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Cambridge International AS & A Level

CANDIDATE
NAME

CENTRE CANDIDATE
NUMBER NUMBER
*7615155884*

MATHEMATICS 9709/42
Paper 4 Mechanics October/November 2021

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: List of formulae (MF19)

INSTRUCTIONS
³ Answer all questions.
³ Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
³ Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
³ Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
³ Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
³ Do not write on any bar codes.
³ 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.
³ You should use a calculator where appropriate.
³ You must show all necessary working clearly; no marks will be given for unsupported answers from a
calculator.
³ 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.
³ Where a numerical value for the acceleration due to gravity (g) is needed, use 10 m s–2.

INFORMATION
³ The total mark for this paper is 50.
³ The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 12 pages.

JC21 11_9709_42/2R
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1
v (m s−1 )

20

0 t (s)
0 5 25 30 T 50 60

The diagram shows a velocity-time graph which models the motion of a car. The graph consists of
six straight line segments. The car accelerates from rest to a speed of 20 m s−1 over a period of 5 s,
and then travels at this speed for a further 20 s. The car then decelerates to a speed of 6 m s−1 over a
period of 5 s. This speed is maintained for a further T − 30
s. The car then accelerates again to a
speed of 20 m s−1 over a period of 50 − T
s, before decelerating to rest over a period of 10 s.

(a) Given that during the two stages of the motion when the car is accelerating, the accelerations are
equal, find the value of T . [2]

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(b) Find the total distance travelled by the car during the motion. [2]

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2 A van of mass 3600 kg is towing a trailer of mass 1200 kg along a straight horizontal road using a
light horizontal rope. There are resistance forces of 700 N on the van and 300 N on the trailer.

(a) The driving force exerted by the van is 2500 N.

Find the tension in the rope. [4]

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The driving force is now removed and the van driver applies a braking force which acts only on the
van. The resistance forces remain unchanged.

(b) Find the least possible value of the braking force which will cause the rope to become slack. [2]

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3
A C

1.8 m

The diagram shows a semi-circular track ABC of radius 1.8 m which is fixed in a vertical plane. The
points A and C are at the same horizontal level and the point B is at the bottom of the track. The
section AB is smooth and the section BC is rough. A small block is released from rest at A.

(a) Show that the speed of the block at B is 6 m s−1 . [2]

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The block comes to instantaneous rest for the first time at a height of 1.2 m above the level of B. The
work done against the resistance force during the motion of the block from B to this point is 4.5 J.

(b) Find the mass of the block. [3]

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4 A cyclist starts from rest at a point A and travels along a straight road AB, coming to rest at B. The
displacement of the cyclist from A at time t s after the start is s m, where

s = 0.004 75t2 − t3
.

(a) Show that the distance AB is 250 m. [4]

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(b) Find the maximum velocity of the cyclist. [3]

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5 A railway engine of mass 75 000 kg is moving up a straight hill inclined at an angle ! to the horizontal,
where sin ! = 0.01. The engine is travelling at a constant speed of 30 m s−1 . The engine is working
at 960 kW. There is a constant force resisting the motion of the engine.

(a) Find the resistance force. [3]

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The engine comes to a section of track which is horizontal. At the start of the section the engine is
travelling at 30 m s−1 and the power of the engine is now reduced to 900 kW. The resistance to motion
is no longer constant, but in the next 60 s the work done against the resistance force is 46 500 kJ.

(b) Find the speed of the engine at the end of the 60 s. [4]

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60Å

XN
5 kg
60Å

A block of mass 5 kg is held in equilibrium near a vertical wall by two light strings and a horizontal
force of magnitude X N, as shown in the diagram. The two strings are both inclined at 60Å to the
vertical.

(a) Given that X = 100, find the tension in the lower string. [4]

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(b) Find the least value of X for which the block remains in equilibrium in the position shown. [4]

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7
P
m kg

6.4
m
Q
2m kg

Particles P and Q have masses m kg and 2m kg respectively. The particles are initially held at rest
6.4 m apart on the same line of greatest slope of a rough plane inclined at an angle ! to the horizontal,
where sin ! = 0.8 (see diagram). Particle P is released from rest and slides down the line of greatest
slope. Simultaneously, particle Q is projected up the same line of greatest slope at a speed of 10 m s−1 .
The coefficient of friction between each particle and the plane is 0.6.

(a) Show that the acceleration of Q up the plane is −11.6 m s−2 . [4]

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(b) Find the time for which the particles are in motion before they collide. [5]

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(c) The particles coalesce on impact.

Find the speed of the combined particle immediately after the impact. [4]

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Additional Page

If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s)
must be clearly shown.

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Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

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© UCLES 2021 9709/42/O/N/21