Mechanics Assignment

Energy, Work and Power

1. A particle of mass 3 kg slides down a curved track. The particle starts with speed 1 m/s
and descends through 5 m vertically. At the end of the track the particle is moving with
speed 4 m/s. Throughout the journey the particle experiences a constant resistance
force of 4.25 N. Use the work energy principle to find the length of the track. [3]

2. A parachutist of mass 70 kg falls from a stationary helicopter at an altitude of 1 km. She

has speed 8 m/s on reaching the ground. Calculate the work done against air resistance.
[3]

3. A child slides down a fun-fair ride. The child starts with speed 1 m/s and descends
through a vertical height of 4 metres. Find the speed of the child at the end of the ride if
there is no resistance to the motion. [3]

4. A train of mass 80000 kg is travelling at 15 m/s when the brakes are applied. The train
comes to a rest after travelling 2km horizontally.
a) Work out the loss in mechanical energy. [3]
b) Into what forms has this energy been changed? [1]
c) Calculate the average resistance force. [3]

5. A car of mass 1500kg accelerates up a hill against a resistance of 400 N. The hill is
modelled as a slope that is inclined at an angle θ to the horizontal, where sin θ = 0.16. At
a certain instant the engine is working at 60 kW and the car is travelling at 20m/s.
Calculate the acceleration of the car at this instant. [4]