MST2101906F1PV1

MST210/J

Module Examination 2019

Mathematical methods, models and modelling

Friday 14 June 2019 10.00 am – 1.00 pm

Time allowed: 3 hours

You are not allowed to use a calculator in this examination.

There are THREE parts to this paper, each taking approximately one
hour.
In each part of the paper the questions are arranged, as far as possible, in
the order in which they appear in the module.
Part 1 consists of 19 computer-marked questions, each worth 2 marks.
Mark your answers on the form provided using an HB pencil. Detailed
instructions on filling in the computer-marked form are given overleaf.
Part 2 consists of 6 questions, each worth 5 marks.
Part 3 consists of 5 questions, each worth 16 marks. The marks from
your best two answers will be added together to give a maximum of
32 marks for this part.
In Parts 2 and 3: Write your answers in pen in the answer book(s)
provided. The marks allocated to each part of each question are given in
square brackets in the margin. Unless you are directed otherwise in the
question, you may use any formula or other information from the
Handbook in your answers. Do not cross out any answers unless you have
a better alternative answer – everything not crossed out may receive credit.
At the end of the examination: Check that you have written your
personal identifier and examination number on each answer book used, and
that you have written your personal identifier and name on the CME form.
Failure to do so may mean that your work cannot be identified.
Attach your signed desk record to the front of your answer book(s) using
the round paper fastener, then attach the CME form and your question
paper to the back of the answer book(s) using the flat paperclip.

Copyright 
c 2019 The Open University
Instructions for filling in the computer
marked examination (CME) form
• You will find one CME form provided with this paper. The
invigilator has a supply of spare forms if you should need any.

• You should use an HB pencil to make entries on the CME form.

If you make any smudges or other spurious marks on the form that
you cannot cancel out clearly, you should ask the invigilator for a
new form, and transfer your entries to it.

• On Part 1 of the CME form, you must write in your personal

identifier (NOT the examination number) and the ‘assignment
number’ for this examination (MST210 81). You should also
pencil across the cells in the two blocks in Part 1 of the form
corresponding to your personal identifier and the assignment
number given above. On the sample CME form opposite Part 1 has
been completed for a fictitious student so that you can see how to
complete this Part of the form. We suggest you check that Part 1
on the CME form has been completed correctly before moving on
to Part 2 of the examination paper.

• For each question, you must pencil across either the required
number of answer cells or the ‘don’t know’ cell.

• If you do not wish to answer a question, pencil across the ‘don’t

know’ cell (‘?’).

• If you think that a question is unsound in any way, pencil across

the ‘unsound’ cell (‘U’), in addition to pencilling across either an
answer cell or the ‘don’t know’ cell.

• We suggest that in the first instance, you answer by pencilling

across the relevant cells on the sample CME form opposite. Check
your answers before transferring them to your CME form.

• You should note that no additional time will be allowed at the

end of the three-hour period for transferring your marks to the
CME form.

• Failure to follow the above instructions may mean that we will not
be able to award you a mark for this part of the examination.

• Use the answer book(s) provided for any rough work.

• Incorrect answers will not be penalised, i.e. you will not lose marks
for incorrect answers.

2 MST210 June 2019

MST210 June 2019 TURN OVER 3
Part 1
You should attempt all questions in this part of the paper. Each
question is worth 2 marks. You should answer in pencil on the CME
form provided.

Question 1
Consider the differential equation
d2 y dy
2
+ 6 + 9y = sin x.
dx dx
Select the option that gives the complementary function.

Options
A (A + Bx) e−3x B Ae−3x + Be3x
C (A + Bx) e3x D A sin(3x) + B cos(3x)

Question 2
Select the option that gives the result of evaluating the expression
a · (b × c) where a = i − 2k, b = 2j + k and c = i + 2j + 3k.

Options
A −7 B 8 C 7 D −8

Question 3
A particle starts at the origin at time t = 0 and moves with its velocity
at time t given by (t + sin t) i. Select the option that gives its position
at time t.

Options
1 2  1 2

A t − cos t + 1 i B t − cos t i
 21 2   21 2 
C 2
t − cos t − 1 i D 2
t − sin t i

Question 4
 
3 −2
For what value of x does the matrix not have an inverse?
x 4

Options
A 6 B −2 C 2 D −6

Question 5
 
2 6
The matrix has an eigenvalue −10. Select the option that
6 −7
gives a corresponding eigenvector.

Options
       
1 2 −2 1
A B C D
2 1 1 −2

4 MST210 June 2019

Question 6
The system of differential equations
ẋ = x − 4e−t , ẏ = −2x + 2y + 7e−t ,
has complementary function
     
x 1 t 0 2t
=α e +β e .
y 2 −1
Select the option that gives the particular integral.
Options
   −t     −t 
x −e x e
A = −t B = −t
y
   2e −t  y 2e
   −t 
x −e x 2e
C = D =
y −2e−t y −e−t

Question 7
The function f (x, y) is defined by
f (x, y) = 3x2 + 3xy − 3x + y 2 − y + 2
f has a stationary point at (1, −1). Select the option that classifies this
stationary point.
Options
A A saddle point
B A local minimum
C A local maximum
D Cannot be classified using the AC − B 2 test

Question 8
Consider a particle moving in one dimension with total mechanical
energy 9 Joules and potential energy function
U(x) = x2 − 16.
Select the option that gives the range of motion of the particle.
Options
A (−∞, −4] or [4, ∞) B (−∞, −5] or [5, ∞)
C [−5, 5] D [−4, 4]

Question 9
A particle is attached to a spring-damper system has equation of motion
4ẍ + rẋ + 12 x = P cos(Ωt).
Select the option that gives the conditions on the damping constant r
that guarantees that resonance is not possible for this particle.
Options
A r≤2 B r≥1 C r≤1 D r≥2

MST210 June 2019 TURN OVER 5

Question 10
Consider a mechanical system with three particles numbered 1, 2 and 3
with coordinates x1 , x2 and x3 respectively. The particles oscillate with
position function
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
x1 2 −1 2
⎝x2 ⎠ = C1 ⎝5⎠ cos(2t+φ1 )+C2 ⎝ 0⎠ cos(3t+φ2 )+C3 ⎝−1⎠ cos(4t+φ3 ).
x3 1 2 1
Select the option that describes the normal mode motion with normal
mode angular frequency 4.

Options
A Particles 1 and 2 move in-phase and particles 2 and 3 move
phase-opposed.
B Particles 1 and 3 move in-phase and particles 1 and 2 move
phase-opposed.
C Particles 1 and 3 move phase-opposed
D All three particles move in-phase.

Question 11
Consider the system of non-linear differential equations
dx
= 2xy − x,
dt
dy
= x2 − 2xy + 4y 2 − 1.
dt
Select the option that gives a complete list of equilibrium points for this
system.

Options
A (0, − 12 ), (0, 12 ) B ( 12 , 0), ( 12 , 1)
C (0, − 12 ), (0, 12 ), (1, 12 ) D (− 12 , 0), ( 12 , 0), ( 12 , 1)

Question 12
A periodic function f (t) has a Fourier series
∞   ∞  
1 − sin(πn) sin(πn) − cos(πn)
F (t) = 2+ cos(nt)+ sin(nt).
n=1
n n=1
n
Select the option that gives first few terms of the Fourier series up to
and including terms involving 3t.

Options
A 2 + cos t + 12 cos(2t) + 13 cos(3t) − sin t + sin(2t) − sin(3t)
B 2 + cos t + cos(2t) + cos(3t) + sin t − sin(2t) + sin(3t)
C 2 + cos t + 12 cos(2t) + 13 cos(3t) − sin t + 12 sin(2t) − 13 sin(3t)
D 2 + cos t + 12 cos(2t) + 13 cos(3t) + sin t − 12 sin(2t) + 13 sin(3t)

6 MST210 June 2019

Question 13
Consider applying the method of separation of variables with
u(x, t) = X(x) T (t) to the partial differential equation
∂ 2 u ∂u ∂u
2
+ = .
∂x ∂x ∂t
Select the option that gives the resulting pair of ordinary differential
equations (where μ is a non-zero separation constant).

Options
X  (x) + X  (x) = μ X  (x) = μX(x)
A B
Ṫ (t) = μ T̈ (t) + Ṫ (t) = μT (t)
X  (x) = μ X  (x) + X  (x) = μX(x)
C D
T̈ (t) + Ṫ (t) = μ Ṫ (t) = μT (t)

Question 14
A scalar field is defined in spherical coordinates by
g(r, θ, φ) = r sin φ sin θ.
Select the option that gives ∇g.

Options
A sin φ sin θ er + r sin φ cos θ eθ + r sin θ cos φ eφ
B r sin φ sin θ er + sin φ sin θ eθ + sin φ eφ
C sin φ sin θ er + sin φ cos θ eθ + cos φ eφ
D sin φ sin θ + sin φ cos θ + cos φ

Question 15
A vector field is defined in cylindrical coordinates by
F(ρ, φ, z) = ρ2 eρ − ρ sin φeφ + ρez .
Select the option that gives the divergence of F.

Options
A div F = ρ (ρ − sin φ + 1) B div F = ρ (2 − cos φ)
C div F = 3ρ − cos φ D div F = ρ (3 − cos φ)

Question 16

Select the option that gives the value of f dA, where

D
f (r, θ) = r cos( 12 θ) and D is a disk of radius R, centred on the origin.

Options
2 3 4 3
A R2 B 3
R C 3
R D 2R2

MST210 June 2019 TURN OVER 7

Question 17
A lamina of uniform surface density is the shape of an irregular
pentagon with coordinates (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 1), (1, 2) and (0, 2), as
shown in the diagram below.
y

2 (2, 1)

1 x

Select the option that gives the position vector of the centre of mass of
this lamina.

Options
4 7 11
A 9
i+j B 9
i+j C 12
i+j D i+j

Question 18
Select the option that gives the angular momentum about the origin O
at time t = 0 of a particle of mass 12 whose position vector with respect
to O is r = sin(πt)i + 2 cos(πt)j at time t.

Options
A πk B −πk C 2πk D −2πk

Question 19
Consider a solid rectangular cuboid of mass M has width 4, height 1
and depth 2, as shown in the diagram below.

A
2

1 G

4
B

Select the option that gives the moment of inertia of the cuboid about
the vertical axis AB through its centre of mass G.

Options
17 20 21 5
A 12
M B 12
M C 12
M D 12
M

8 MST210 June 2019

Part 2
You should attempt all questions in this part of the paper. Each
question is worth 5 marks. You should answer in pen in the answer
book(s) provided.

Question 20
Consider the differential equation
dy  
= x y2 + 1 , x, y > 0.
dx
(a) Find the general solution of the differential equation explicitly in
the form y = f (x). [3]
(b) Find the particular solution that satisfies y(0) = 1. [2]

Question 21
Consider the matrix
⎛ ⎞
1 6 −5
A = ⎝−6 16 −10⎠ .
−9 12 −7
⎛ ⎞
1
(a) Given that the matrix A has an eigenvector ⎝2⎠, calculate the
3
corresponding eigenvalue. [2]
(b) Given that one of the eigenvalues of the matrix A is 4, calculate a
corresponding eigenvector. [3]

Question 22
A particle of mass 2m is connected on the left to a fixed wall by a spring
of stiffness 2k and natural length l0 . This particle is connected to a
second particle of mass 3m by a spring of stiffness k and natural length
2l0 , as shown in the diagram below. The particles are constrained to
move in a straight line on a smooth horizontal surface, and their
displacements from their equilibrium positions are x and y, respectively.

2k, l0 2m k, 2l0 3m

(a) Draw a force diagram showing all the forces acting on each particle. [2]
(b) Derive the equation of motion for each particle. [3]

MST210 June 2019 TURN OVER 9

Question 23
The system of non-linear differential equations
ẋ = sin y cos x, ẏ = sin x + sin y,
has an equilibrium point at (0, π).
(a) Calculate the Jacobian matrix of this system of equations and
evaluate this matrix at the given equilibrium point. [3]
(b) Use your answer to part (a) to classify this equilibrium point. [2]

Question 24
A vector field v is expressed in cylindrical coordinates as
v(ρ, φ, z) = ρz sin φer + 12 ρz cos φeφ + 12 ρ2 sin φez .
Calculate ∇ × v and hence show that v is conservative. [5]

Question 25
A particle of mass m moving with velocity ui collides with a particle of
mass 2m moving with velocity 2uj. After the collision the two particle
stick together and move with velocity vi + wj.
(a) Use conservation of momentum to calculate the speed of the
particle after the collision in terms of u. [3]
(b) Calculate the ratio of the kinetic energy after collision to the
kinetic energy before the collision. [2]

10 MST210 June 2019

Part 3
You should attempt two questions in this part of the paper. Each
question is worth 16 marks. All of your answers will be marked, and
the marks from your best two answers will be added together, giving a
maximum of 32 marks from this part. You should answer in pen in the
answer book(s) provided.
Question 26
Find the general solution of the simultaneous linear differential equations
dx dy
= 5x − 3y − 5t − 2, = 2x − 2y − 2t − 2. [16]
dt dt
Question 27
A particle of mass m slides on a smooth horizontal surface. The
particle is connected by a model spring of stiffness k and natural length
l0 and a model damper with damping constant r to a point C and by
an identical model damper to a fixed point A. Let the distance between
A and C be d metres. Choose the origin at the fixed point A and let x
be the position of the particle. Choose unit vectors i and j horizontal
and vertical, as shown below.
x C
k, l0
r j
A m
r i
d
(a) Draw a force diagram showing all forces acting on particle. Define
each force you introduce. [2]
(b) Express each force in terms of the given unit vectors and the
variables and parameters defined above. [4]
(c) Now suppose m = 3 kg, k = 2 N m−1 , l0 = 1 m, r = 4 N m−1 s. Find
x when the point C is stationary with d = 3 metres and the
particle is in equilibrium. [3]
(d) Now consider the case when the point C moves such that
d = 12 sin t + 3. With the parameter values given in part (c), show
that x satisfies the differential equation
3ẍ + 8ẋ + 2x = sin t + 2 cos t + 4. [3]

(e) Find P such that

P cos(t + φ) = sin t + 2 cos t.
(There is no need to determine φ.) [2]
(f) We now look at the long term behaviour of the particle, when it
undergoes the forced oscillations described in part (d). By choosing
to start measuring t at a suitable point we may assume that φ = 0
(there is no need to show this). Use the formula in the handbook
to calculate the amplitude of the steady state oscillations of the particle. [2]

MST210 June 2019 TURN OVER 11

Question 28
Consider the periodic function f (t) with fundamental interval
−1 ≤ t ≤ 1 that is defined by
−t − 1 for −1 ≤ t < 0,
f (t) =
t−1 for 0 ≤ t < 1,
f (t + 2) = f (t).
(a) Sketch the graph of the function f for −3 ≤ t ≤ 3, and hence state
whether the function is even, odd, or neither even nor odd. [4]
(b) Calculate the Fourier series for f (t). [12]

Question 29
(a) Consider the vector field
 
F = −y i + x j + x2 + z 2 k.
Calculate the line integral

F · dr,
C

where C is the ellipse with parametric representation

x = sin t, y = cos t, z = cos t, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π. [10]
Hence deduce that the vector field is not conservative.
(b) Now consider the vector field
G = 2z sin y i + 2xz cos y j + (2x sin y + 2 sin z cos z) k.
Calculate curl G and hence show that the vector field is
conservative. [6]

12 MST210 June 2019

Question 30
A thin-walled hollow cylinder of mass m and radius a rolls without
slipping down a plane that is inclined at an angle α to the horizontal.
Choose unit vectors down the slope and perpendicular to the slope, as
shown in the following diagram.

j
a

i
α

(a) What is the relationship between θ, the angle through which the
cylinder turns about its axis, and x, the distance the cylinder
moves down the plane? [2]
(b) Draw a diagram showing all the external forces on the cylinder,
clearly showing the point at which they act. [3]
(c) Either by using the torque law, or by energy conservation, show
that the magnitude of the acceleration of the centre of mass of the
cylinder is
ẍ = 12 g sin α. [8]

(d) Calculate the coefficient of static friction needed for the cylinder to
roll without slipping. [3]

[END OF QUESTION PAPER]

MST210 June 2019 13