June 2024 Paper 1 Q9

OCR ACurrent spec9 marksModellingTrigonometry

9 The depth of the water, \(d\) metres, in a tidal river during a given day is modelled by the equation

\(d = 1.9 + 1.1\cos(30t - 60)^\circ\)

where \(t\) is the number of hours after midnight.

(A tidal river is one whose level is influenced by tides.)

(a)
(i) Find the minimum depth of water given by this model. [1]
(ii) Find the value of \(t\) when the minimum depth first occurs. [2]
(b) A boat can only enter the river when the depth of water is at least 1 metre.
Determine the two periods of time during the day between which this boat will not be able to enter the river. Give your answers correct to the nearest minute. [5]

In reality the depth of the river decreases as this boat travels along the river. An improved model uses the equation

\(d = \mathrm{e}^{-cp}\left(1.9 + 1.1\cos(30t - 60)^\circ\right)\)

where \(c\) is a positive constant and \(p\) is the distance, in kilometres, travelled along the river after entering it.

(c) Explain how this new equation could give an improved model. [1]