Questions

Q1.

A particle P rests in equilibrium on a smooth horizontal plane.

A system of three forces, F1 N, F2 N and F3 N where

F1 = (3ci + 4cj)

F2 = (-14i + 7j)

is applied to P.

Given that P remains in equilibrium,

(a) find F3 in terms of c, i and j.

(2)
The force F3 is removed from the system.

Given that c = 2

(b) find the size of the angle between the direction of i and the direction of the resultant force acting on P.
(4)
The mass of P is m kg.

Given that the magnitude of the acceleration of P is 8.5 m s-2

(c) find the value of m.

(4)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

(Q02 WME01/01, June 2023)
Q2.

A particle of weight W newtons lies at rest on a rough horizontal surface, as shown in Figure 3.

A force of magnitude P newtons is applied to the particle.

The force acts at an angle α to the horizontal, where

The coefficient of friction between the particle and the surface is

Given that the particle does not move, show that

(Total for question = 7 marks)

(Q06 WME01/01, June 2023)
Q3.

A rough plane is inclined to the horizontal at an angle α, where tan α = 3/4

A particle P of mass 2 kg is held in equilibrium on the plane by a horizontal force of magnitude X newtons,
as shown in Figure 2. The force acts in a vertical plane which contains a line of greatest slope of the
inclined plane.

(a) Show that when X = 14.7 there is no frictional force acting on P

(3)
The coefficient of friction between P and the plane is 0.5

(b) Find the smallest possible value of X.

(8)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

(Q03 WME01/01, Oct 2022)
Q4.

One end of a light inextensible string is attached to a particle A of mass 2m. The other end of the string is
attached to a particle B of mass 3m. The string passes over a small, smooth, light pulley P which is fixed

at the top of a rough inclined plane. The plane is inclined to the horizontal at an angle α, where tan α =

Particle A is held at rest on the plane with the string taut and B hanging freely below P, as shown in
Figure 4. The section of the string AP is parallel to a line of greatest slope of the plane.

The coefficient of friction between A and the plane is

Particle A is released and begins to move up the plane.

For the motion before A reaches the pulley,

(a) (i) write down an equation of motion for A,

(ii) write down an equation of motion for B,
(4)
(b) find, in terms of g, the acceleration of A,
(5)
(c) find the magnitude of the force exerted on the pulley by the string.
(4)
(d) State how you have used the information that P is a smooth pulley.
(1)

(Total for question = 14 marks)

(Q07 WME01/01, Oct 2021)
Q5.

A parcel of mass 2 kg is pulled up a rough inclined plane by the action of a constant force.

The force has magnitude 18 N and acts at an angle of 40° to the plane.

The line of action of the force lies in a vertical plane containing a line of greatest slope of the inclined
plane.

The plane is inclined at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 5.

The coefficient of friction between the plane and the parcel is 0.3

The parcel is modelled as a particle P

(a) Find the acceleration of P

(8)
The points A and B lie on a line of greatest slope of the plane, where AB = 5 m and B is above A. Particle
P passes through A with speed 2 m s−1 in the direction AB.

(b) Find the speed of P as it passes through B.

(3)
The force of 18 N is removed at the instant P passes through B. As a result, P comes to rest at the point
C.

(c) Determine whether P will remain at rest at C. You must show all stages of your working clearly.
(4)

(Total for question = 15 marks)

(Q08 WME01/01, Jan 2023)
Q6.
[In this question, i and j are horizontal unit vectors.]
A particle A of mass 0.5 kg is at rest on a smooth horizontal plane.

At time t = 0, two forces, F1 = (–3i + 2j) N and F2 = (pi + qj) N, where p and q are constants, are applied to
A.

Given that A moves in the direction of the vector (i – 2j),

(a) show that 2p + q – 4 = 0

(4)
Given that p = 5

(b) find the speed of A at time t = 4 seconds.

(5)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

(Q06 WME01/01, Oct 2022)
Q7.
Two forces, F1 and F2, act on a particle A.
F1 = (2i − 3j) N and F2 = (pi + qj) N, where p and q are constants.

Given that the resultant of F1 and F2 is parallel to (i + 2j),

(a) show that 2p − q + 7 = 0

(5)
Given that q = 11 and that the mass of A is 2 kg, and that F1 and F2 are the only forces acting on A,

(b) find the magnitude of the acceleration of A.

(5)
(Total for question = 10 marks)

(Q05 WME11/01, Specimen papers )

Q8.

A particle of weight W is attached at C to two light inextensible strings AC and BC. The other ends of the
strings are attached to fixed points A and B on a horizontal ceiling. The particle hangs in equilibrium with
the strings in a vertical plane and with AC and BC inclined to the horizontal at 30° and 45° respectively, as
shown in Figure 1.

Find, in terms of W,

(i) the tension in AC,

(ii) the tension in BC.

(Total for question = 7 marks)

(Q01 WME01/01, Jan 2018)
Q9.

A washing line ABCD is fixed at the points A and D. There are two heavy items of clothing hanging on the
washing line, one fixed at B and the other fixed at C. The washing line is modelled as a light inextensible
string, the item at B is modelled as a particle of mass 3 kg and the item at C is modelled as a particle of

mass M kg. The section AB makes an angle α with the horizontal, where , the section BC is

horizontal and the section CD makes an angle β with the horizontal, where , as shown in Figure
2. The system is in equilibrium.

(a) Find the tension in AB.

(4)
(b) Find the tension in BC.
(3)
(c) Find the value of M.
(5)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

(Q07 WME01/01, June 2018)
Q10.

A particle P of weight 40 N lies at rest in equilibrium on a fixed rough horizontal surface. A force of
magnitude 20 N is applied to P. The force acts at angle θ to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 2. The
coefficient of friction between P and the surface is μ.

Given that the particle remains at rest, show that

(Total for question = 6 marks)

(Q02 WME01/01, Jan 2018)
Mark Scheme
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.
Q6.
Q7.
Q8.
Q9.
Q10.