MAV SACs 2016, SM

PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

Mechanics Problem Solving Task Suggested Solutions

1. a.

R1
10N

30o  

(A1)
5g  

b.

( )
R1 + 10sin 300 = 5 g (M1)
R = 5 g − 10sin (30 ) = 44 N
1
0
( A1)
( )
c. 10cos 300 = 5a so a = 3ms −2 (A1)

2. a.

R1
10N

µR1 30o  

5g

( )
10 cos 30o − µ R1 = 5a2 ( M1)
10 cos ( 30 ) − 0.12 × 44 = 5a
o
2

a2 = 0.676051... ≈ 0.68ms −2 (correct to two decimal places) ( A1)

b.

s = 20, a = 0.676.., u = 1.3

s = ut + 12 at 2
∴ 20 = 1.3t + 12 × 0.676.. × t 2 ( M1)
t = 6.00580.... ≈ 6s (correct to the nearest second) ( A1)

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MAV SACs 2016, SM
PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

3. a.

10N
R2

   

µR2

5g (A1)
20o

b. Resolving in the i direction (parallel to the plane) gives

~

( )
10 − 5 g sin 20o − µ R2 = 5a ( M1)
10 − 5 g sin ( 20 ) − 0.12 × 5 g × cos ( 20 ) = 5a
o o

a = −2.45687...ms 2 ( A1)
c. Using the answers to question 2, we can find the speed of the cart at the base of the hill which is
equal to the final speed of the cart at the end of the 20m of rough horizontal surface.

u = 1.3, a = 0.676.., t = 6.0058..

v = u + at
∴ v = 1.3 + 0.676... × 6.0058.. = 5.36023...ms −1 ( A1)
So at base of hill u=5.36023…, a= -2.45687…. and stops when v=0. (M1)

v 2 = u 2 + 2as
0 = (5.36023....)2 + 2 × (−2.45687..) × s
s = 5.84727.... ≈ 5.85m
Jack can drag the cart 5.85 m up the hill. (A1)

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MAV SACs 2016, SM
PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

4.

µR2
R2
   

5g
20o

( )
5 g sin 20o − µ R2 = 5a ( M1)
5 g sin ( 20 ) − 0.12 × 5 g × cos ( 20 ) = 5a
o o

a = 2.24672..ms 2 ( A1)
Distance down the plane is 5.84727…m so speed at bottom of hill:

v 2 = u 2 + 2as
v 2 = 0 + 2 × (2.24672..) × (5.84727..)
v = 5.12585.. ( H1)
R1

µR1

5g

Distance along rough horizontal path:

−0.12 × 5 g = 5a
a = −1.176
u = 5.12585..., v = 0
v 2 = u 2 + 2as
2
0 = ( 5.12585..) + 2 × ( −1.176 ) × s ( H1)
s = 11.17107.. ≈ 11.2m ( A1)
Cart stops on the rough horizontal surface 8.8 metres from the junction where rough surface meets the
smooth surface (or 11.2 metres from base of hill).

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MAV SACs 2016, SM
PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

5. a. Let the applied force be A.

A
R2

   

µR2

5g (A1)
20o

( )
A − 5 g sin 20o − µ R2 = 5a
A − 5 g sin ( 20 ) − 0.12 × 5 g × cos ( 20 ) = 5a
o o

A − 22.2843796....
a= ( A1)
5
Since u=0, a>0 for the cart to move.

( )
So A > 5g sin 20o − 0.12 × 5g × cos 20o ( ) ( A > 22.2843796....) (A1)

200 2
s = ut + 12 at 2 so 100 = 12 at 2 so t= = 10 .
a a
As the acceleration increases then the time decreases. (A1)

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MAV SACs 2016, SM
PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

Investigation of values for applied force A, acceleration a, time taken to climb hill t and speed at top

of hill v where a =
( ( )
A − 5 g 0.12 cos 20o + sin 200 ( )) ,
t = 10
2
and v = at .
5 a
A a t v
22.285   0.000124073   1269.625741   0.157526737  
22.29   0.001124073   421.8107749   0.474146257  
22.3   0.003124073   253.0197287   0.790452195  
23   0.143124073   37.38166609   5.35021632  
24   0.343124073   24.14289821   8.284009577  
25   0.543124073   19.18958009   10.4223229  
26   0.743124073   16.40530589   12.19117774  
27   0.943124073   14.56232042   13.73407495  
28   1.143124073   13.22721194   15.1203444  
29   1.343124073   12.20272801   16.38977775  
30   1.543124073   11.38451607   17.56772082  
31   1.743124073   10.7115137   18.67149739  
32   1.943124073   10.14529621   19.7135693  
33   2.143124073   9.660316168   20.70325614  
34   2.343124073   9.238838061   21.64774387  
35   2.543124073   8.868113102   22.55271191  
36   2.743124073   8.538710162   23.4227414  
37   2.943124073   8.243482348   24.26159135  
38   3.143124073   7.976901611   25.07239148  
39   3.343124073   7.734615879   25.85778054  
40   3.543124073   7.513145811   26.62000779  
45   4.543124073   6.634950681   30.14340417  
50   5.543124073   6.006724288   33.296018  
(2A) table or equivalent

2 2
b. 3 minutes = 180 seconds so 180 = 10 ∴a = 2 (A1)
a 18

2
∴ 2 =
(
A − 5 g 0.12 cos ( 20o ) + sin ( 200 ) )
18 5
A = 22.31524..
So applied force of 22.32 N. (A1)

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MAV SACs 2016, SM
PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

6.

R T

5N
T
Mg

(A1)

10g

From the pail we get:

T − 10 g = 10a
a = 0.2 so T = 2 + 98 = 100 N ( A1)
From the mass M, resolving parallel to the inclined plane gives:
( )
5 + Mg sin 60o − 100 = 0.2 M ( M1)
95
M= = 11.4637...kg
( )
g sin 60o − 0.2
Mass M is 11.5kg (correct to one decimal place) (A1)
7.

kv

15kg

20o 15g

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MAV SACs 2016, SM
PROBLEM SOLVING TASK - MECHANICS

15 g sin ( 20o ) − kv = 15a ( M1)

dv 15 g sin ( 20 ) − kv
o

a= =
dt 15
15
∴t = ∫ dv
15 g sin ( 20o ) − kv
15
=− log e 15 g sin ( 20o ) − kv + c ( A1)
k
15
When t = 0, v = 0 so c = log e 15 g sin ( 20o )
k
( ) ( A1)
15 15 g sin ( 20o )
∴ t = log e
k 15 g sin ( 20o ) − kv

15 g sin ( 20o ) ⎛ kt
− ⎞
∴v = ⎜ 1 − e 15
⎟ ( A1)
k ⎝ ⎠

8.   25  cm  

7  cm  
T1  
24  cm  

T2  

10  kg  

7, 24, 25 is a Pythagorean triad so angle between 7cm and 24cm strings is a right angle. (A1)
Let the angle between T1 and 10kg be θ1 and the angle between T2 and 10kg be θ2.

24 7
Using corresponding angles and sin (π − θ ) = sin (θ ) , sin (θ1 ) = and sin (θ 2 ) = (A1)
25 25
T1 T2 10 g
Applying Lami’s theorem we have = =
sin (θ2 ) sin (θ1 ) sin 90o ( )
7
Solving the tension in the shorter string is T1 = ×10 g ≈ 27.44 N (A1)
25
24
and the tension in the longer string is T2 = ×10 g ≈ 94.08 N (A1)
25

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