AS June 2019 Q4

EdexcelCurrent spec10 marksCentres of Mass

4.

Figure 2: left: triangular lamina with CE = 9a vertical, EA = 6a horizontal, right angle at E, D on CE with CD = 6a and DE = 3a, and DB = 4a parallel to EA; right: the folded lamina after folding along DB, with C now below E, and F where BC crosses EA
Figure 2

The uniform triangular lamina \(ABCDE\) is such that angle \(CEA = 90^\circ\), \(CE = 9a\) and \(EA = 6a\). The point \(D\) lies on \(CE\), with \(DE = 3a\). The point \(B\) on \(CA\) is such that \(DB\) is parallel to \(EA\) and \(DB = 4a\). The triangular lamina is folded along the line \(DB\) to form the folded lamina \(ABDECF\), as shown in Figure 2.

The distance of the centre of mass of the triangular lamina from \(DC\) is \(d_1\)

The distance of the centre of mass of the folded lamina from \(DC\) is \(d_2\)

(a) Explain why \(d_1 = d_2\) (1)

The folded lamina is freely suspended from \(B\) and hangs in equilibrium with \(BA\) inclined at an angle \(\alpha\) to the downward vertical through \(B\).

(b) Find, to the nearest degree, the size of angle \(\alpha\). (9)