AS Mechanics PP Exam Questions (70 marks)

1. A particle 𝑃 moves with the acceleration (−3𝒊 + 12𝒋)𝑚𝑠 −2. Initially, the velocity of 𝑃 is 4𝒊 𝑚𝑠 −1 .
a. Find the velocity of 𝑃 at time 𝑡 seconds. (2)
b. Find the speed of 𝑃 when 𝑡 = 0.5. (3)
2. The unit vectors 𝒊 and 𝒋 are directed east and north respectively. A yacht moves with a constant acceleration. At
time 𝑡 seconds, the position vector of the yacht is 𝒓 metres. When 𝑡 = 0, the velocity of the yacht is
(2𝒊 − 𝒋)𝑚𝑠 −1 , and when 𝑡 = 10, the velocity of the yacht is (−𝒊 + 𝒋)𝑚𝑠 −1.
a. Find the acceleration of the yacht. (3)
b. When 𝑡 = 0, the yacht is 20 metres due east of the origin. Find an expression for 𝒓 in terms of 𝑡. (3)
c. Show that when 𝑡 = 20, the yacht is due north of the origin. (2)
d. Find the speed of the yacht when 𝑡 = 20. (4)
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3. A particle moves such that at time 𝑡 seconds, its acceleration is given by (2 cos 𝑡 𝒊 − 5 sin 𝑡 𝒋)𝑚𝑠
a. The mass of the particle is 6𝑘𝑔. Find the magnitude of the resultant force on the particle when 𝑡 = 0. (3)
b. When 𝑡 = 0, the velocity of the particle is (2𝒊 + 10𝒋) 𝑚𝑠 −1. Find an expression for the velocity of the
particle at time 𝑡. (5)
4. The diagram to the right shows 3 forces which act in the same plane and are in
equilibrium.
a. Find 𝐹. (3)
b. Find 𝛼. (3)
5. The diagram below shows a 13𝑘𝑔 block on a rough horizontal surface. It is attached
by a string that passes over a smooth peg to a sphere of mass 7𝑘𝑔, as shown in the
diagram.
The system is released from rest, and after 4 seconds the block and the
sphere both have speed 6𝑚𝑠 −1, and the block has not reached the peg.
a. State two assumptions that you should make about the string in
order to model the motion of the sphere and the block. (2)
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b. Show that the acceleration of the sphere is 1.5𝑚𝑠 . (2)
c. Find the tension in the string. (3)
d. Find the friction between the block and the surface. (3)
6. Two particles are connected by a string, which passes over a pulley. The string is modelled as light and
inextensible, while the particles have masses 3𝑘𝑔 and 8𝑘𝑔. The particles are released from rest, 3m above the
ground.
a. State one modelling assumption you should make about the pulley in order to determine the
acceleration of the particles. (1)
b. By forming an equation of motion for each particle, find the magnitude of acceleration and the tension in
the string. (5)
c. When the 8𝑘𝑔 particle hits the ground, it stops and the string goes slack. Determine the maximum
height off of the ground attained by the 3𝑘𝑔 particle. (5)
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7. A 1400𝑘𝑔 car is towing a 600𝑘𝑔 trailer. The two vehicles accelerate together at 1.3𝑚𝑠 along a straight,
horizontal road.
a. Determine the distance that the car and trailer would travel while accelerating from rest to 13𝑚𝑠 −1. (3)
b. A forward driving force of 3900𝑁 acts on the car while the car and trailer experience resistance forces of
800𝑁 and 𝑃 𝑁 respectively.
i. Find the resistance force 𝑃 acting on the trailer. (3)
ii. Find the magnitude of the force that the car exerts on the trailer. (3)
c. What assumptions are you making about the tow bar connecting the car and trailer? (3)
d. When the car and trailer reach a speed of 25𝑚𝑠 −1, the tow bar breaks. Find:
i. The new acceleration of the car, if the driving force remains unchanged. (2)
ii. The distance the trailer will travel until it comes to rest. (4)