1.

A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of a light inextensible string of length a. The other
end of the string is fixed at the point O. The particle is initially held with OP horizontal and the
string taut. It is then projected vertically upwards with speed u, where u2 = 5ag. When OP has
turned through an angle θ the speed of P is v and the tension in the string is T, as shown in the
diagram above.

(a) Find, in terms of a, g and θ, an expression for v2.

(3)

(b) Find, in terms of m, g and θ, an expression for T.

(4)

(c) Prove that P moves in a complete circle.

(3)

(d) Find the maximum speed of P.

(2)
(Total 12 marks)
2.

One end A of a light inextensible string of length 3a is attached to a fixed point. A particle of
mass m is attached to the other end B of the string. The particle is held in equilibrium at a
distance 2a below the horizontal through A, with the string taut. The particle is then projected
with speed √(2ag), in the direction perpendicular to AB, in the vertical plane containing A and B,
as shown in the diagram above. In the subsequent motion the string remains taut. When AB is at
an angle θ below the horizontal, the speed of the particle is v and the tension in the string is T.

(a) Show that v2 = 2ag(3 sin θ – 1).

(5)

(b) Find the range of values of T.

(6)
(Total 11 marks)

3. One end of a light inextensible string of length l is attached to a fixed point A. The other end is
attached to a particle P of mass m, which is held at a point B with the string taut and AP making
1
an angle arccos with the downward vertical. The particle is released from rest. When AP
4
makes an angle θ with the downward vertical, the string is taut and the tension in the string is T.

(a) Show that

mg
T = 3mg cos θ − .
2
(6)
 At an instant when AP makes an angle of 60° to the downward vertical, P is moving upwards,
as shown in the diagram. At this instant the string breaks. At the highest point reached in the
subsequent motion, P is at a distance d below the horizontal through A.

(b) Find d in terms of l.

(5)
(Total 11 marks)

4.

A particle is projected from the highest point A on the outer surface of a fixed smooth sphere of
radius a and centre O. The lowest point B of the sphere is fixed to a horizontal plane. The
1
particle is projected horizontally from A with speed ( ga ) . The particle leaves the surface of
2
the sphere at the point C, where ∠ AOC = θ , and strikes the plane at the point P, as shown in
the diagram above.
 3
(a) Show that cos θ = .
4
(7)

(b) Find the angle that the velocity of the particle makes with the horizontal as it reaches P.
(8)
(Total 15 marks)

5. A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of a light inextensible string of length a. The other
end of the string is attached to a fixed point O. The particle is released from rest with the string
taut and OP horizontal.

(a) Find the tension in the string when OP makes an angle of 60° with the downward
vertical.
(6)

A particle Q of mass 3m is at rest at a distance a vertically below O. When P strikes Q the

particles join together and the combined particle of mass 4m starts to move in a vertical circle
with initial speed u.

 ga 
(b) Show that u =   .
 8 
(3)

The combined particle comes to instantaneous rest at A.

(c) Find

(i) the angle that the string makes with the downward vertical when the combined
particle is at A,

(ii) the tension in the string when the combined particle is at A.

(6)
(Total 15 marks)
6.
a
O A

T
√( 52 ga)
P

A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of a light inextensible string of length a. The other
end of the string is attached to a fixed point O. At time t = 0, P is projected vertically
5
downwards with speed ga from a point A which is at the same level as O and a distance a
2
from O. When the string has turned through an angle θ and the string is still taut, the speed of P
is v and the tension in the string is T, as shown in the diagram above.

ga
(a) Show that v 2 = (5 + 4 sin θ )
2
(3)

(b) Find T in terms of m, g and θ.

(3)

The string becomes slack when θ = α.

(c) Find the value of α.

(3)

The particle is projected again from A with the same velocity as before. When P is at the same
level as O for the first time after leaving A, the string meets a small smooth peg B which has
1
been fixed at a distance a from O. The particle now moves on an arc of a circle centre B.
2
1
Given that the particle reaches the point C, which is a vertically above the point B, without
2
the string going slack,

(d) find the tension in the string when P is at the point C.

(6)
(Total 15 marks)
7. A particle P is free to move on the smooth inner surface of a fixed thin hollow sphere of internal
radius a and centre O. The particle passes through the lowest point of the spherical surface with
speed U. The particle loses contact with the surface when OP is inclined at an angle α to the
upward vertical.

(a) Show that U 2= ag(2 + 3cos α).

(7)

1
The particle has speed W as it passes through the level of O. Given that cos α = ,
3

(b) show that W 2 = ag 3.

(5)
(Total 12 marks)

8.

v
P

O T

A √(3ag)

A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of a light inextensible string of length a.

The other end of the string is attached to a point O. The point A is vertically below O, and
OA = a. The particle is projected horizontally from A with speed √(3ag). When OP makes an
angle θ with the upward vertical through O and the string is still taut, the tension in the string is
T and the speed of P is v, as shown in the diagram above.

(a) Find, in terms of a, g and θ, an expression for v2.

(3)

(b) Show that T = (1 – 3 cos θ)mg.

(3)
 The string becomes slack when P is at the point B.

(c) Find, in terms of a, the vertical height of B above A.

(2)

After the string becomes slack, the highest point reached by P is C.

(d) Find, in terms of a, the vertical height of C above B.

(5)
(Total 13 marks)

9. One end of a light inextensible string of length l is attached to a particle P of mass m. The other
end is attached to a fixed point A. The particle is hanging freely at rest with the string vertical
5gl
when it is projected horizontally with speed .
2

(a) Find the speed of P when the string is horizontal.

(4)

When the string is horizontal it comes into contact with a small smooth fixed peg which is at the
point B, where AB is horizontal, and AB < l. Given that the particle then describes a complete
semicircle with centre B,

(b) find the least possible value of the length AB.

(9)
(Total 13 marks)

10. One end of a light inextensible string of length l is attached to a fixed point A. The other end is
attached to a particle P of mass m which is hanging freely at rest at a point B. The particle P is
projected horizontally from B with speed √(3gl). When AP makes an angle θ with the downward
vertical and the string remains taut, the tension in the string is T.

(a) Show that T = mg(1 + 3 cos θ).

(6)

(b) Find the speed of P at the instant when the string becomes slack.
(3)
 (c) Find the maximum height above the level of B reached by P.
(5)
(Total 14 marks)

11. A smooth solid sphere, with centre O and radius a, is fixed to the upper surface of a horizontal
table. A particle P is placed on the surface of the sphere at a point A, where OA makes an angle
π
α with the upward vertical, and 0 < α < . The particle is released from rest. When OP makes
2
an angle θ with the upward vertical, and P is still on the surface of the sphere, the speed of P is
v.

(a) Show that v2 = 2ga(cos α – cos θ ).

(4)

Given that cos α = 3

4
, find

(b) the value of θ when P loses contact with the sphere,

(5)

(c) the speed of P as it hits the table.

(4)
(Total 13 marks)

12.

5m 120º

P Q
A
 A trapeze artiste of mass 60 kg is attached to the end A of a light inextensible rope OA of length
5 m. The artiste must swing in an arc of a vertical circle, centre O, from a platform P to another
platform Q, where PQ is horizontal. The other end of the rope is attached to the fixed point O
which lies in the vertical plane containing PQ, with ∠POQ = 120° and OP = OQ = 5 m, as
shown in the diagram above.

As part of her act, the artiste projects herself from P with speed √15 m s–1 in a direction
perpendicular to the rope OA and in the plane POQ. She moves in a circular arc towards Q. At
the lowest point of her path she catches a ball of mass m kg which is travelling towards her with
speed 3 m s–1 and parallel to QP. After catching the ball, she comes to rest at the point Q.

By modelling the artiste and the ball as particles and ignoring her air resistance, find

(a) the speed of the artiste immediately before she catches the ball,
(4)

(b) the value of m,

(7)

(c) the tension in the rope immediately after she catches the ball.
(3)
(Total 14 marks)

13.

50 m
60

B
D 30

The diagram above represents the path of a skier of mass 70 kg moving on a ski-slope ABCD.
The path lies in a vertical plane. From A to B, the path is modelled as a straight line inclined at
60° to the horizontal. From B to D, the path is modelled as an arc of a vertical circle of radius 50
m. The lowest point of the arc BD is C.
At B, the skier is moving downwards with speed 20 m s–1. At D, the path is inclined at 30° to
the horizontal and the skier is moving upwards. By modelling the slope as smooth and the skier
as a particle, find

(a) the speed of the skier at C,

(3)

(b) the normal reaction of the slope on the skier at C,

(3)

(c) the speed of the skier at D,

(3)

(d) the change in the normal reaction of the slope on the skier as she passes B.
(4)

The model is refined to allow for the influence of friction on the motion of the skier.

(e) State briefly, with a reason, how the answer to part (b) would be affected by using such a
model. (No further calculations are expected.)
(2)
(Total 15 marks)
14.

P
v

A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of a light inextensible string of length a. The other
end of the string is fixed at a point O. The particle is held with the string taut and OP horizontal.
It is then projected vertically downwards with speed u, where u2 = 23 ga. When OP has turned
through an angle θ and the string is still taut, the speed of P is v and the tension in the string is
T, as shown in the diagram above.

(a) Find an expression for v2 in terms of a, g and θ.

(2)

(b) Find an expression for T in terms of m, g and θ.

(3)

(c) Prove that the string becomes slack when θ = 210°.

(2)

(d) State, with a reason, whether P would complete a vertical circle if the string were
replaced by a light rod.
(2)
 After the string becomes slack, P moves freely under gravity and is at the same level as O when
it is at the point A.

(e) Explain briefly why the speed of P at A is √ ( 32 ga ) .

(1)

The direction of motion of P at A makes an angle ϕ with the horizontal.

(f) Find ϕ.
(4)
(Total 14 marks)

15.

A
C

A particle is at the highest point A on the outer surface of a fixed smooth sphere of radius a and
centre O. The lowest point B of the sphere is fixed to a horizontal plane. The particle is
projected horizontally from A with speed u, where u < √(ag). The particle leaves the sphere at
the point C, where OC makes an angle θ with the upward vertical, as shown in the diagram
above.
 (a) Find an expression for cos θ in terms of u, g and a.
(7)

 9ag 
The particle strikes the plane with speed  .
 2 

(b) Find, to the nearest degree, the value of θ.

(7)
(Total 14 marks)

16.

C B

O
120°
a

Part of a hollow spherical shell, centre O and radius a, is removed to form a bowl with a plane
circular rim. The bowl is fixed with the circular rim uppermost and horizontal. The point A is
the lowest point of the bowl. The point B is on the rim of the bowl and ∠AOB = 120°, as shown
in the diagram above. A smooth small marble of mass m is placed inside the bowl at A and
given an initial horizontal speed u. The direction of motion of the marble lies in the vertical
plane AOB. The marble stays in contact with the bowl until it reaches B. When the marble
reaches B, its speed is v.

(a) Find an expression for v2.

(3)

(b) For the case when u2 = 6ga, find the normal reaction of the bowl on the marble as the
marble reaches B.
(3)

(c) Find the least possible value of u for the marble to reach B.
(3)

The point C is the other point on the rim of the bowl lying in the vertical plane OAB.

(d) Find the value of u which will enable the marble to leave the bowl at B and meet it again
at the point C.
(7)
(Total 16 marks)
17. A smooth solid hemisphere is fixed with its plane face on a horizontal table and its curved
surface uppermost. The plane face of the hemisphere has centre O and radius a. The point A
is the highest point on the hemisphere. A particle P is placed on the hemisphere at A. It is
then given an initial horizontal speed u, where u2 = 12 (ag). When OP makes an angle θ with
OA, and while P remains on the hemisphere, the speed of P is v.

(a) Find an expression for v2.

(3)

(b) Show that, when θ = arccos 0.9, P is still on the hemisphere.

(5)

(c) Find the value of cos θ when P leaves the hemisphere.

(2)

(d) Find the value of v when P leaves the hemisphere.

(2)

After leaving the hemisphere P strikes the table at B.

(e) Find the speed of P at B.

(2)

(f) Find the angle at which P strikes the table.

(3)
(Total 17 marks)