Cambridge International AS & A Level

Meilyn Misya
*0123456789*

MATHEMATICS 9709/04
Paper 4 Mechanics For examination from 2020

SPECIMEN PAPER 1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: List of formulae (MF19)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● If additional space is needed, you should use the lined page at the end of this booklet; the question
number or numbers must be clearly shown.
● You should use a calculator where appropriate.
● You must show all necessary working clearly; no marks will be given for unsupported answers from a
calculator.
● Give non-exact numerical answers correct to 3 significant figures, or 1 decimal place for angles in
degrees, unless a different level of accuracy is specified in the question.
● Where a numerical value for the acceleration due to gravity (g) is needed, use 10 m s–2.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 50.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 14 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

© UCLES 2017 [Turn over

1 A particle P is projected vertically upwards with speed 20 m s–1 from a point on the ground.

(a) Find the greatest height above the ground reached by P. [2]

V= 0m/s Solution:
V 2 − u2
s=
2a
0 − (20) 2
2
s=
2(−10)
s = 20m

U= 20 m/s

(b) Find the total time from projection until P returns to the ground. [2]

P Solution:
v −u
t=
a
0 − 20
t=
(−10)
t = 2s
tTOTAL = 2(2 s )
P tTOTAL = 4 s

© UCLES 2017 9709/04/SP/20

2 A constant resistance of magnitude 1350 N acts on a car of mass 1200 kg.

(a) The car is moving along a straight level road at a constant speed of 32 m s–1.

Find, in kW, the rate at which the engine of the car is working. [2]

V= 32 m/s fR = 1350 N Solution :

DF = fR
P
= 1350 N
v
P = 1350 N * 32 m/s
= 43200 W
= 43.2 kW

(b) The car travels at a constant speed down a hill inclined at an angle of θ ° to the horizontal, where
sin θ ° = 20
1
, with the engine working at 31.5 kW.

Find the speed of the car.

N
Solution :
DF + 1200Sinθ = 1350 N
P
+ 600 N = 1350 N
v
P
= 750 N
v
750 v = P
1200gsinθ 750v = 31500 W
v = 42 m/s
θ 1200gcosθ
3 Three small smooth spheres A, B and C of equal radii and of masses 4 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg respectively,
lie in that order in a straight line on a smooth horizontal plane. Initially, B and C are at rest and A is
moving towards B with speed 6 m s–1. After the collison with B, sphere A continues to move in the same
direction but with speed 2 m s–1.

(a) Find the speed of B after this collison. [2]

A C
B

u = 6 m/s u = 0 m/s u = 0 m/s

v = 2 m/s
Solution :
m AVA + mBVB =m AVA + mBVB
4kg(6m / s ) + 2kg(0m / s ) = 4kg(2m / s ) + 2kgVB
24kgm / s = 8kgm / s + 2kgVB
16kgm / s = 2kgVB
8m / s = VB

Sphere B collides with C. In this collison these two spheres coalesce to form an object D.

(b) Find the speed of D after this collision. [2]

u = 8m/s

Situation 1 Situation 2

Solution:
mBVB + mCVC = (mB + mC )VD
2kg(8m / s ) + 0kgm / s = 5kgVD
16kgm / s 5kgVD
=
5kg 5kg
VD = 3.2m / s

© UCLES 2017 9709/04/SP/20

 (c) Show that the total loss of kinetic energy in the system due to the two collisions is 38.4 J. [2]

. .
v = 2 m/s v = 8 m/s v = 3.2 m/s

Solution:
1 1
KE = m AVA − (mB + m A )VD
2 2

2 2
1 1
KE = (4)(6m / s) 2 − (5)(3.2m / s) 2
2 2
KE = 72J − 33.6J
KE = 30.4J

© UCLES 2017 9709/04/SP/20 [Turn over

4 A particle of mass 20 kg is on a rough plane inclined at an angle of 30 to the horizontal. A force of
magnitude 25 N, acting at an angle of 20 above a line of greatest slope of the plane, is used to prevent
the particle from sliding down the plane. The coefficient of friction between the particle and the plane
is μ.

(a) Complete the diagram below to show all the forces acting on the particle. [1]

25 N
25sin 20
fR = μR

Normal Force (R) 20 25cos 20

Mgsin 30
Mgcos 30
30
Weight = 20g

(b) Find the least possible value of μ. [5]

Solution : R = mg cos 30 − 25 sin 20

mg sin 30 = fR + 25 cos 20
R = 200 cos 30 − 25 sin 20
fR = mg sin 30 − 25 cos 20
R = 164.65457
 ( R) = 20(10) sin 30 − 23.4923 N
R  164.655
 (164.655) = 100 N − 23.4923 N
 (164.655) 76.5077
=
164.655 164.655
 = 0.46465
  0.465
5 A car of mass 1200 kg is pulling a trailer of mass 800 kg up a hill inclined at an angle of sin–1 (0.1) to the
horizontal. The car and the trailer are connected by a light rigid tow-bar which is parallel to the road.
The driving force of the car’s engine is 2500 N and the resistances to the car and trailer are 300 N and
100 N respectively.

(a) Find the acceleration of the system and the tension in the tow-bar. [4]

Solution :
2000a = 2500 N − {2000(10) sin  + 400}N
2000a = 2500 N − {2000(10)(0.1) + 400}N
2000a = 2500 N − (2000 + 400) N
2000a = 2500 N − 2400 N
2000a 100
= N
2000 2000
a = 0.05m / s 2
 (b) When the car and trailer are travelling at a speed of 30 m s–1, the driving force becomes zero.

Find the time, in seconds, before the system comes to rest and the force in the tow-bar during this
time. [5]

Solution :
2000a = DF − 2000(10) sin N − 400 N
2000a = 0 − 2000(10)(0.1) N − 400 N
2000a = −2000 N − 400 N
2000a − 2400 N
=
2000 2000
a = −1 . 2 s

1200a = DF − 300 N − 1200 g sin  − Tc

1200(−1.2m / s 2 ) = 0 − 300 N − 1200(10)(0.1) N − Tc
− 1440 N = −300 N − 1200 N − Tc
− 1440 N = −1500 N − Tc
− Tc = 60 N
Tc = −60 N

© UCLES 2017 9709/04/SP/20 [Turn over

6 A particle P moves in a straight line. The velocity v m s–1 at time t s is given by

v = 5t(t – 2) for 0 ⩽ t ⩽ 4,
v=k for 4 ⩽ t ⩽ 14,
v = 68 – 2t for 14 ⩽ t ⩽ 20,

where k is a constant.

(a) Find k. [1]

Solution:
k = 68 − 2(14)
k = 68 − 28
k = 40

(b) Sketch the velocity–time graph for 0 ⩽ t ⩽ 20. [3]

(c) Find the set of values of t for which the acceleration of P is positive. [2]

Solution:
v = 5t 2 − 10t
dv
= 2(5t ) − 10
dt
a = 10t − 10
1 t  4

(d) Find the total distance travelled by P in the interval 0 ⩽ t ⩽ 20. [5]

Solution :
Check if the particle goes back
v = 5t 2 − 10t
0 = 5t 2 − 10t
5t 2 = 10t
t = 2s

 
2 4
5  5 
s =  t 3 − 5t 2  +  t 3 − 5t 2  + 40t 4 + 68t − t 2 14
14 20

3 0 3 2
= (−6.67 − 0) + (26.67 − (−6.67)) + (560 − 160) + (960 − 756)
= 6.67 + 33.34 + 400 + 204
= 6.67 + 33.34 + 400 + 204
= 644.01
 644m
7
A
P
2.5 m

Two particles A and B, of masses 0.8 kg and 0.2 kg respectively, are connected by a light inextensible
string. Particle A is placed on a horizontal surface. The string passes over a small smooth pulley P fixed
at the edge of the surface, and B hangs freely. The horizontal section of the string, AP, is of length 2.5 m
(see diagram). The particles are released from rest with both sections of the string taut.

(a) Given that the surface is smooth, find the time taken for A to reach the pulley. [5]

Solution:
ma = mB g
1a = (0.2)(10)
a = 2m / s 2
V 2 = u 2 + 2as
V 2 = 0 + 2(2m / s 2 )( 2.5m)
V 2 = 10m 2 / s 2
V = 10m / s
V −u
t=
a
10 − 0
t=
2
t = 1.58s

© UCLES 2017 9709/04/SP/20

(b) It is given instead that the surface is rough and that the speed of A immediately before it reaches
the pulley is v m s–1. The work done against friction as A moves from rest to the pulley is 2 J.

Use an energy method to find v. [4]

Solution :
fR 1
mgh = (m A + mB )V 2 + WD
2
1
(0.2kg)(10m / s 2 )( 2.5m) = (1kg)V 2 + 2 J
2
1
5kgm2 / s 2 = (1kg)V 2 + 2 J
2
1
(1kg)V 2
5kgm2 / s 2 − 2kgm2 / s 2 2
=
1 1
kg kg
2 2
6m 2 / s 2 = V 2
V = 6m / s
© UCLES 2017 9709/04/SP/20