Elastic string horizontal surface projection

A particle attached to an elastic string is projected horizontally on a surface (smooth or rough), requiring energy methods to find when the particle leaves the surface, reaches rest, or attains a given speed.

5 questions · Challenging +1.1

6.02i Conservation of energy: mechanical energy principle
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CAIE M2 2013 June Q3
7 marks Challenging +1.2
3 A particle \(P\) of mass 0.2 kg is attached to one end of a light elastic string of natural length 1.6 m and modulus of elasticity 18 N . The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(O\) which is 1.6 m above a smooth horizontal surface. \(P\) is placed on the surface vertically below \(O\) and then projected horizontally. \(P\) moves with initial speed \(1.5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) in a straight line on the surface. Show that, when \(O P = 1.8 \mathrm {~m}\),
  1. \(P\) is at instantaneous rest,
  2. \(P\) is on the point of losing contact with the surface.
CAIE M2 2014 June Q6
9 marks Challenging +1.2
6 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{9c82b387-8e5e-48b9-973d-5337b4e56a66-3_652_618_849_762} A particle \(P\) of mass 0.6 kg is attached to one end of a light elastic string of natural length 1.5 m and modulus of elasticity 9 N . The string passes through a small smooth ring \(R\) fixed at a height of 0.4 m above a rough horizontal surface. The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(O\) which is 1.5 m vertically above \(R\). The points \(A\) and \(B\) are on the horizontal surface, and \(B\) is vertically below \(R\). When \(P\) is on the surface between \(A\) and \(B , R P\) makes an acute angle \(\theta ^ { \circ }\) with the horizontal (see diagram).
  1. Show that the normal force exerted on \(P\) by the surface has magnitude 3.6 N , for all values of \(\theta\). \(P\) is projected with speed \(2.5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) towards \(B\) from its initial position at \(A\) where \(\theta = 30\). The speed of \(P\) when it passes through \(B\) is \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the work done against friction as \(P\) moves from \(A\) to \(B\).
  3. Calculate the value of the coefficient of friction between \(P\) and the surface.
Edexcel M3 2004 January Q4
11 marks Challenging +1.2
4. A particle \(P\) of mass \(m\) is attached to one end of a light elastic string of length \(a\) and modulus of elasticity \(\frac { 1 } { 2 } m g\). The other end of the string is fixed at the point \(A\) which is at a height \(2 a\) above a smooth horizontal table. The particle is held on the table with the string making an angle \(\beta\) with the horizontal, where \(\tan \beta = \frac { 3 } { 4 }\).
  1. Find the elastic energy stored in the string in this position. The particle is now released. Assuming that \(P\) remains on the table,
  2. find the speed of \(P\) when the string is vertical. By finding the vertical component of the tension in the string when \(P\) is on the table and \(A P\) makes an angle \(\theta\) with the horizontal,
  3. show that the assumption that \(P\) remains in contact with the table is justified.
AQA Further Paper 3 Mechanics 2022 June Q8
8 marks Standard +0.8
8
  1. Use an energy method to find the maximum speed of the crate.
    8
  2. Use an energy method to find the total distance travelled by the crate.
    8
  3. A student claims that in reality the crate is unlikely to travel more than 5.3 metres in total. Comment on the validity of this claim. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{0afe3ff2-0af5-4aeb-98c5-1346fa803388-12_2488_1732_219_139}
OCR Further Mechanics 2021 June Q4
9 marks Challenging +1.2
4 One end of a light elastic string of natural length \(l \mathrm {~m}\) and modulus of elasticity \(\lambda \mathrm { N }\) is attached to a particle \(A\) of mass \(m \mathrm {~kg}\). The other end of the string is attached to a fixed point \(O\) which is on a horizontal surface. The surface is modelled as being smooth and \(A\) moves in a circular path around \(O\) with constant speed \(v \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The extension of the string is denoted by \(x \mathrm {~m}\).
  1. Show that \(x\) satisfies \(\lambda x ^ { 2 } + \lambda l x - l m v ^ { 2 } = 0\).
  2. By solving the equation in part (a) and using a binomial series, show that if \(\lambda\) is very large then \(\lambda x \approx m v ^ { 2 }\).
  3. By considering the tension in the string, explain how the result obtained when \(\lambda\) is very large relates to the situation when the string is inextensible. The nature of the horizontal surface is such that the modelling assumption that it is smooth is justifiable provided that the speed of the particle does not exceed \(7 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). In the case where \(m = 0.16\) and \(\lambda = 260\), the extension of the string is measured as being 3.0 cm .
  4. Estimate the value of \(v\).
  5. Explain whether the value of \(v\) means that the modelling assumption is necessarily justifiable in this situation.