3.02i Projectile motion: constant acceleration model

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CAIE M1 2014 November Q3
Moderate -0.5
3 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{9c7e8624-c4cd-4a8e-83d9-f92d0bd6f95b-2_487_696_1537_721} Each of three light inextensible strings has a particle attached to one of its ends. The other ends of the strings are tied together at a point \(O\). Two of the strings pass over fixed smooth pegs and the particles hang freely in equilibrium. The weights of the particles and the angles between the sloping parts of the strings and the vertical are as shown in the diagram. It is given that \(\sin \beta = 0.8\) and \(\cos \beta = 0.6\).
  1. Show that \(W \cos \alpha = 3.8\) and find the value of \(W \sin \alpha\).
  2. Hence find the values of \(W\) and \(\alpha\).
CAIE M2 2002 June Q7
9 marks Standard +0.3
7 A ball is projected from a point \(O\) with speed \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), at an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. At time \(T\) s after projection, the ball passes through the point \(A\), whose horizontal and vertically upward displacements from \(O\) are 10 m and 2 m respectively.
  1. By using the equation of the trajectory, or otherwise, find the value of \(V\).
  2. Find the value of \(T\).
  3. Find the angle that the direction of motion of the ball at \(A\) makes with the horizontal.
CAIE M2 2003 June Q6
9 marks Moderate -0.3
6 A particle is projected with speed \(60 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) from a point on horizontal ground. The angle of projection is \(\alpha ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. The particle reaches the ground again after 10 s .
  1. Find the value of \(\alpha\).
  2. Find the greatest height reached by the particle.
  3. At time \(T\) s after the instant of projection the direction of motion of the particle is at an angle of \(45 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. Find the value of \(T\).
CAIE M2 2004 June Q6
9 marks Standard +0.3
6 A particle is projected from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. The velocity of projection has magnitude \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and direction upwards at \(35 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal. The particle passes through the point \(M\) at time \(T\) seconds after the instant of projection. The point \(M\) is 2 m above the ground and at a horizontal distance of 25 m from \(O\).
  1. Find the values of \(V\) and \(T\).
  2. Find the speed of the particle as it passes through \(M\) and determine whether it is moving upwards or downwards.
CAIE M2 2006 June Q7
11 marks Standard +0.3
7 A stone is projected from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground with speed \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\theta\) above the horizontal, where \(\sin \theta = \frac { 3 } { 5 }\). The stone is at its highest point when it has travelled a horizontal distance of 19.2 m .
  1. Find the value of \(V\). After passing through its highest point the stone strikes a vertical wall at a point 4 m above the ground.
  2. Find the horizontal distance between \(O\) and the wall. At the instant when the stone hits the wall the horizontal component of the stone's velocity is halved in magnitude and reversed in direction. The vertical component of the stone's velocity does not change as a result of the stone hitting the wall.
  3. Find the distance from the wall of the point where the stone reaches the ground.
CAIE M2 2007 June Q7
11 marks Standard +0.3
7 A particle is projected with speed \(65 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) from a point on horizontal ground, in a direction making an angle of \(\alpha ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. The particle reaches the ground again after 12 s . Find
  1. the value of \(\alpha\),
  2. the greatest height reached by the particle,
  3. the length of time for which the direction of motion of the particle is between \(20 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal and \(20 ^ { \circ }\) below the horizontal,
  4. the horizontal distance travelled by the particle in the time found in part (iii).
CAIE M2 2008 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{36259e2a-aa9b-4655-b0c2-891f96c3f5a4-4_547_933_269_607} Particles \(A\) and \(B\) are projected simultaneously from the top \(T\) of a vertical tower, and move in the same vertical plane. \(T\) is 7.2 m above horizontal ground. \(A\) is projected horizontally with speed \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and \(B\) is projected at an angle of \(60 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal with speed \(5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 } . A\) and \(B\) move away from each other (see diagram).
  1. Find the time taken for \(A\) to reach the ground. At the instant when \(A\) hits the ground,
  2. show that \(B\) is approximately 5.2 m above the ground,
  3. find the distance \(A B\).
CAIE M2 2009 June Q5
8 marks Standard +0.3
5 A small stone is projected from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground with speed \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle \(\theta ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. Referred to horizontal and vertically upwards axes through \(O\), the equation of the stone's trajectory is \(y = 0.75 x - 0.02 x ^ { 2 }\), where \(x\) and \(y\) are in metres. Find
  1. the values of \(\theta\) and \(V\),
  2. the distance from \(O\) of the point where the stone hits the ground,
  3. the greatest height reached by the stone.
CAIE M2 2010 June Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5 A particle is projected from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. The velocity of projection has magnitude \(20 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and direction upwards at an angle \(\theta\) to the horizontal. The particle passes through the point which is 7 m above the ground and 16 m horizontally from \(O\), and hits the ground at the point \(A\).
  1. Using the equation of the particle's trajectory and the identity \(\sec ^ { 2 } \theta = 1 + \tan ^ { 2 } \theta\), show that the possible values of \(\tan \theta\) are \(\frac { 3 } { 4 }\) and \(\frac { 17 } { 4 }\).
  2. Find the distance \(O A\) for each of the two possible values of \(\tan \theta\).
  3. Sketch in the same diagram the two possible trajectories.
CAIE M2 2010 June Q1
3 marks Moderate -0.8
1 A particle is projected horizontally with speed \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) from the top of a high cliff. Find the direction of motion of the particle after 2 s .
CAIE M2 2010 June Q3
8 marks Standard +0.8
3 Two particles \(P\) and \(Q\) are projected simultaneously with speed \(40 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) from a point \(O\) on a horizontal plane. Both particles subsequently pass at different times through the point \(A\) which has horizontal and vertically upward displacements from \(O\) of 40 m and 15 m respectively.
  1. By considering the equation of the trajectory of a projectile, show that each angle of projection satisfies the equation \(\tan ^ { 2 } \theta - 8 \tan \theta + 4 = 0\).
  2. Calculate the distance between the points at which \(P\) and \(Q\) strike the plane.
CAIE M2 2011 June Q1
2 marks Easy -1.2
1 A particle is projected with speed \(15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(40 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point on horizontal ground. Calculate the time taken for the particle to hit the ground.
CAIE M2 2011 June Q6
9 marks Moderate -0.3
6 A particle \(P\) is projected from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. 0.4 s after the instant of projection, \(P\) is 5 m above the ground and a horizontal distance of 12 m from \(O\).
  1. Calculate the initial speed and the angle of projection of \(P\).
  2. Find the direction of motion of the particle 0.4 s after the instant of projection.
CAIE M2 2011 June Q6
11 marks Standard +0.3
6 A particle \(P\) is projected with speed \(26 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) below the horizontal, from a point \(O\) which is 80 m above horizontal ground.
  1. Calculate the distance from \(O\) of the particle 2.3 s after projection.
  2. Find the horizontal distance travelled by \(P\) before it reaches the ground.
  3. Calculate the speed and direction of motion of \(P\) immediately before it reaches the ground.
CAIE M2 2011 June Q2
6 marks Moderate -0.8
2 A stone is thrown with speed \(15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) horizontally from the top of a vertical cliff 20 m above the sea. Calculate
  1. the distance from the foot of the cliff to the point where the stone enters the sea,
  2. the speed of the stone when it enters the sea.
CAIE M2 2012 June Q7
9 marks Standard +0.3
7 A small ball \(B\) is projected with speed \(15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(41 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\) which is 1.6 m above horizontal ground. At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) after projection the horizontal and vertically upward displacements of \(B\) from \(O\) are \(x \mathrm {~m}\) and \(y \mathrm {~m}\) respectively.
  1. Express \(x\) and \(y\) in terms of \(t\) and hence show that the equation of the trajectory of \(B\) is $$y = 0.869 x - 0.0390 x ^ { 2 }$$ where the coefficients are correct to 3 significant figures. A vertical fence is 1.5 m from \(O\) and perpendicular to the plane in which \(B\) moves. \(B\) just passes over the fence and subsequently strikes the ground at the point \(A\).
  2. Calculate the height of the fence, and the distance from the fence to \(A\).
CAIE M2 2012 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5 A ball is projected with velocity \(25 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(70 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. The ball subsequently bounces once on the ground at a point \(P\) before landing at a point \(Q\) where it remains at rest. The distance \(P Q\) is 17.1 m .
  1. Calculate the time taken by the ball to travel from \(O\) to \(P\) and the distance \(O P\).
  2. Given that the horizontal component of the velocity of the ball does not change at \(P\), calculate the speed of the ball when it leaves \(P\).
CAIE M2 2012 June Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.8
1 A particle \(P\) is projected with speed \(25 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. Calculate the distance \(O P\) at the instant 2 s after projection.
CAIE M2 2012 June Q7
10 marks Standard +0.3
7 The equation of the trajectory of a projectile is \(y = 0.6 x - 0.017 x ^ { 2 }\), referred to horizontal and vertically upward axes through the point of projection.
  1. Find the angle of projection of the projectile, and show that the initial speed is \(20 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the speed and direction of motion of the projectile when it is at a height of 5.2 m above the level of the point of projection for the second time.
CAIE M2 2013 June Q1
5 marks Moderate -0.8
1 A small ball is projected with speed \(20 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(45 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) after projection, the horizontal and vertically upwards displacements of the ball from \(O\) are \(x \mathrm {~m}\) and \(y \mathrm {~m}\) respectively.
  1. Express \(x\) and \(y\) in terms of \(t\).
  2. Show that the equation of the trajectory of the ball is \(y = x - \frac { 1 } { 40 } x ^ { 2 }\).
  3. State the distance from \(O\) of the point at which the ball first strikes the ground.
CAIE M2 2013 June Q5
7 marks Moderate -0.8
5 A particle \(P\) is projected with speed \(50 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(40 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\). For the instant 2.5 s after projection, calculate
  1. the speed of \(P\),
  2. the angle between \(O P\) and the horizontal.
CAIE M2 2013 June Q4
6 marks Moderate -0.8
4 A ball \(B\) is projected from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground at an angle of \(40 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal. \(B\) hits the ground 1.8 s after the instant of projection. Calculate
  1. the speed of projection of \(B\),
  2. the greatest height of \(B\),
  3. the distance from \(O\) of the point at which \(B\) hits the ground.
CAIE M2 2014 June Q5
9 marks Moderate -0.8
5 A small ball is thrown horizontally with speed \(5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) from a point \(O\) on the roof of a building. At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) after projection, the horizontal and vertically downwards displacements of the ball from \(O\) are \(x \mathrm {~m}\) and \(y \mathrm {~m}\) respectively.
  1. Express \(x\) and \(y\) in terms of \(t\), and hence show that the equation of the trajectory of the ball is \(y = 0.2 x ^ { 2 }\). The ball strikes the horizontal ground which surrounds the building at a point \(A\).
  2. Given that \(O A = 18 \mathrm {~m}\), calculate the value of \(x\) at \(A\), and the speed of the ball immediately before it strikes the ground at \(A\).
CAIE M2 2015 June Q6
9 marks Challenging +1.8
6 \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{a03ad6c1-b4a3-4007-8d3b-ce289a998a55-4_520_582_264_440} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 1}
\end{figure} \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{a03ad6c1-b4a3-4007-8d3b-ce289a998a55-4_497_300_287_1411} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 2}
\end{figure} A small ball \(B\) is projected with speed \(U \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(\theta ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\). At time 2 s after the instant of projection, \(B\) strikes a smooth wall which slopes at \(60 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal. The speed of \(B\) is \(18 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and its direction of motion is perpendicular to the wall at the instant of impact (see Fig. 1). \(B\) bounces off the wall with speed \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) in a direction perpendicular to the wall. At time 0.8 s after \(B\) bounces off the wall, \(B\) strikes the wall again at a lower point \(A\) (see Fig. 2).
  1. Find \(U\) and \(\theta\).
  2. By considering the motion of \(B\) after it bounces off the wall, calculate \(V\).
CAIE M2 2015 June Q2
5 marks Standard +0.3
2 A particle \(P\) is projected with speed \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at an angle of \(60 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal from a point \(O\) on horizontal ground. \(P\) is moving at an angle of \(45 ^ { \circ }\) above the horizontal at the instant 1.5 s after projection.
  1. Find \(V\).
  2. Hence calculate the horizontal and vertical displacements of \(P\) from \(O\) at the instant 1.5 s after projection.