FURTHER MECHANICS WORKSHEET

Q1. (a) An object travels with speed v around a circular path or radius r. The diagram shows two positions, A and B
on the path.

The acceleration of the object is α.

Derive the expression

You should include a vector diagram.
(4)
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(b) The photograph shows a toy with small aeroplanes suspended from a canopy by wires.

As the platform rotates, the aeroplanes rise and follow a circular path.
 At a particular speed, the aeroplanes follow a circular path of diameter 10.8 cm and the wires make an angle of
19° to the vertical.
(i) Complete a free body force diagram for one of the aeroplanes at this speed.
(1)

(ii) Show that, at this speed, the time for an aeroplane to make 4 complete rotations is about 3 s.
mass of aeroplane = 5.2 g
(4)
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(iii) Student A suggests that if the radius of the canopy was increased and rotated at the same angular velocity as
before, the wires supporting the aeroplanes could be vertical.
Student B suggests that the wires would be at an angle of greater than 19° to the vertical.
Explain whether either of the students is correct.
(5)
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Q2. In 1821, Michael Faraday made what is believed to be the first electric motor.
The stiff wire was suspended freely from a stand. The mercury completed an electrical circuit, which included the
wire. When there was a current in the wire, the wire moved around the magnet.
(a) The wire made 10 complete revolutions around the magnet in a time of 8.3 s.
Calculate the angular velocity of the wire.
(3)
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Q3. In a game of snooker, a white ball and a black ball of equal mass are on a horizontal table. A player hits the white
ball which then moves with a velocity of 1.20 m s−1 before colliding with the black ball. The player hopes that the
collision will knock the black ball towards the pocket at the corner of the table as shown.

(a) This collision was inelastic.

State what is meant by inelastic.
(1)
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(b) For this situation, a scaled vector diagram showing the velocities of the balls can be used to demonstrate the law
of conservation of momentum.
Explain why.
(2)
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(c) Deduce whether the black ball moves towards the pocket. You should use a scaled vector diagram.
(5)

Q4. A poi ball is a ball attached to a person's hand by a cord. A child makes the poi ball undergo circular motion in a
vertical plane as shown in the photograph.

(a) The poi ball moves clockwise in a circle of radius r, centre O, with a constant speed v.
The diagram shows two positions, A and B, of the poi ball.

Derive the equation for centripetal acceleration a = by considering the velocity of the poi ball at these two
positions.
Your answer should include a vector diagram.
(5)
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(b) The poi ball completes 1.3 revolutions per second.

Calculate the acceleration of the poi ball.
radius of circular motion = 0.58 m
(3)
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(c) The child comments that as the ball goes round the circle with a constant speed, the size of the force on his hand
changes.
Discuss whether this comment is correct.
(4)
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Q5. A student investigated electromagnetic braking using the apparatus shown.

A vehicle consisting of a glider and aluminium plate was placed on an air track. A powerful magnet was positioned
between the two light gates so that the aluminium plate could pass between the poles of the magnet. The air
resistance on the vehicle was negligible.

(a)(i) The vehicle was given a push. The aluminium plate took 0.19 s to pass through light gate 1.
Show that the momentum of the vehicle was about 0.3 N s.
length of plate = 15.0 cm
mass of vehicle = 0.40 kg
(3)
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(ii) The vehicle then moved between the poles of the magnet before passing through light gate 2.
The magnet caused the kinetic energy of the vehicle to reduce by 10%.
Calculate the velocity of the vehicle at light gate 2.
(3)
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(b) (i) Explain why a current was produced in the aluminium plate as it passed between the poles of the magnet.
(2)
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(ii) The kinetic energy of the vehicle decreased as the aluminium plate moved between the poles of the magnet.
Explain why.
(2)
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(c) The investigation was repeated using different aluminium plates with the same length but different thicknesses.
The vehicle was given the same approximate initial velocity each time. The table shows the thickness of each
aluminium plate and the corresponding percentage reduction in the kinetic energy of the vehicle.

(i) Show that the percentage reduction in kinetic energy is proportional to the thickness of the plate.
(2)
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(ii) Suggest why the percentage reduction in kinetic energy increases as the thickness of the plate increases.
(3)
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Q6. A student carried out experiments on momentum using two table hockey pucks, as shown.

The pucks each contain a small fan, so that they glide across the table on a cushion of air.
The mass of the pucks can be varied by attaching small masses.
In each experiment, the student pushed one puck towards a stationary puck.
(a) In one experiment, the first puck reached a speed of 0.35 m s−1 after being pushed for a time of 0.28 s.
Calculate, using the idea of impulse, the average force used to accelerate the first puck.
mass of puck = 110 g
(3)
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(b) In another experiment, the first puck was pushed towards the stationary puck with a speed of 0.41 m s−1.
The paths of the pucks before and after the collision are shown. The paths are labelled puck 1 and puck 2.
 (i) Calculate the speed of puck 2 after the collision.
mass of puck 1 = 110 g
mass of puck 2 = 130 g
speed of puck 1 after collision = 0.28 m s−1
(4)
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(ii) Deduce whether this was an elastic collision.

(3)
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(c) Explain the assumption made when applying the principle of conservation of momentum to collisions.
(2)
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Q7. Hammer throwing is an Olympic sport. A hammer is a metal sphere attached to a chain.
An athlete holds the chain and spins around so that the sphere moves in a circle.
The chain is inclined at 40° to the horizontal, as shown.

(a)(i) The tension in the chain, acting on the sphere, is T.

Draw the free-body force diagram for the sphere at the position shown in the diagram.
(2)
 (ii) Explain why the sphere moves with circular motion.
(2)
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(iii) The sphere completes 2.8 revolutions per second.

Calculate the acceleration of the sphere.
distance from sphere to centre of circle = 1.5 m
(3)
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(b) The athlete finally releases the sphere with a velocity of 28 m s–1 at an angle of 40° to the horizontal. She
releases the sphere at a height of 1.5 m above the ground.
The women's Olympic record distance for the hammer throw is 83 m.
Deduce whether this throw would break the record.
(5)
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Q8. A gas molecule of mass m travelling at speed v strikes the side of a gas cylinder at an angle θ. The collision takes
time t.

What is the average force acting on the side of the gas cylinder?
Q9. The photograph shows a coin in contact with the drum inside a washing machine.

The washing machine drum rotates about a horizontal axis at 600 revolutions per minute.
Calculate the maximum normal contact force exerted by the drum on the coin.
mass of coin = 12 g
diameter of washing machine drum = 48 cm
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Q10. Hockey is a sport played with a stick and a ball. The player tries to hit the ball with part of the stick called the
'heel', as shown.

(a) The player swings her stick so that the heel moves horizontally in a circle of radius 0.80 m across the ground, as
shown below.
 It takes a time of 0.22 s for the heel to move through an angle of 1.3 radians.
Calculate the speed of the heel.
(3)
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(b) A ball has a speed of 13 m s–1. The heel has a momentum pheel of 3.0 N s, in the direction of the dashed line, as
shown.
The heel collides with the ball and stops.
The speed of the ball after being hit by the heel is 16 m s–1.

(i) Deduce whether momentum is conserved for this collision by completing the vector diagram below. A scaled
line representing pheel is shown.
mass of ball = 160 g
(5)
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(ii) Deduce whether the collision is elastic.

speed of heel before collision = 5.0 m s–1
(4)
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Q11. A flyboard enables a person to hover at a constant height above the sea as shown. Water is constantly pumped
up to the flyboard in a thick pipe. A jet of water is then forced downwards, causing an upwards force on the flyboard.

Calculate the velocity of the jet of water as it leaves the flyboard. Assume the water has negligible velocity before it
leaves the flyboard.
mass of person and flyboard equipment = 175 kg
mass flow rate of water = 114 kg s−1
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Q12. 18th century clocks sometimes used a conical pendulum to measure regular periods of time. A conical
pendulum consists of a bob of mass m fixed to the end of a wire of length l as shown. The bob is set to follow a
circular path in the horizontal plane. The wire makes an angle θ with the vertical.
(a) Add to the diagram to show the two forces acting on the bob.
(2)
(b) (i) Derive the following equation for the angular velocity ω of the bob.

(4)
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(ii) A clock requires the period of the bob to be 5.0 s.

l = 6.4 m
θ = 13.9°
Deduce whether this arrangement leads to the required period.
(3)
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Q13. An aeroplane flies in a horizontal circular path whilst waiting to land at an airport.
(a) The aeroplane flies at a constant speed v around a horizontal circular path of radius r. The diagram shows two
positions A and B of the aeroplane, on its circular path.

The acceleration of the aeroplane is a.

Derive the expression

You should include a vector diagram.
(5)

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(b) The aeroplane flies in a horizontal circle by tilting to one side in a movement called 'banking'.
The aeroplane creates an upwards lift force, which acts in a direction perpendicular to its wings.
(i) The diagram shows this lift force when the aeroplane is banking.

Explain how banking allows the aeroplane to fly in a horizontal circular path.
(4)
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(ii) During banking, the angle between the wings and the horizontal is 5.2°.
Calculate the radius of the circular path when the aeroplane flies at a constant speed of 530 m s–1.
mass of aeroplane = 4.1 × 105 kg
(4)
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Q14. A particle of mass m has kinetic energy Ek and momentum p. A second particle of mass 2m has kinetic energy
2Ek. Both particles are non-relativistic.
Which of the following is equal to the momentum of the second particle?

Q15. A track for go-karts is being built in a park.

The design criteria state that the track must have semicircular ends with straight track in between, as shown.
The track must allow the go-kart to travel safely at speeds up to 35.0 km per hour (9.72 m s–1) on the bends.
mass of go-kart and driver = 185 kg
diameter AB of semicircular end = 30.0 m
(a) For one design the track is horizontal.
As the go-kart goes round the semicircular end of the track, centripetal force is provided by friction between the
track and the tyres. This is shown in the free body force diagram below.

Show that this design meets the design criteria.

maximum frictional force = 1180 N
(2)
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(b) A second design uses a track that is banked at the semicircular ends. The track is banked at an angle θ to the
horizontal.

At a particular speed v, the go-kart can follow the track without any frictional force perpendicular to its motion.
The diagram shows the forces on the go-kart as it is moving away.

(i) Show that

where d is the diameter AB of the curved part of the track.
(3)
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(ii) Calculate the angle θ using the stated design criteria for this track.
(2)
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(c) A banked track will cost more to build.

Suggest whether there are any significant advantages that would justify the cost.
(2)
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Q16. The diagram shows the momenta P and Q of two bodies about to collide.

When the bodies collide they merge and move on as a single body.
Which of the following diagrams shows the resultant momentum?

Q17.A particle of mass m has momentum p and kinetic energy Ek.

A second particle of mass m/2 has momentum 2p.
What is the kinetic energy of the second particle?

A Ek /8
B Ek /2
C 2 Ek
D 8 Ek

Q18. The photograph shows a jumping toy.

The head is pushed down onto the base, compressing a spring. When released the spring expands and the toy jumps
into the air.
A student investigated the toy.
The student placed the toy on a balance to measure the force required to compress the spring. The force was 14 N
when the spring was fully compressed by 1.7 cm.
When the toy was launched it jumped to a height of 1.5 m.
(a) Show that the maximum energy stored in the compressed spring was about 0.1 J.
(2)
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(b) Initially the spring was fully compressed. As the toy was released, the head accelerated upwards on its own until
the spring was uncompressed. The head then pulled the base upwards and they moved together at the same speed.

The student used the elastic potential energy stored in the spring to determine the maximum speed of the head.
The student used the gravitational potential energy gained by the whole toy to determine its initial upwards
speed.
Determine whether the toy obeys the law of conservation of momentum using values of speed calculated in this
way.
mass of head = 6.4 g
mass of whole toy = 7.2 g
maximum height of jump = 1.5 m
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(c) Determine whether kinetic energy was conserved as the head began to pull the base upwards.
(2)
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Q19. In 1931, Sloan and Lawrence built a linear accelerator (linac) with several drift tubes. They used the linac to
accelerate mercury ions up to energies of 1.26 MeV. The behaviour of the particles was non-relativistic.
(a) The kinetic energy of a non-relativistic particle of mass m with momentum p is given by

Derive this formula.

(2)
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(b) A mercury ion with kinetic energy 6.42 × 10–15 J leaves a drift tube, as shown.

Calculate the momentum of the mercury ion when it reaches the next drift tube.
mass of mercury ion = 3.32 × 10–25 kg
charge of mercury ion = 1.60 × 10–19 C
electric field strength between drift tubes = 7.64 × 106 V m–1
distance between drift tubes = 5.50 × 10–3 m
(4)
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Q20. Some asteroids pass very close to the Earth. Scientists are planning methods to deflect asteroids, to prevent
them hitting the Earth.
One method would involve colliding a spacecraft into the surface of the asteroid, to change the path and speed of
the asteroid. The spacecraft would remain joined to the asteroid after the collision.
(a) This collision method is modelled for a spacecraft travelling in a direction at 90° to the path of the asteroid.
Sketch a labelled vector diagram to show the momenta of the bodies before and after the collision.
(2)

(b) Show that the momentum of the spacecraft is about 107 N s.

mass of spacecraft = 920 kg
speed of spacecraft = 12 000 m s–1
(2)
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(c) Show that this collision method causes the asteroid to change its direction through an angle of about 10–7 radian.
momentum of asteroid = 7.6 × 1013 N s
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(d) After the collision, the asteroid and spacecraft remain joined and move together.
Calculate the component of their velocity at 90° to the original path of the asteroid after the collision.
mass of asteroid = 2.8 × 109 kg
(2)
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(e) Another method would involve attaching a rocket motor to the asteroid and using the motor to apply a force to
the asteroid.
In this method the force is applied at 90° to the path of the asteroid.
Deduce whether this would produce a change in momentum as great as the change produced by the collision
method.
force exerted by rocket motor = 5.1 × 106 N
time for which rocket motor applies force = 6 minutes
(2)
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Q21. A sphere travelling at speed v collides elastically with an identical sphere which is at rest.
After the collision, both spheres move off at an angle θ to the direction of travel of the first sphere, as shown. The
spheres have the same speed as each other.

What is the speed of the spheres after the collision?

Q22. The photograph shows a track for a toy car. The car moves down the track towards a
circular loop. The loop starts at point A.

If the release point of the car is high enough, the car moves fast enough to pass point C and complete the loop,
continuing to the end of the track at point D.
If the release point is too low, the car falls off the track between point B and point C.
Deduce whether a car released from a vertical height of 25 cm above point A will complete the loop and reach point
D. You should assume that friction is negligible.
vertical height of point C above point A = 22 cm
mass of toy car = 33 g
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Q23. The diagram shows the momentum of two trolleys, X and Y, before a collision. The mass of each trolley is 0.25
kg.

The two trolleys join together after the collision and move on with a velocity of 1 m s−1 .

Which of the following is the kinetic energy of trolley X before the collision?
A 0.5 J
B 1J
C 2J
D 4J

Q24. The diagram shows the momentum of two trolleys, X and Y, before a collision. The mass of each trolley is 0.25
kg.

The two trolleys join together after the collision and move on with a velocity of 1 m s−1 .
Which row of the table is correct for this collision?
Mark Scheme

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