Constant Acceleration

Showing 1-8 of 8 problems
2015 Paper 1 Q10
D: 1500.0 B: 1484.0

A bus has the shape of a cuboid of length \(a\) and height \(h\). It is travelling northwards on a journey of fixed distance at constant speed \(u\) (chosen by the driver). The maximum speed of the bus is \(w\). Rain is falling from the southerly direction at speed \(v\) in straight lines inclined to the horizontal at angle \(\theta\), where \(0<\theta<\frac12\pi\). By considering first the case \(u=0\), show that for \(u>0\) the total amount of rain that hits the roof and the back or front of the bus in unit time is proportional to \[ h\big \vert v\cos\theta - u \big\vert + av\sin\theta \,. \] Show that, in order to encounter as little rain as possible on the journey, the driver should choose \( u=w\) if either \(w< v\cos\theta\) or \( a\sin\theta > h\cos\theta\). How should the speed be chosen if \(w>v\cos\theta\) and \( a\sin\theta < h\cos\theta\)? Comment on the case \( a\sin\theta = h\cos\theta\). How should the driver choose \(u\) on the return journey?

2012 Paper 1 Q10
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

I stand at the top of a vertical well. The depth of the well, from the top to the surface of the water, is \(D\). I drop a stone from the top of the well and measure the time that elapses between the release of the stone and the moment when I hear the splash of the stone entering the water. In order to gauge the depth of the well, I climb a distance \(\delta\) down into the well and drop a stone from my new position. The time until I hear the splash is \(t\) less than the previous time. Show that \[ t = \sqrt{\frac{2D}g} - \sqrt{\frac{2(D-\delta)}g} + \frac \delta u\,, \] where \(u\) is the (constant) speed of sound. Hence show that \[ D = \tfrac12 gT^2\,, \] where \(T= \dfrac12 \beta + \dfrac \delta{\beta g}\) and \(\beta = t - \dfrac \delta u\,\). Taking \(u=300\,\)m\,s\(^{-1}\) and \(g=10\,\)m\,s\(^{-2}\), show that if \(t= \frac 15\,\)s and \(\delta=10\,\)m, the well is approximately \(185\,\)m deep.

Show Solution
\begin{align*} && s &= ut + \frac12at^2 \\ && D &= \frac12gt_D^2 \\ \Rightarrow && t_D &= \sqrt{\frac{2D}{g}} \\ \Rightarrow && t_{D-\delta} &= \sqrt{\frac{2(D-\delta}{g}} \end{align*} Therefore the difference in times of what I hear will be: \begin{align*} t &= \underbrace{\sqrt{\frac{2D}{g}}}_{\text{time for first stone to hit water}} + \underbrace{\frac{D}{u}}_{\text{time to hear about it}} - \left (\underbrace{\sqrt{\frac{2(D-\delta)}{g}}}_{\text{time for second stone to hit water}} + \underbrace{\frac{D-\delta}{u}}_{\text{time to hear about it}} \right) \\ &= \sqrt{\frac{2D}g} - \sqrt{\frac{2(D-\delta)}g} + \frac \delta u \end{align*} \begin{align*} && t &= \sqrt{\frac{2D}g} - \sqrt{\frac{2(D-\delta)}g} + \frac \delta u \\ \Rightarrow && \beta &= \sqrt{\frac{2D}g} - \sqrt{\frac{2(D-\delta)}g} \\ && \beta^2 &= \frac{2D}{g} + \frac{2(D-\delta)}{g} - \frac{4}{g}\sqrt{D(D-g)} \\ &&&= \frac{4D}{g} - \frac{2\delta}{g} - \frac{4}{g} \sqrt{D(D-\delta)}\\ \Rightarrow && g\beta^2 &= 4D-2\delta -4\sqrt{D(D-\delta)}\\ \Rightarrow && (g \beta^2-4D+2\delta)^2 &= 16D(D-\delta) \\ \Rightarrow && g^2\beta^4 + 16D^2 + 4\delta^2 -8g\beta^2D+4g\beta^2 \delta -16D\delta &= 16D^2-16D\delta \\ \Rightarrow && 8g\beta^2D &= g\beta^4 +4\delta^2 +4g\beta^2 \delta \\ \Rightarrow && D &= \frac1{8g\beta^2} \left ( g^2\beta^4 +4\delta^2 +4g\beta^2 \delta\right) \\ &&&= \frac1{8g\beta^2} \left ( g\beta^2 +2\delta \right)^2 \\ &&&= \frac12g \left ( \frac{\beta}{2} + \frac{\delta}{g\beta} \right)^2 \end{align*} If \(u = 300, g = 10, t = \frac15, \delta = 10\), then \begin{align*} && \beta &= \frac15-\frac{10}{300}\\ &&&= \frac15 - \frac1{30} \\ &&&= \frac{1}{6}\\ && D &= \frac12 \cdot 10 \left ( \frac1{12} + 6 \right)^2 \\ &&&= 5\cdot (36 + 1 + \frac{1}{12^2}) \\ &&&\approx 37 \cdot 5 = 185 \end{align*}
2008 Paper 1 Q10
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

On the (flat) planet Zog, the acceleration due to gravity is \(g\) up to height \(h\) above the surface and \(g'\) at greater heights. A particle is projected from the surface at speed \(V\) and at an angle \(\alpha\) to the surface, where \(V^2 \sin^2\alpha > 2 gh\,\). Sketch, on the same axes, the trajectories in the cases \(g'=g\) and \(g' < g\). Show that the particle lands a distance \(d\) from the point of projection given by \[ d = \left(\frac {V-V'} g + \frac {V'}{ g'} \right) V\sin2\alpha\,, \] where \(V' = \sqrt{V^2-2gh\,\rm{cosec}^2\alpha\,}\,\).

2007 Paper 1 Q10
D: 1500.0 B: 1484.0

The Norman army is advancing with constant speed \(u\) towards the Saxon army, which is at rest. When the armies are \(d\) apart, a Saxon horseman rides from the Saxon army directly towards the Norman army at constant speed \(x\). Simultaneously a Norman horseman rides from the Norman army directly towards the Saxon army at constant speed \(y\), where $y > u$. The horsemen ride their horses so that \(y - 2x < u < 2y - x\). When each horseman reaches the opposing army, he immediately rides straight back to his own army without changing his speed. Represent this information on a displacement-time graph, and show that the two horsemen pass each other at distances \[ \frac{xd }{ x + y} \;\; \mbox{and} \;\; \frac{xd(2y -x-u)} {(u+x ) ( x + y )} \] from the Saxon army. Explain briefly what will happen in the cases (i) \(u > 2y - x\) and (ii) \(u < y - 2x\).

2004 Paper 1 Q10
D: 1516.0 B: 1516.0

A particle is travelling in a straight line. It accelerates from its initial velocity \(u\) to velocity \(v\), where \(v > \vert u \vert > 0\,\), travelling a distance \(d_1\) with uniform acceleration of magnitude \(3a\,\). It then comes to rest after travelling a further distance \(d_2\,\) with uniform deceleration of magnitude \(a\,\). Show that

  1. if \(u>0\) then \(3d_1 < d_2\,\);
  2. if \(u<0\) then \(d_2 < 3d_1 < 2d_2\,\).
Show also that the average speed of the particle (that is, the total distance travelled divided by the total time) is greater in the case \(u>0\) than in the case \(u<0\,\). \noindent {\bf Note:} In this question \(d_1\) and \(d_2\) are distances travelled by the particle which are not the same, in the second case, as displacements from the starting point.

2003 Paper 3 Q11
D: 1700.0 B: 1486.9

Point \(B\) is a distance \(d\) due south of point \(A\) on a horizontal plane. Particle \(P\) is at rest at \(B\) at \(t=0\), when it begins to move with constant acceleration \(a\) in a straight line with fixed bearing~\(\beta\,\). Particle \(Q\) is projected from point \(A\) at \(t=0\) and moves in a straight line with constant speed \(v\,\). Show that if the direction of projection of \(Q\) can be chosen so that \(Q\) strikes \(P\), then \[ v^2 \ge ad \l 1 - \cos \beta \r\;. \] Show further that if \(v^2 >ad(1-\cos\beta)\) then the direction of projection of \(Q\) can be chosen so that \(Q\) strikes \(P\) before \(P\) has moved a distance \(d\,\).

2002 Paper 2 Q10
D: 1600.0 B: 1499.3

A competitor in a Marathon of \(42 \frac38\) km runs the first \(t\) hours of the race at a constant speed of 13 km h\(^{-1}\) and the remainder at a constant speed of \(14 + 2t/T\) km h\(^{-1}\), where \(T\) hours is her time for the race. Show that the minimum possible value of \(T\) over all possible values of \(t\) is 3. The speed of another competitor decreases linearly with respect to time from 16~km~h\(^{-1}\) at the start of the race. If both of these competitors have a run time of 3 hours, find the maximum distance between them at any stage of the race.

1999 Paper 1 Q9
D: 1500.0 B: 1476.0

A tortoise and a hare have a race to the vegetable patch, a distance \(X\) kilometres from the starting post, and back. The tortoise sets off immediately, at a steady \(v\) kilometers per hour. The hare goes to sleep for half an hour and then sets off at a steady speed \(V\) kilometres per hour. The hare overtakes the tortoise half a kilometre from the starting post, and continues on to the vegetable patch, where she has another half an hour's sleep before setting off for the return journey at her previous pace. One and quarter kilometres from the vegetable patch, she passes the tortoise, still plodding gallantly and steadily towards the vegetable patch. Show that \[ V= \frac{10}{4X-9} \] and find \(v\) in terms of \(X\). Find \(X\) if the hare arrives back at the starting post one and a half hours after the start of the race.

Show Solution
If \(T_1\) is the time they meet after \(\frac12\)km from the starting points and \(T_2\) is the time they meet a second time, then \begin{align*} && \frac12 &= vT_1 \\ &&&= V(T_1-\tfrac12) \\ && X - \frac54 &= vT_2 \\ && X + \frac54 &= V(T_2 - 1) \\ && \frac{T_2}{T_1} &= \frac{4X-5}{2} \\ && X + \frac54 + V &= VT_2 \\ && \frac12 + \frac12 V &= VT_1 \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{T_2}{T_1} &= \frac{4X + 5 + 4V}{2(1+V)} \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{4X-5}{2}&=\frac{4X + 5 + 4V}{2(1+V)} \\ \Rightarrow && V(4X-9) &= 10 \\ \Rightarrow && V &= \frac{10}{4X-9} \\ \\ && T_1 &= \frac{1}{2V} + \frac12 \\ &&&= \frac{4X+1}{20} \\ && v &= \frac{1}{2T_1} \\ &&&= \frac{10}{4X+1} \end{align*} \begin{align*} && 2X &= \frac12 V \\ \Rightarrow && 2X(4X-9) &= 5 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= 8X^2-18X-5 \\ &&&= (4X+1)(2X-5) \\ \Rightarrow && X &= -\frac14, \frac52 \end{align*} Since \(X\) is positive, we must have \(X = \frac52\)km