Question 1

Paper 2Hard6 marks

A comet lander collects dust during a 4.04.0-minute sampling pulse. Figure 1 shows the rate RR at which particles enter the collection chamber. Assume that RR varies linearly between consecutive readings. The mean mass of a particle is 2.4×10−13 kg2.4\times10^{-13}\,\text{kg}

0123400.20.40.60.811.21.41.61.82t (min)R (108 particles s-1)
(a)

Determine the total mass of dust collected during the pulse. Give your answer in scientific notation to 2 significant figures.

[4]
(b)

A return canister has a maximum dust payload of 7.5×10−3 kg7.5\times10^{-3}\,\text{kg} Is it sufficient for the dust collected during the full pulse? Justify your answer with a numerical comparison.

[2]

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