Modelling assumptions and limitations

A question is this type if and only if it explicitly asks to state modelling assumptions made in projectile motion or limitations of the model used.

4 questions · Standard +0.5

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AQA Paper 2 2021 June Q18
11 marks Challenging +1.2
18 Two particles, \(P\) and \(Q\), are projected at the same time from a fixed point \(X\), on the ground, so that they travel in the same vertical plane. \(P\) is projected at an acute angle \(\theta ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal, with speed \(u \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) \(Q\) is projected at an acute angle \(2 \theta ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal, with speed \(2 u \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) Both particles land back on the ground at exactly the same point, \(Y\).
Resistance forces to motion may be ignored.
18
  1. Show that $$\cos 2 \theta = \frac { 1 } { 8 }$$ 18
  2. \(\quad P\) takes a total of 0.4 seconds to travel from \(X\) to \(Y\).
    Find the time taken by \(Q\) to travel from \(X\) to \(Y\).
    18
  3. State one modelling assumption you have chosen to make in this question.
    [0pt] [1 mark]
    19
    Two skaters, Jo and Amba, are separately skating across a smooth, horizontal surface of ice.
    Both are moving in the same direction, so that their paths are straight and are parallel to each other.
    Jo is moving with constant velocity \(( 2.8 \mathbf { i } + 9.6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\)
    At time \(t = 0\) seconds Amba is at position ( \(2 \mathbf { i } - 7 \mathbf { j }\) ) metres and is moving with a constant speed of \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\)
    Explain why Amba's velocity must be in the form \(k ( 2.8 \mathbf { i } + 9.6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\), where \(k\) is a constant.
    [1 mark] \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\)
Pre-U Pre-U 9795/2 2011 June Q12
9 marks Standard +0.3
12 A train of mass 250 tonnes is ascending an incline of \(\sin ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { 500 } \right)\) and working at 400 kW against resistance to motion which may be regarded as a constant force of 20000 N .
  1. Find the constant speed, \(V\), with which the train can ascend the incline working at this power.
  2. The train begins to ascend the incline at \(6 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) at the same power and against the same resistance. Find the distance covered in reaching a speed of \(\frac { 3 } { 4 } V\).
Edexcel M1 Q7
12 marks Standard +0.3
Whilst looking over the edge of a vertical cliff, 122.5 metres in height, Jim dislodges a stone. The stone falls freely from rest towards the sea below. Ignoring the effect of air resistance,
  1. calculate the time it would take for the stone to reach the sea, [3 marks]
  2. find the speed with which the stone would hit the water. [2 marks]
Two seconds after the stone begins to fall, Jim throws a tennis ball downwards at the stone. The tennis ball's initial speed is \(u\) m s\(^{-1}\) and it hits the stone before they both reach the water.
  1. Find the minimum value of \(u\). [5 marks]
  2. If you had taken air resistance into account in your calculations, what effect would this have had on your answer to part (c)? Explain your answer. [2 marks]
Edexcel M2 Q6
16 marks Standard +0.3
A piece of lead and a table tennis ball are dropped together from a point \(P\) near the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The lead hits the ground after 3.3 seconds.
  1. Calculate the height above ground from which the lead was dropped. [2 marks]
According to a simple model, the ball hits the ground at the same time as the lead.
  1. State why this may not be true in practice and describe a refinement to the model which could lead to a more realistic solution. [2 marks]
The piece of lead is now thrown again from \(P\), with speed 7 ms\(^{-1}\) at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, as shown. \includegraphics{figure_6}
  1. Find expressions in terms of \(t\) for \(x\) and \(y\), the horizontal and vertical displacements respectively of the piece of lead from \(P\) at time \(t\) seconds after it is thrown. [4 marks]
  2. Deduce that \(y = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}x - \frac{2}{15}x^2\). [3 marks]
  3. Find the speed of the piece of lead when it has travelled 10 m horizontally from \(P\). [5 marks]