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Mechanics, EXT2* M1 2019 HSC 13c

Two objects are projected from the same point on a horizontal surface. Object 1 is projected with an initial velocity of  `20\ text(ms)^(-1)` directed at an angle of  `pi/3`  to the horizontal. Object 2 is projected 2 seconds later.

The equations of motion of an object projected from the origin with initial velocity `v` at an angle `theta` to the `x`-axis are

`x = vt cos theta`

`y = -4.9t^2 + vt sin theta`,

where  `t`  is the time after the projection of the object. Do NOT prove these equations.

  1. Show that Object 1 will land at a distance  `(100 sqrt 3)/4.9` m from the point of projection.  (2 marks)

  2. The two objects hit the horizontal plane at the same place and time.

     

    Find the initial speed and the angle of projection of Object 2, giving your answer correct to 1 decimal place.  (3 marks)

Show Answers Only
  1. `text(Proof)\ text{(See Worked Solutions)}`
  2. `24.2\ text(ms)^(-1)`
Show Worked Solution

a.   `text(Object 1:)`

`x` `= 20t cos\ pi/3`
  `= 10t`
`y` `= -4.9t^2 + 20t sin\ pi/3`
  `= -4.9t^2 + 10 sqrt 3 t`

 
`text(Let)\ \ t_1 = text{time of flight (Object 1)}`

`-4.9t_1^2 + 10 sqrt 3 t_1` `= 0`
`t_1(-4.9t_1 + 10 sqrt 3)` `= 0`
`4.9t_1` `= 10 sqrt 3\ \ (t >= 0)`
`t_1` `= (10 sqrt 3)/4.9`

 
`text(Find)\ \ x\ \ text(when)\ \ t_1 = (10 sqrt 3)/4.9:`

`x` `= 10 xx (10 sqrt 3)/4.9`
  `= (100 sqrt 3)/4.9\ text(… as required)`

 

(ii)   `text{Time of flight (Object 2)}= (10 sqrt 3)/4.9 – 2`

♦ Mean mark 42%.

`text(Range)` `= (100 sqrt 3)/4.9`
`(100 sqrt 3)/4.9` `= v((10 sqrt 3)/4.9 – 2) cos theta`
`v cos theta` `= (100 sqrt 3)/4.9 xx 4.9/(10 sqrt 3 – 9.8)`
`v cos theta` `= (100 sqrt 3)/(10 sqrt 3 – 9.8) \ \ \ …\ (1)`

 

`0` `= -4.9t^2 + vt sin theta`
`0` `= -4.9 xx ((10 sqrt 3)/4.9 – 2)^2 + v((10 sqrt 3)/4.9 – 2) sin theta`
`0` `= -4.9((10 sqrt 3 – 9.8)/4.9) + v sin theta`
`v sin theta` `= 10 sqrt 3 – 9.8 \ \ \ …\ (2)`

 
`(2) ÷ (1)`

`tan theta` `= (10 sqrt 3 – 9.8) xx (10 sqrt 3 – 9.8)/(100 sqrt 3)`
  `= 0.3265…`
`:. theta` `= 18.1^@\ text{(1 d.p.)}`

 
`text{Substitute into (2)}`

`:.v` `= (10 sqrt 3 – 9.8) /(sin 18.1^@)`
  `= 24.206`
  `= 24.2\ text(ms)^(-1)\ text{(1 d.p.)}`

Mechanics, EXT2* M1 2009 HSC 6a

Two points, `A` and `B`,  are on cliff tops on either side of a deep valley. Let `h` and `R` be the vertical and horizontal distances between `A` and `B` as shown in the diagram. The angle of elevation of `B` from `A` is  `theta`,  so that  `theta=tan^-1(h/R)`.
 

2009 6a
 

At time `t=0`,  projectiles are fired simultaneously from `A` and `B`.  The projectile from `A` is aimed at `B`, and has initial speed `U` at an angle of  `theta`  above the horizontal. The projectile from `B` is aimed at `A` and has initial speed `V` at an angle  `theta`  below the horizontal.

The equations of motion for the projectile from `A` are

`x_1=Utcos theta`   and   `y_1=Utsin theta-1/2 g t^2`,

and the equations for the motion of the projectile from `B` are

`x_2=R-Vtcos theta`   and   `y_2=h-Vtsin theta-1/2 g t^2`,     (DO NOT prove these equations.)

  1. Let `T` be the time at which  `x_1=x_2`.
     
    Show that  `T=R/((U+V)\ cos theta)`.   (1 mark)

  2. Show that the projectiles collide.    (2 marks)

  3. If the projectiles collide on the line  `x=lambdaR`,  where  `0<lambda<1`,  show that
     
         `V=(1/lambda-1)U`.    (1 mark)

Show Answers Only
  1. `text{Proof  (See Worked Solutions)}` 
  2. `text{Proof  (See Worked Solutions)}`
  3. `text{Proof  (See Worked Solutions)}`
Show Worked Solution

i.   `text(Let)\ \ x_1=x_2\ \ text(at)\ \ t=T`

`UTcos theta` `=R-VTcos theta`
`UTcos theta+VTcos theta` `=R`
`Tcos theta\ (U+V)` `=R`

 
 `:. T=R/((U+V)\ cos theta)\ \ text(… as required)`

 

ii.   `text(If particles collide,)\ \  y_1=y_2\ \ text(at)\ \ t=T`

♦♦♦ Mean mark data not available although “few” students were able to complete this part.
MARKER’S COMMENT: Better responses showed  `y_1=y_2`,  or  `y_1-y_2=0`  which eliminated  `–½ g t^2`  from the algebra. Substituting `tan theta=h//R` was a key element in completing this proof.
`y_1` `=UTsin theta-1/2 g T^2`
  `=(UR sin theta)/((U+V)\ cos theta)-1/2 g T^2`
`y_2` `=h-VTsin theta-1/2 g T^2`
  `=Rtan theta-(VR sin theta)/((U+V)\ cos theta)-1/2 g T^2`
  `=R(((sin theta/cos theta)(U+V) cos theta-V sin theta)/((U+V)\ cos theta))-1/2 g T^2`
  `=R/((U+V)\ cos theta)(Usin theta+Vsin theta-Vsin theta)-1/2 g T^2`
  `=(UR sin theta)/((U+V)\ cos theta)-1/2 g T^2`
  `=y_1`

 

`:.\ text(Particles collide since)\  y_1=y_2\ text(at)\ t=T`.

 

iii.  `text(Particles collide on line)\ \ x=lambdaR,\ text(i.e.  where)\ \ t=T`

MARKER’S COMMENT: Students must show sufficient working in proofs to convince markers they have derived the answer themselves.
`lambdaR` `=UTcos theta`
  `=U R/((U+V)\ cos theta)cos theta`
  `=(UR)/((U+V))`
`(U+V)(lambdaR)` `=UR`
`U+V` `=(UR)/(lambdaR)`
`V` `=U/lambda-U`
  `=(1/lambda-1)U\ \ text(… as required)`

Mechanics, EXT2* M1 2013 HSC 13c

Points `A` and `B` are located `d` metres apart on a horizontal plane. A projectile is fired from `A` towards `B` with initial velocity `u` m/s at angle `alpha` to the horizontal.

At the same time, another projectile is fired from `B` towards `A` with initial velocity `w` m/s at angle `beta` to the horizontal, as shown on the diagram.

The projectiles collide when they both reach their maximum height.
 

2013 13c
 

The equations of motion of a projectile fired from the origin with initial velocity  `V` m/s at angle  `theta`  to the horizontal are

`x=Vtcostheta`   and   `y=Vtsintheta-g/2 t^2`.        (DO NOT prove this.)

  1. How long does the projectile fired from  `A`  take to reach its maximum height?  (2 marks)

  2. Show that  `usinalpha=w sin beta`.    (1 mark)

  3. Show that  `d=(uw)/(g)sin(alpha+beta)`.    (2 marks)

Show Answers Only
  1. `(u)/(g) sin alpha\ \ text(seconds)`
  2. `text{Proof  (See Worked Solutions)}`
  3. `text{Proof  (See Worked Solutions)}`
Show Worked Solution

i.   `y=Vtsintheta-g/2 t^2`

`text(Projectile)\ A\   => V=u,\ \ theta=alpha`

`y` `=ut sinalpha- (g)/2 t^2`
`doty` `=u sinalpha- g t`

 

`text(Max height when)\  doty=0`

`0` `=usinalpha-g t`
`g t` `=usinalpha`
`t` `=(u)/(g)sinalpha`

 
`:.\ text(Projectile from)\ A\ text(reaches max height at)`

 `t=(u)/(g)sin alpha\ \ text(seconds)`

 

ii.  `text(Show that)\ \ usin alpha=wsin beta`

IMPORTANT: Part (i) in this example leads students to a very quick solution. Always look to previous parts for clues to direct your strategy.

`text(Projectile)\ B\ =>V=w,\ \ theta=beta`

`y` `=wt sin beta- (g)/2 t^2`
`doty` `=wsin beta-g t`

 

`text(Max height when)\ \ doty=0`

`t=(w)/(g) sin beta`

`text{Projectiles collide at max heights}`

`text(S)text(ince they were fired at the same time)`

`(u)/(g) sin alpha` `=(w)/(g) sin beta`
`:.\ usin alpha` `=wsin beta\ \ text(… as required)`

 

iii  `text(Show)\ \ d=(uw)/(g) sin (alpha+beta) :`

`text(Find)\ x text(-values for each projectile at max height)`

`text(Projectile)\ A`

`x_1` `=utcos alpha`
  `=u((u)/(g) sin alpha)cos alpha`
  `=(u^2)/(g) sin alpha cos alpha`

 

`text(Projectile)\ B`

♦ Mean mark 39%
IMPORTANT: Students should direct their calculations by reverse engineering the required result. `sin(alpha+beta)` in the proof means that  `sin alpha cos beta+“ cos alpha sin beta`  will appear in the working calculations.
`x_2` `=wt cos beta`
  `=w((w)/(g) sin beta)cos beta`
  `=(w^2)/(g) sin beta cos beta`
`d` `=x_1+x_2`
  `=(u^2)/(g) sin alpha cos alpha+(w^2)/(g) sin beta cos beta`
  `=(u)/(g)(u sin alpha)cos alpha+(w)/(g) (w sin beta) cos beta`
  `=(u)/(g)(w sin beta) cos alpha+(w)/(g) (usin alpha)cos beta\ \ text{(part (ii))}`
  `=(uw)/(g) (sin alpha cos beta+cos alpha sin beta)`
  `=(uw)/(g) sin (alpha+beta)\ \ text(… as required)`