Mathematics 9709 · AS & A Level · Energy, work and power

Energy, work and power — practice question

A cyclist together with her bicycle has a combined mass of $84\,\text{kg}$. She delivers power at a steady rate of $P\,\text{W}$ while travelling along a straight road that is sloping at an angle $\theta$ to the horizontal, where $\sin\theta = 0.1$. When she is going uphill, the cyclist’s acceleration is $1.25\,\text{m s}^{-2}$ at the moment when her speed is $3\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. When she is going downhill, the cyclist’s acceleration is $1.25\,\text{m s}^{-2}$ at the moment when her speed is $10\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. The resistive force opposing the cyclist’s motion, whether she is travelling uphill or downhill, is $R\,\text{N}$.
(main)[8]

Determine the values of $P$ and $R$.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 8-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: Apply $DF = \frac{P}{v}$ to both the uphill and downhill motions

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