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MEI Mechanics 2 Centre of mass

Topic assessment
Take g = 9.8 ms-2 throughout this test.

1. y
A D
4
4 2
m m

B 3m C m
x
- - 0 2 4 6
4 2
In this question, coordinates are referred to the axes shown above.
Four particles at A, B, C and D with masses 4m, 3m, m and 2m lie in a plane with
positions (-3, 4), (0, 0), (2, 0) and (5, 4) respectively.

(i) Calculate the coordinates of the centre of mass of the four particles. [5]

A thin, uniform, rigid wire of mass 12m connects A to B, B to C and C to D, as


shown below.
A D

B C
(ii) Calculate the coordinates of the centre of mass of the wire. [4]

(iii) Calculate the coordinates of the combined centre of mass of the wire and the
particles at A, B, C and D. [3]

A is connected to D by means of a further straight rigid wire of negligible mass.


The combined system of wires and the particles at A, B, C and D is suspended
freely from the midpoint of AD.

(iv) What extra mass must be added at C if the system is to hang in equilibrium
with AD horizontal? [3]

2. A uniform, rectangular lamina of mass 25 kg is folded and placed on a horizontal


floor, as shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 2 below shows the cross-section
ABCDE of the folded lamina. The dimensions and angles of the cross-section are
given in Figure 2, and DE is horizontal.

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MEI M2 Centre of mass Assessment solutions

Figure 1 Figure 2

(i) Show that the x-coordinate of the centre of mass of the lamina is 2.725,
referred to the axes shown in the diagram. Calculate also the y-coordinate,
referred to the same axes, giving your answer correct to three decimal places.
[6]
(ii) Explain briefly why the lamina cannot be in equilibrium in the position
shown without the application of an additional force. [2]

(iii) What is the least vertical force that must be applied to the lamina at A so that
it will stay in equilibrium in the position shown? [4]

Instead of applying the vertical force at A, a horizontal force is applied to the


lamina at E.

(iv) Assuming that the lamina does not slide on the floor, calculate the greatest
value the horizontal force at E can take without the lamina turning anti-
clockwise. [3]

3. A garden table may be modelled as two thin parallel circular discs held together
by a thin rod, as shown in the diagram below. The rod is perpendicular to both
discs and attached to their centres. The rod and both discs are uniform. The table
is standing on horizontal ground.

The larger disc has radius 1 m and mass 4 kg; the smaller disc has radius 0.5 m
and mass 6 kg. The rod has length 0.8 m and mass 2 kg.
1m

0.8 m

0.5 m
(i) Calculate the position of the centre of mass of the table. [4]

(ii) A small object is placed on top of the table. Explain briefly why the table will
not tip up if the object is placed within 0.5 m of the centre, whatever the
mass of the object. [2]

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(iii) The table (without the small object) is tipped so that the base makes an angle
of to the horizontal. What is the largest value that can take if the table
does not fall over when released from rest? [4]
The table is stored for the winter by hanging it P Q
from light strings AP and BQ attached to the A
discs, as shown in the diagram. Both strings
are vertical and the rod is horizontal. B

(iv) Calculate the tension in each of the strings. [5]

y
4.
6 cm
F L E

P
4 cm D C

2 cm

x
O M A B
2
cm
In this question, coordinates refer to the axes shown in the diagram above and the
units are centimetres. Answers should be given correct to three significant figures.
A thin, uniform sheet of metal is cut to form the shape shown above. OAEF is a
rectangle and ABCD is a square with the dimensions shown. A square of side
2.5 cm and centre (4, 2) has been removed leaving the shaded part P.

(i) Show that the x-coordinate of the centre of mass of P is 3.45, correct to three
significant figures, and calculate the y-coordinate. [5]

L and M are the mid-points of EF and OA respectively. The shape P is freely


suspended from L.

(ii) Calculate the angle that LM makes with the vertical. [3]

The mass of the square removed is 0.05 kg.

(iii) What vertical force must be applied at O so that when P is freely suspended
from L, the line LM is vertical? [4]

The shape is now folded along AD so that the square ABCD is at right angles to
OAEF. The x- and y-axes are along OA and OF, as before.

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(iv) Calculate the x- and y- coordinates of the centre of mass of P now that it is
bent. [3]

Total: 60 marks

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MEI M2 Centre of mass Assessment solutions

Solutions to topic assessment

1. (i)
Particle A B C D Tota
l
Mass 4m 3m m 2m 10m
x- -3 0 2 5 x
coordinates
y- 4 0 0 4 y
coordinates

For x-coordinates:
(4m 3) (3m 0) (m 2) (2m 5) 10mx
0 10mx
x0
For y-coordinates:
(4m 4) (3m 0) (m 0) (2m 4) 10my
24m 10my
y 2.4

The centre of mass is at (0, 2.4)

[5]
(ii) Length AB = CD = 5, length BC = 2.
Mass of AB = 5m, mass of BC = 2m, mass of CD = 5m
AB, BC and CD can be considered as particle masses
located at their
centres.

Wire AB BC CD Total
Mass 5m 2m 5m 12m
x- -1.5 1 3.5 x
coordinate
y- 2 0 2 y
coordinate

By symmetry, the x-coordinate of the centre of mass =


1.
(5m 2) (2m 0) (5m 2) 12my
For y-coordinates: 20m 12my
y 5
3

Centre of mass is 1, 53

[4]
(iii)
Wire Particl Total

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es
Mass 12m 10m 22m
x-coordinate 1 0 x
y-coordinate 5
3 2.4 y
(12m 1) (10m 0) 22mx
For x-coordinates: 12m 22mx
x 11
6

(12m 53 ) (10m 2.4) 22my


For y-coordinates: 44m 22my
y2
The centre of mass is at ( 11
6
,2)

[3]
(iv)
X

5
11
G

M
1 C

Mg 1 22mg 151 0
Taking moments about X:
M 10m
The extra mass to be added at C is 10m.

[3]

2. (i) Centre of mass of AB (1cos60,1sin60) (0.5,0.5 3)


Centre of mass of BC (3cos60,1sin60) (1.5,0.5 3)
Centre of mass of CD
(5.5 cos60,1.5 sin60) (2.75,0.75 3)
Centre of mass of DE
(7 cos60 1.5,3sin60) (5,1.5 3)

Let mass per unit length be k

Lamina AB BC CD DE P
Mass 2k 2k 3k 3k 10k
x- 0.5 1.5 2.75 5 x
coordinate
y- 0.5 3 0.5 3 0.75 3 1.5 3 y

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coordinate

Considering x-coordinates:
2k 0.5 2k 1.5 3k 2.75 3k 5 10kx
1 3 8.25 15 10x
27.25 10x
x 2.725

Considering x-coordinates:

2k 0.5 3 2k 0.5 3 3k 0.75 3 3k 1.5 3 10ky


(1 1 2.25 4.5) 3 10y
8.75 3 10y
y 1.516 (3 d.p.)

[6]
(ii) The centre of mass lies to the right of point C, so the
mass produces a
clockwise moment about C. The reaction force at
A must be upwards and
so also produces a clockwise moment about C, so
there is a net turning
force about the point C and therefore the lamina
cannot be in equilibrium.

[2]
(iii) If the lamina is just in equilibrium, the reaction force
at A is zero.

A
2 0.72
C5
Y 25g
25g 0.725 2Y 0
Taking moments about C: 2Y 25 9.8 0.725
Y 88.8
The least force needed is 88.8 N (3 s.f.).

[4]
(iv) If the lamina is about to turn anti-clockwise, the
reaction at C is zero.

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R X

1.5 3
A 2
0.72
F C 5 25g

25g 2.725 1.5 3X 0


Taking moments about A: 25 9.8 2.725
X 257
1.5 3
The greatest value for the force is 257 N (3 s.f.)

[3]

3. (i)
Smaller Rod Larger Total
disc disc
Mass 6 2 4 12
Height of 0 0.4 0.8 y
c.o.m.

(6 0) (2 0.4) (4 0.8) 12y


12y 4
y 1
3
1
The centre of mass lies on the rod, 3 m above the
ground.

[4]
(ii) The table will only tip up if there is a net turning
moment about the edge
of the base disc. This will only occur if the line of
action of the weight of
the object lies beyond the base: i.e. if the object
is more than 0.5 m from the
centre.

[2]
(iii)

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1
3

0.
5

0.5
tan 1
1.5
3

56.3

[4]
(iv)
P Q
0.8
T1 T2
A
B
1
3

12g

12g 31 0.8T 1 0
Taking moments about Q:
T1 49
T1 T2 12g
Resolving vertically: 49 T2 117.6
T2 68.6
The tension in AP is 49 N and the tension in BQ is 68.6
N.

[5]

4. (i) y
6 cm
F L E

P
4 cm D C

2 cm

x
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2
cm
MEI M2 Centre of mass Assessment solutions

Lamina OAEF ABCD Squar P


e
Area 24 4 6.25 21.75
x-coordinate 3 7 4 x
y-coordinate 2 1 2 y

(24 3) (4 7) (6.25 4) 21.75 x


For x-coordinates: 75 21.75 x
x 3.45 (3 s.f.)

(24 2) (4 1) (6.25 2) 21.75 y


For y-coordinates: 39.5 21.75 y
y 1.82 (3 s.f.)

[5]
(ii)
L


2.18

0.45

0.4483
tan M
2.1839
11.6 (3 s.f.)

[3]
(iii) Area of square = 6.25
Mass of square = 0.05
0.05
Mass per unit area 0.008
6.25
Mass of P 21.75 0.008 0.174

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L

MEI M2 Centre of mass Assessment solutions

0.448
3

3
O
Taking moments about L:
0.174 9.8 0.4483 X 3 0
X 0.255X(3 s.f.) 0.174g
The vertical force required is 0.255 N.

[4]
(iv)
Lamina OAEF ABCD Squar P
e
Area 24 4 6.25 21.75
x-coordinate 3 6 4 x
y-coordinate 2 1 2 y

For x-coordinates:
(24 3) (4 6) (6.25 4) 21.75 x
71 21.75 x
x 3.26 (3 s.f.)

The y-coordinates are unchanged, so


y 1.82 (3 s.f.)

[3]

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