Year: 1991
Paper: 3
Question Number: 13
Course: UFM Mechanics
Section: Momentum and Collisions 2
No solution available for this problem.
Difficulty Rating: 1700.0
Difficulty Comparisons: 0
Banger Rating: 1500.0
Banger Comparisons: 0
A smooth particle $P_{1}$ is projected from a point $O$ on the horizontal
floor of a room with has a horizontal ceiling at a height $h$ above
the floor. The speed of projection is $\sqrt{8gh}$ and the direction
of projection makes an acute angle $\alpha$ with the horizontal.
The particle strikes the ceiling and rebounds, the impact being perfectly
elastic. Show that for this to happen $\alpha$ must be at least $\frac{1}{6}\pi$
and that the range on the floor is then
\[
8h\cos\alpha\left(2\sin\alpha-\sqrt{4\sin^{2}\alpha-1}\right).
\]
Another particle $P_{2}$ is projected from $O$ with the same velocity
as $P_{1}$ but its impact with the ceiling is perfectly inelastic.
Find the difference $D$ between the ranges of $P_{1}$ and $P_{2}$
on the floor and show that, as $\alpha$ varies, $D$ has a maximum
value when $\alpha=\frac{1}{4}\pi.$