Questions

Q1.

A small ball, P, of mass 0.8 kg, is held at rest on a smooth horizontal table and is attached
to one end of a thin rope.

The rope passes over a pulley that is fixed at the edge of the table.

The other end of the rope is attached to another small ball, Q, of mass 0.6 kg, that hangs
freely below the pulley.

Ball P is released from rest, with the rope taut, with P at a distance of 1.5 m from the
pulley and with Q at a height of 0.4 m above the horizontal floor, as shown in Figure 1.

Ball Q descends, hits the floor and does not rebound.

The balls are modelled as particles, the rope as a light and inextensible string and the pulley
as small and smooth.

Using this model,

(a) show that the acceleration of Q, as it falls, is 4.2 m s–2

(5)
(b) find the time taken by P to hit the pulley from the instant when P is released.
(6)
(c) State one limitation of the model that will affect the accuracy of your answer to part (a).
(1)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q2.

A ball P of mass 2m is attached to one end of a string.

The other end of the string is attached to a ball Q of mass 5m.

The string passes over a fixed pulley.

The system is held at rest with the balls hanging freely and the string taut.

The hanging parts of the string are vertical with P at a height 2h above horizontal ground and with Q at a
height h above the ground, as shown in Figure 1.

The system is released from rest.

In the subsequent motion, Q does not rebound when it hits the ground and P does not hit the pulley.

The balls are modelled as particles.

The string is modelled as being light and inextensible.

The pulley is modelled as being small and smooth.

Air resistance is modelled as being negligible.

Using this model,

(a) (i) write down an equation of motion for P,

(ii) write down an equation of motion for Q,
(4)
(b) find, in terms of h only, the height above the ground at which P first comes to instantaneous rest.
(7)
(c) State one limitation of modelling the balls as particles that could affect your answer to part (b).
(1)
In reality, the string will not be inextensible.

(d) State how this would affect the accelerations of the particles.
(1)

(Total for question = 13 marks)

Q3.

A car of mass 1200 kg is towing a trailer of mass 400 kg along a straight horizontal road using a tow rope,
as shown in Figure 2.
The rope is horizontal and parallel to the direction of motion of the car.

· The resistance to motion of the car is modelled as a constant force of magnitude 2R newtons

· The resistance to motion of the trailer is modelled as a constant force of magnitude R newtons

· The rope is modelled as being light and inextensible

· The acceleration of the car is modelled as a m s−2

The driving force of the engine of the car is 7400 N and the tension in the tow rope is 2400 N.

Using the model,

(a) find the value of a
(5)
In a refined model, the rope is modelled as having mass and the acceleration of the car is found to be a1
m s−2

(b) State how the value of a1 compares with the value of a

(1)
(c) State one limitation of the model used for the resistance to motion of the car.
(1)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

 Q4.

Figure 4
Two particles A and B have masses 5m and km respectively, where k < 5. The particles are connected by
a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth light fixed pulley. The system is held at rest with
the string taut, the hanging parts of the string vertical and with A and B at the same height above a
horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 4. The system is released from rest. After release, A descends with
acceleration g.
(a) Show that the tension in the string as A descends is mg.
(3)
(b) Find the value of k.
(3)
(c) State how you have used the information that the pulley is smooth.
(1)
After descending for 1.2 s, the particle A reaches the plane. It is immediately brought to rest by the impact
with the plane. The initial distance between B and the pulley is such that, in the subsequent motion, B
does not reach the pulley.
(d) Find the greatest height reached by B above the plane.
(7)

(Total 14 marks)

Q5.

Figure 2

A vertical light rod PQ has a particle of mass 0.5kg attached to it at P and a particle of mass 0.75kg
attached to it at Q, to form a system, as shown in Figure 2. The system is accelerated vertically upwards
by a vertical force of magnitude 15N applied to the particle at Q. Find the thrust in the rod.
(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q6.

Figure 3

Two particles, A and B, have masses 2m and m respectively. The particles are attached to the ends of a
light inextensible string. Particle A is held at rest on a fixed rough horizontal table at a distance d from a
small smooth light pulley which is fixed at the edge of the table at the point P. The coefficient of friction

between A and the table is μ, where μ < .

The string is parallel to the table from A to P and passes over the pulley. Particle B hangs freely at rest
vertically below P with the string taut and at a height h, (h < d), above a horizontal floor, as shown in
Figure 3. Particle A is released from rest with the string taut and slides along the table.

(a) (i) Write down an equation of motion for A.

(ii) Write down an equation of motion for B.
(4)

(b) Hence show that, until B hits the floor, the acceleration of A is (1 − 2μ).
(3)
(c) Find, in terms of g, h and μ, the speed of A at the instant when B hits the floor.
(2)

After B hits the floor, A continues to slide along the table. Given that μ = and that A comes to rest at P,

(d) find d in terms of h.

(5)

(e) Describe what would happen if μ =

(1)
 (Total for question = 15 marks)

Q7.

Two particles P and Q have masses 1.5 kg and 3 kg respectively. The particles are attached to the ends
of a light inextensible string. Particle P is held at rest on a fixed rough horizontal table. The coefficient of

friction between P and the table is . The string is parallel to the table and passes over a small smooth
light pulley which is fixed at the edge of the table. Particle Q hangs freely at rest vertically below the
pulley, as shown in Figure 3. Particle P is released from rest with the string taut and slides along the
table.

Assuming that P has not reached the pulley, find

(a) the tension in the string during the motion,

(8)
(b) the magnitude and direction of the resultant force exerted on the pulley by the string.
(4)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q8.
 Figure 5

Three particles A, B and C have masses 3m, 2m and 2m respectively. Particle C is attached to particle B.
Particles A and B are connected by a light inextensible string which passes over a smooth light fixed
pulley. The system is held at rest with the string taut and the hanging parts of the string vertical, as shown
in Figure 5. The system is released from rest and A moves upwards.

(a) (i) Show that the acceleration of A is g⁄7

(ii) Find the tension in the string as A ascends.
(7)
At the instant when A is 0.7 m above its original position, C separates from B and falls away. In the
subsequent motion, A does not reach the pulley.

(b) Find the speed of A at the instant when it is 0.7 m above its original position.
(2)
(c) Find the acceleration of A at the instant after C separates from B.
(4)
(d) Find the greatest height reached by A above its original position.
(3)

(Total 16 marks)

Q9.

A woman travels in a lift. The mass of the woman is 50 kg and the mass of the lift is 950 kg. The lift is
being raised vertically by a vertical cable which is attached to the top of the lift. The lift is moving upwards
and has constant deceleration of 2 m s−2. By modelling the cable as being light and inextensible, find

(a) the tension in the cable,

(3)
(b) the magnitude of the force exerted on the woman by the floor of the lift.
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
Mark Scheme
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.
Q6.
Q7.
Q8.
Q9.