Skip to main content
A-LevelPhysicsDynamics9702/23 · Oct/Nov 2019 · Q411 Marks

A ball X moves along a horizontal frictionless surface and collides with another ball Y, as illustrated in Fig. 4.1. [Figure 4.1] Ball X has mass 0.300kg and initial velocity vx at an angle of 60.0° to line AB. Ball Y has mass 0.200kg and initial velocity 6.00 ms⁻¹ at an angle of 60.0° to line AB. The balls stick together during the collision and then travel along line AB, as illustrated in Fig. 4.2. [Figure 4.2] The two balls continue moving together along the horizontal frictionless surface towards a spring, as illustrated in Fig. 4.3. [Figure 4.3] The balls hit the spring and remain stuck together as they decelerate to rest. All the kinetic energy of the balls is converted into elastic potential energy of the spring. The energy E stored in the spring is given by E = ½kx² where k is the spring constant of the spring and x is its compression. The spring obeys Hooke's law and has a spring constant of 72Nm⁻¹.

  1. (a)(i)Calculate, to three significant figures, the component of the initial momentum of ball Y that is perpendicular to line AB.[2]
  2. (a)(ii)By considering the component of the initial momentum of each ball perpendicular to line AB, calculate, to three significant figures, vx.[1]
  3. (a)(iii)Show that the speed of the two balls after the collision is 2.4 ms⁻¹.[2]
  4. (b)(i)Determine the maximum compression of the spring caused by the two balls.[3]
  5. (b)(ii)On Fig. 4.4, sketch graphs to show the variation with compression x of the spring, from zero to maximum compression, of: 1. the magnitude of the deceleration a of the balls 2. the kinetic energy Ek of the balls. Numerical values are not required. [Figure 4.4][3]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] p = mv
  2. [1] = 0.2(00) × 6.(00) × sin 60(.0)° or 0.2(00) × 6.(00) × cos 30(.0)° = 1.04 kg m s-1
  3. [1] 0.300 x Vx x sin 60.0°= 1.04
  4. [1] vx = 4.00 m s-1
  5. [1] 0.30 x 4.0 x cos 60° or 0.20 x 6.0 x cos 60° or (0.30 + 0.20)v or 0.50v
  6. [1] 0.30 × 4.0 x cos 60° + 0.20 × 6.0 × cos 60° = (0.30 + 0.20)v or 0.50v
  7. [1] so v = 2.4 m s-1
  8. [1] E = ½mv²
  9. [1] ½ x 0.50 x 2.42 = ½ × 72 × x²
  10. [1] x = 0.20 m
  11. [1] 1. straight line from the origin sloping upwards
  12. [1] 2. line drawn from a positive value of Ek at x = 0 to a positive value of x at Ek = 0
  13. [1] line has an increasing downwards slope

Write your answer and get it marked

On Oracle Prep you can write or photograph your own answer and have it marked by AI against this mark scheme, with feedback on what you missed.

Sign up free →

About this question

Topic
Dynamics, A-Level Physics (syllabus 9702). Structured question, 11 marks.
Source
A-Level Physics, Oct/Nov 2019 Paper 2 Variant 3, question 4.

Questions and mark schemes are from past examination papers and remain the copyright of the exam board. How Oracle Prep builds its content

Related Physics questions

© 2026 Oracle Prep