Topic A Practice SL content only [68 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 14]

A student strikes a tennis ball that is initially at rest so that it leaves the racquet at
a speed of 64 m s–1. The ball has a mass of 0.058 kg and the contact between the
ball and the racquet lasts for 25 ms.

(ai) Calculate the average force exerted by the racquet on the ball. [2]

(aii) Calculate the average power delivered to the ball during the
impact. [2]

The student strikes the tennis ball at point P. The tennis ball is initially directed at
an angle of 7.00° to the horizontal.

The following data are available.

Height of P = 2.80 m

Distance of student from net = 11.9 m

Height of net = 0.910 m

Initial speed of tennis ball = 64 m s-1

(bi) Calculate the time it takes the tennis ball to reach the net. [2]

(bii) Show that the tennis ball passes over the net. [3]

(biii) Determine the speed of the tennis ball as it strikes the ground. [2]

(c) The student models the bounce of the tennis ball to predict the
angle θ at which the ball leaves a surface of clay and a surface of
grass.

The model assumes

• during contact with the surface the ball slides.

• the sliding time is the same for both surfaces.
 • the sliding frictional force is greater for clay than grass.
• the normal reaction force is the same for both surfaces.

Predict for the student’s model, without calculation, whether θ [3]

is greater for a clay surface or for a grass surface.

2. [Maximum mark: 12]

An elastic climbing rope is tested by fixing one end of the rope to the top of a
crane. The other end of the rope is connected to a block which is initially at
position A. The block is released from rest. The mass of the rope is negligible.

The unextended length of the rope is 60.0 m. From position A to position B, the
block falls freely.

(a) At position B the rope starts to extend. Calculate the speed of

the block at position B. [2]
At position C the speed of the block reaches zero. The time taken for the block to
fall between B and C is 0.759 s. The mass of the block is 80.0 kg.

(b.i) Determine the magnitude of the average resultant force acting

on the block between B and C. [2]

(b.ii) Sketch on the diagram the average resultant force acting on the
block between B and C. The arrow on the diagram represents
the weight of the block.
 [2]

(b.iii) Calculate the magnitude of the average force exerted by the

rope on the block between B and C. [2]

For the rope and block, describe the energy changes that take place

(c.i) between A and B. [1]

(c.ii) between B and C. [1]

 (d) The length reached by the rope at C is 77.4 m. Suggest how
energy considerations could be used to determine the elastic
constant of the rope. [2]

3. [Maximum mark: 10]

A company delivers packages to customers using a small unmanned aircraft.
Rotating horizontal blades exert a force on the surrounding air. The air above the
aircraft is initially stationary.

The air is propelled vertically downwards with speed v. The aircraft hovers
motionless above the ground. A package is suspended from the aircraft on a
string. The mass of the aircraft is 0. 95 kg and the combined mass of the
package and string is 0. 45 kg. The mass of air pushed downwards by the
blades in one second is 1. 7 kg.

(a(i)) State the value of the resultant force on the aircraft when
hovering. [1]
(a(ii)) Outline, by reference to Newton’s third law, how the upward lift
force on the aircraft is achieved. [2]

(a(iii)) Determine v. State your answer to an appropriate number of

significant figures. [3]

(a(iv)) Calculate the power transferred to the air by the aircraft. [2]
 (b) The package and string are now released and fall to the ground.
The lift force on the aircraft remains unchanged. Calculate the
initial acceleration of the aircraft. [2]

4. [Maximum mark: 11]

Two players are playing table tennis. Player A hits the ball at a height of 0.24 m
above the edge of the table, measured from the top of the table to the bottom of
the ball. The initial speed of the ball is 12.0 m s−1 horizontally. Assume that air
resistance is negligible.

(a) Show that the time taken for the ball to reach the surface of the
table is about 0.2 s.
 [1]

(b) Sketch, on the axes, a graph showing the variation with time of
the vertical component of velocity vv of the ball until it reaches
the table surface. Take g to be +10 m s−2.

[2]
(c) The net is stretched across the middle of the table. The table has
a length of 2.74 m and the net has a height of 15.0 cm.

Show that the ball will go over the net. [3]

The ball bounces and then reaches a peak height of 0.18 m above the table with
a horizontal speed of 10.5 m s−1. The mass of the ball is 2.7 g.

(d.i) Determine the kinetic energy of the ball immediately after the
bounce. [2]
 (d.ii) Player B intercepts the ball when it is at its peak height. Player B
holds a paddle (racket) stationary and vertical. The ball is in
contact with the paddle for 0.010 s. Assume the collision is
elastic.

Calculate the average force exerted by the ball on the paddle.

State your answer to an appropriate number of significant
figures. [3]

5. [Maximum mark: 21]

A small ball of mass m is moving in a horizontal circle on the inside surface of
a frictionless hemispherical bowl.
The normal reaction force N makes an angle θ to the horizontal.
(a.i) State the direction of the resultant force on the ball. [1]

(a.ii) On the diagram, construct an arrow of the correct length to

represent the weight of the ball.

[2]

(a.iii) Show that the magnitude of the net force F on the ball is given
by the following equation.

mg
F =
tan θ [3]
(b) The radius of the bowl is 8.0 m and θ = 22°. Determine the speed
of the ball. [4]

(c) Outline whether this ball can move on a horizontal circular path
of radius equal to the radius of the bowl. [2]
The ball is now displaced through a small distance x from the bottom of the bowl
and is then released from rest.

The magnitude of the force on the ball towards the equilibrium position is given
by

mgx

where R is the radius of the bowl.

(d.i) Outline why the ball will perform simple harmonic oscillations
about the equilibrium position. [1]

(d.ii) Show that the period of oscillation of the ball is about 6 s. [2]
(d.iii) The amplitude of oscillation is 0.12 m. On the axes, draw a graph
to show the variation with time t of the velocity v of the ball
during one period.

[3]

(e) A second identical ball is placed at the bottom of the bowl and
the first ball is displaced so that its height from the horizontal is
equal to 8.0 m.

The first ball is released and eventually strikes the second ball.
The two balls remain in contact. Determine, in m, the maximum
height reached by the two balls. [3]
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