International College

Secondary School January 2022

Grade 11 Durée : 40 min
Physics
Ch 5 – Work and Energy

A solid (S), taken as a particle of

mass m = 4 kg, is released from rest
at t0 = 0 s, from a point A of the
path ABCM.
Given: AB = 4 m; BC = 10 m;
CD = 1.25 m; sin α = 0.2;
and g = 10 m/s2.
The horizontal plane containing BC
is taken as a gravitational potential energy reference. Neglect air resistance.

a. Determine, at t0 = 0 s, the mechanical energy of the system (S, Earth).

b. Friction along AB is neglected. Deduce the speed of (S) as it reaches the point B.
c. The solid (S) continues its motion along BC and reaches C with a speed of 2 m/s.
Is the mechanical energy of the system conserved along BC? If yes, why? If no,
determine the magnitude of the force of friction along BC, assumed constant.
d. After leaving the point C, (S) does not meet any obstacle until it reaches the ground
at the point M. Is the mechanical energy of the system (S; Earth) conserved? Why?
Deduce the speed of (S) as it reaches the ground.
e. The curves of figures (a) and (b) represent the variation of energy (kinetic or
gravitational potential, or mechanical) of the given system.
i. The graph of figure (a) represents the variation of the mechanical energy of
the system (S; Earth). Justify.
ii. Specify the form of energy whose variation is represented in the graph of
figure (b).
iii. Indicate, graphically, the time needed by (S) to move from A to B, from B to C
and from C to M.
f. Draw on figure (b), the graph that represents the variation of the gravitational
potential energy of the system (S; Earth) along the whole path ABCM.
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