \(P\) is projected vertically upwards, from horizontal ground, with speed \(8.4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Show that the greatest height above the ground reached by P is 3.6 m . A particle Q is projected vertically upwards, from a point 2 m above the ground, with speed \(\mathrm { um } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). The greatest height abovetheground reached by Q is also 3.6 m .
  2. Find the value of \(u\). It is given that P and Q are projected simultaneously.
  3. Show that, at the instant when P and Q are at the same height, the particles have the same speed and are moving in opposite directions.
OCR MEI M1 2005 January Q4
8 marks Standard +0.3
4 A particle is projected vertically upwards from a point O at \(21 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Calculate the greatest height reached by the particle. When this particle is at its highest point, a second particle is projected vertically upwards from \(O\) at \(15 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Show that the particles collide 1.5 seconds later and determine the height above O at which the collision takes place.
OCR MEI M1 2012 January Q4
8 marks Moderate -0.8
4 A projectile P travels in a vertical plane over level ground. Its position vector \(\mathbf { r }\) at time \(t\) seconds after projection is modelled by $$\mathbf { r } = \binom { x } { y } = \binom { 0 } { 5 } + \binom { 30 } { 40 } t - \binom { 0 } { 5 } t ^ { 2 } ,$$ where distances are in metres and the origin is a point on the level ground.
  1. Write down
    (A) the height from which P is projected,
    (B) the value of \(g\) in this model.
  2. Find the displacement of P from \(t = 3\) to \(t = 5\).
  3. Show that the equation of the trajectory is $$y = 5 + \frac { 4 } { 3 } x - \frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 180 } .$$
OCR MEI M1 2013 January Q5
7 marks Moderate -0.8
5 Ali is throwing flat stones onto water, hoping that they will bounce, as illustrated in Fig. 5.
Ali throws one stone from a height of 1.225 m above the water with initial speed \(20 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) in a horizontal direction. Air resistance should be neglected. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{13f555cc-d506-48e5-a0e4-225cae4251dc-5_229_953_434_557} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 5}
\end{figure}
  1. Find the time it takes for the stone to reach the water.
  2. Find the speed of the stone when it reaches the water and the angle its trajectory makes with the horizontal at this time.
OCR MEI M1 2006 June Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.8
1 A particle is thrown vertically upwards and returns to its point of projection after 6 seconds. Air resistance is negligible. Calculate the speed of projection of the particle and also the maximum height it reaches.
OCR MEI M1 2006 June Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.8
5 You should neglect air resistance in this question.
A small stone is projected from ground level. The maximum height of the stone above horizontal ground is 22.5 m .
  1. Show that the vertical component of the initial velocity of the stone is \(21 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The speed of projection is \(28 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the angle of projection of the stone.
  3. Find the horizontal range of the stone. Section B (36 marks)
OCR MEI M1 2007 June Q8
19 marks Moderate -0.3
8 A ball is kicked from ground level over horizontal ground. It leaves the ground at a speed of \(25 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and at an angle \(\theta\) to the horizontal such that \(\cos \theta = 0.96\) and \(\sin \theta = 0.28\).
  1. Show that the height, \(y \mathrm {~m}\), of the ball above the ground \(t\) seconds after projection is given by \(y = 7 t - 4.9 t ^ { 2 }\). Show also that the horizontal distance, \(x \mathrm {~m}\), travelled by this time is given by \(x = 24 t\).
  2. Calculate the maximum height reached by the ball.
  3. Calculate the times at which the ball is at half its maximum height. Find the horizontal distance travelled by the ball between these times.
  4. Determine the following when \(t = 1.25\).
    (A) The vertical component of the velocity of the ball.
    (B) Whether the ball is rising or falling. (You should give a reason for your answer.)
    (C) The speed of the ball.
  5. Show that the equation of the trajectory of the ball is $$y = \frac { 0.7 x } { 576 } ( 240 - 7 x )$$ Hence, or otherwise, find the range of the ball.
OCR MEI M1 2014 June Q4
7 marks Moderate -0.3
4 Fig. 4 illustrates a situation in which a film is being made. A cannon is fired from the top of a vertical cliff towards a ship out at sea. The director wants the cannon ball to fall just short of the ship so that it appears to be a near-miss. There are actors on the ship so it is important that it is not hit by mistake. The cannon ball is fired from a height 75 m above the sea with an initial velocity of \(20 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. The ship is 90 m from the bottom of the cliff. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{63a2dc41-5e8b-4275-8653-ece5067c4306-3_337_1242_1717_406} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 4}
\end{figure}
  1. The director calculates where the cannon ball will hit the sea, using the standard projectile model and taking the value of \(g\) to be \(10 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\). Verify that according to this model the cannon ball is in the air for 5 seconds. Show that it hits the water less than 5 m from the ship.
  2. Without doing any further calculations state, with a brief reason, whether the cannon ball would be predicted to travel further from the cliff if the value of \(g\) were taken to be \(9.8 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\).
OCR MEI M1 2015 June Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.3
5 A golf ball is hit at an angle of \(60 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal from a point, O , on level horizontal ground. Its initial speed is \(20 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\). The standard projectile model, in which air resistance is neglected, is used to describe the subsequent motion of the golf ball. At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) the horizontal and vertical components of its displacement from O are denoted by \(x \mathrm {~m}\) and \(y \mathrm {~m}\).
  1. Write down equations for \(x\) and \(y\) in terms of \(t\).
  2. Hence show that the equation of the trajectory is $$y = \sqrt { 3 } x - 0.049 x ^ { 2 } .$$
  3. Find the range of the golf ball.
  4. A bird is hovering at position \(( 20,16 )\). Find whether the golf ball passes above it, passes below it or hits it.
Edexcel M2 2024 January Q7
14 marks Standard +0.8
  1. Particle \(P\) has mass \(m\) and particle \(Q\) has mass \(5 m\).
The particles are moving in the same direction along the same straight line on a smooth horizontal surface. Particle \(P\) collides directly with particle \(Q\).
Immediately before the collision, the speed of \(P\) is \(6 u\) and the speed of \(Q\) is \(u\).
Immediately after the collision, the speed of \(P\) is \(x\) and the speed of \(Q\) is \(y\).
The direction of motion of \(P\) is reversed as a result of the collision.
The coefficient of restitution between \(P\) and \(Q\) is \(e\).
  1. Find the complete range of possible values of \(e\). Given that \(e = \frac { 3 } { 5 }\)
  2. find the total kinetic energy lost in the collision between \(P\) and \(Q\). After the collision, \(Q\) hits a smooth fixed vertical wall that is perpendicular to the direction of motion of \(Q\). Particle \(Q\) rebounds.
    The coefficient of restitution between \(Q\) and the wall is \(f\).
    Given that there is a second collision between \(P\) and \(Q\),
  3. find the complete range of possible values of \(f\).
Edexcel M2 2014 June Q7
14 marks Standard +0.8
7. A particle \(P\) is projected from a fixed point \(A\) with speed \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\alpha\) above the horizontal and moves freely under gravity. When \(P\) passes through the point \(B\) on its path, it has speed \(7 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. By considering energy, find the vertical distance between \(A\) and \(B\). The minimum speed of \(P\) on its path from \(A\) to \(B\) is \(2.5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the size of angle \(\alpha\).
  3. Find the horizontal distance between \(A\) and \(B\).
Edexcel M2 2016 June Q6
13 marks Standard +0.3
6. [In this question the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a vertical plane, \(\mathbf { i }\) being horizontal and \(\mathbf { j }\) being vertically upwards.] At \(t = 0\) a particle \(P\) is projected from a fixed point \(O\) with velocity ( \(7 \mathbf { i } + 7 \sqrt { 3 } \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). The particle moves freely under gravity. The position vector of a point on the path of \(P\) is \(( x \mathbf { i } + y \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) relative to \(O\).
  1. Show that $$y = \sqrt { 3 } x - \frac { g } { 98 } x ^ { 2 }$$
  2. Find the direction of motion of \(P\) when it passes through the point on the path where \(x = 20\) At time \(T\) seconds \(P\) passes through the point with position vector \(( 2 \lambda \mathbf { i } + \lambda \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant.
  3. Find the value of \(T\).
    DO NOT WIRITE IN THIS AREA
Edexcel M2 2018 June Q6
14 marks Standard +0.3
6. A particle \(P\) is projected from a fixed point \(A\) with speed \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\alpha\) above the horizontal and moves freely under gravity. As \(P\) passes through the point \(B\) on its path, \(P\) is moving with speed \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\beta\) below the horizontal.
  1. By considering energy, find the vertical distance between \(A\) and \(B\). Particle \(P\) takes 1.5 seconds to travel from \(A\) to \(B\).
  2. Find the size of angle \(\alpha\).
  3. Find the size of angle \(\beta\).
  4. Find the length of time for which the speed of \(P\) is less than \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
Edexcel M2 2020 June Q8
13 marks Standard +0.8
8. [In this question, the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a vertical plane, with \(\mathbf { i }\) being horizontal and \(\mathbf { j }\) being vertically upwards.] \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{1dea68fe-7916-41ed-894e-6b48f8d989bb-28_426_1145_347_338} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} At time \(t = 0\), a small ball is projected from a fixed point \(O\) on horizontal ground. The ball is projected from \(O\) with velocity ( \(p \mathbf { i } + q \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are positive constants. The ball moves freely under gravity. At time \(t = 3\) seconds, the ball passes through the point \(A\) with velocity ( \(8 \mathbf { i } - 12 \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\), as shown in Figure 4.
  1. Find the speed of the ball at the instant it is projected from \(O\). For an interval of \(T\) seconds the speed, \(v \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), of the ball is such that \(v \leqslant 10\)
  2. Find the value of \(T\). At the point \(B\) on the path of the ball, the direction of motion of the ball is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the ball at \(A\).
  3. Find the vertical height of \(B\) above \(A\).
Edexcel M2 2021 June Q7
11 marks Standard +0.3
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question, the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a vertical plane, \(\mathbf { i }\) being horizontal and \(\mathbf { j }\) being vertically upwards.]
\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{e6e37d85-f8de-490a-82a9-8a3c16e2fdd0-20_289_837_347_486} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 5}
\end{figure} A small ball is projected with velocity \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + 12 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) from a fixed point \(A\) on horizontal ground. The ball hits the ground at the point \(B\), as shown in Figure 5. The motion of the ball is modelled as a particle moving freely under gravity.
  1. Find the distance \(A B\). When the height of the ball above the ground is more than \(h\) metres, the speed of the ball is less than \(10 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\)
  2. Find the smallest possible value of \(h\). When the ball is at the point \(C\) on its path, the direction of motion of the ball is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the ball at the instant before it hits the ground at \(B\).
  3. Find, in terms of \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\), the velocity of the ball when it is at \(C\).
Edexcel M2 2023 June Q7
15 marks Standard +0.3
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question, the perpendicular unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a vertical plane with \(\mathbf { i }\) being horizontal and \(\mathbf { j }\) being vertically upwards.]
\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{52966963-2e62-4361-bcd5-a76322f8621e-24_679_1009_347_529} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} A small ball is projected with velocity \(( 3 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\) from the fixed point \(A\).
The point \(A\) is 20 m above horizontal ground.
The ball hits the ground at the point \(B\), as shown in Figure 4.
The ball is modelled as a particle moving freely under gravity.
  1. By considering energy, find the speed of the ball at the instant immediately before it hits the ground.
  2. Find the direction of motion of the ball at the instant immediately before it hits the ground.
  3. Find the time taken for the ball to travel from \(A\) to \(B\). At the instant when the direction of motion of the ball is perpendicular to ( \(3 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j }\) ) the ball is \(h\) metres above the ground.
  4. Find the value of \(h\).
Edexcel M2 2024 June Q7
11 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question, the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a vertical plane, \(\mathbf { i }\) being horizontal and j being vertically upwards.]
\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{b6e93edf-1b9f-4ea9-bb41-f46f380bc623-22_398_1438_420_267} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} A golf ball is hit from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground and is modelled as a particle moving freely under gravity. The initial velocity of the ball is \(( 2 u \mathbf { i } + u \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\) The ball first hits the horizontal ground at a point which is 80 m from \(O\), as shown in Figure 3. Use the model to
  1. show that \(u = 14\)
  2. find the total time, while the ball is in the air, for which the speed of the ball is greater than \(7 \sqrt { 17 } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\)
Edexcel M2 2016 October Q7
10 marks Standard +0.8
7. [In this question, the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a vertical plane, \(\mathbf { i }\) being horizontal and \(\mathbf { j }\) being vertically upwards. Position vectors are given relative to a fixed origin O.] At time \(t = 0\) seconds, the particle \(P\) is projected from \(O\) with velocity ( \(3 \mathbf { i } + \lambda \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\), where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant. The particle moves freely under gravity. As \(P\) passes through the fixed point \(A\) it has velocity \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). The kinetic energy of \(P\) at the instant it passes through \(A\) is half the initial kinetic energy of \(P\). Find the position vector of \(A\), giving the components to 2 significant figures.
(10)
Edexcel M2 2017 October Q7
14 marks Standard +0.3
7. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{5ef8231d-5b95-4bbb-a8e2-788c708fa078-24_711_1009_251_479} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} A small ball \(P\) is projected with speed \(15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) from a point \(A\) which is 47.5 m above a horizontal beach. The ball moves freely under gravity and hits the beach at the point \(B\), as shown in Figure 3.
  1. By considering energy, find the speed of \(P\) immediately before it hits the beach. The ball was projected from \(A\) at an angle \(\theta\) above the horizontal, where \(\sin \theta = \frac { 3 } { 5 }\)
  2. Find the greatest height above the beach of \(P\) as it moved from \(A\) to \(B\).
  3. Find the least speed of \(P\) as it moved between \(A\) and \(B\).
  4. Find the horizontal distance from \(A\) to \(B\).
Edexcel M2 2018 October Q4
13 marks Standard +0.3
4. At time \(t = 0\) a ball is projected from a fixed point \(A\) on horizontal ground to hit a target. The ball is projected from \(A\) with speed \(u \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\theta ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal. At time \(t = 2 \mathrm {~s}\) the ball hits the target. At the instant when it hits the target, the ball is travelling downwards at \(30 ^ { \circ }\) below the horizontal with speed \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The ball is modelled as a particle moving freely under gravity and the target is modelled as the point \(T\).
  1. Find
    1. the value of \(\theta\),
    2. the value of \(u\). The height of \(T\) above the ground is \(h\) metres.
  2. Find the value of \(h\).
  3. Find the length of time for which the ball is more than \(h\) metres above the ground during the flight from \(A\) to \(T\).