A2 October 2020 Q4

EdexcelCurrent spec9 marksCentres of Mass

4.

Figure 3: composite solid: a cylinder of radius r and height 4r/3 with a hemisphere on top; O is the centre of the bottom plane face
Figure 3

A uniform solid cylinder of base radius \(r\) and height \(\dfrac{4}{3}r\) has the same density as a uniform solid hemisphere of radius \(r\). The plane face of the hemisphere is joined to a plane face of the cylinder to form the composite solid \(S\) shown in Figure 3. The point \(O\) is the centre of the plane face of \(S\).

(a) Show that the distance from \(O\) to the centre of mass of \(S\) is \(\dfrac{73}{72}r\) (4)

The solid \(S\) is placed with its plane face on a rough horizontal plane. The coefficient of friction between \(S\) and the plane is \(\mu\). A horizontal force \(P\) is applied to the highest point of \(S\). The magnitude of \(P\) is gradually increased.

(b) Find the range of values of \(\mu\) for which \(S\) will slide before it starts to tilt. (5)