HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

Hong Kong Physics Olympiad 2011 (Senior Level)

2011 ()
Suggested Solutions

Multiple Choice Questions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
d b b e c a b a e c a d a e a a a d e b

MC1: (d)

dF dV
MC2: F kx 3m V g , k g g R 2 .
dx dx
k / M g R2 / (3m) .(b)
2 3g
It can be further simplified to R3 3m .
3 2R

MC3: Using Archimedes principle, volume of water displaced is Vdis (mstone iceVice ) / water .
Suppose a volume of Vice melts, then the volume of water displaced decreases by
iceVice / water . At the same time, since mass is conserved, the volume of water increases by
iceVice / water . Hence there is no change in the water level. However, when all ice melts and the
stone sinks to the bottom, the volume of water displaced is mstone / stone mstone / water . Hence the
water level falls. Answer: (b)

MC4: Using Newtons law of universal gravitation and Newtons second law for circular orbits,
M R 3 / T 2 . Comparing with Earths orbit, where M = 1 solar mass, R = 1 AU and T = 1 year,
2
98
R 1.5
3
0.48 AU . Answer: (e)
365

MC5: Denote the friction force and normal force acting on each blade as Ff and N, respectively. At
the critical angle the static friction force should reach its maximal value which is F = N.
The condition for the wire not to move is when all components
of the forces adding up equal to zero. As shown in the force
diagram acting on the wire, the vertical components cancel each

other by symmetry, and the horizontal components cancel if
sin 2
2 Ff cos 2 N .
2
Thus, from the condition of the critical angle we obtain:
tan . Answer: (c)

MC6: (a)

MC7: Let v be the velocity of the particle of mass m. Kinetic energy of the compound pendulum:
2
1 1 v 3
K mv 2 (2m) mv 2
2 2 2 4
Potential energy of the compound pendulum:
L
U mgL cos 2mg cos 2mgL cos
2

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 HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

2
For small oscillations, U 2mgL1 cosntant mgL 2
2
For small oscillations, we can approximate the linear displacement by x = L.
mg 2
Hence U x
L
3 2mg 1 2mg / L 1 4g
a m b f
Using the result of MC12, we can substitute 2 , L and 2 3m / 2 2 3L .
Answer: (b)

MC8: Using Newtons second law, we find that the acceleration of the upward displacement is
v1 v12
g (sin cos ) . Hence t1 and L .
g (sin cos ) 2 g (sin cos )
The acceleration of the downward displacement is g (sin cos ) (in the downward
1
direction). Hence the time is given by L g (sin cos )t22 . Hence
2
2L v12
sin cos
t22 2 t12
g (sin cos ) g (sin cos )(sin cos ) sin cos
Answer: (a)

m
MC9: Sol. mv0 (m M )v, v v0 =2m/s,
mM
1 1 1 1
Ek mv0 (m M )v 2 110 2 (1 4) 22 40 J
2

2 2 2 2
Answer: (e)

MC10: Sol. m1=1kg, m2=3kg, F=6N, v0 =2m/s, d =1m..

, , v.
m2 3
m2 v0 (m1 m2 )v, v v0 2 =1.5m/s.
m1 m2 1 3
T, v1 a1T v0 a2T , 6T 2 2T , T 0.25s, v 1.5m/s .
1 1 1 1
E k m2 v0 (m1 m2 )v 2 3 2 2 (1 3) 1.5 2 =1.5J Fs , s 0.25m .
2

2 2 2 2
= ds= 0.75m. Answer: (c)

2
MC11: tan 1 tan , (a)
3
MC12: a d c b , (d)
MC13: V ( 0 ) 100kg 1.2 0.1 1.1 kg / m3 .
T T0 0 / 293 1.2 /1.1 319.6K 46.6 C (a)
MC14: Total reflection (e)
MC15: E 15mg / q , (a)
r 2 Bq
MC16: v , (a)
2mR
MC17: 0, (a)
MC18: (d)
MC19: v mgR / B 2 L2 N , (e)
MC20: By energy conservation, Q1 Q2 mgH . (b)
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 HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

Open Questions
Q 1 (10 points):
(a) For parallel connection, the total current I is the sum of the currents I1 and I2 through the two
U U U RR
resistors, and their voltage U is the same. So R p U / 1 2 , (1.5 points)
I1 I 2 R1 R2 R1 R2
For serial connection, the current I through the resistors is the same, and the total voltage U
across the two resistors is sum of the voltages across each resistor. So
Rs U1 U 2 / I R1 R2 ;(1.5 points)
(b) For parallel connection, the total charge Q is the sum of the charge Q1 and Q2 on the two
capacitors, and the voltage U is the same for both capacitors. So C p Q1 Q2 / U C1 C2 , (1.5
points)
For serial connection, the charge Q on each capacitor is the same, because in the section of
circuit between the two capacitors the total charge should be zero. The total voltage U is the sum
Q Q Q CC
of voltage across each capacitor. So Cs Q / 1 2 .(1.5 points)
U1 U 2 C1 C2 C1 C2
(c) As the chain is infinitely long, it does not matter if one section is taken away.
1 1 1
Therefore T , (3 points)
C 2C C T
C

Solving the equation one gets C T 3 1 C .(1 point)

Q 2 (14 points):
(a)
Note that for the whole system the net force in the horizontal direction is zero. The impulse will
m1v0
give a total momentum to the system and its center of mass will move at constant speed ,
m1 m2
while the block and the ball will move back and forth relative to the center of mass.

Two ways to determine the vibration frequency are given below.

Method 1: (4 points)
Take the following coordinate system.
x1 is the coordinate of the ball relative to the block. So x1 L .
x2 is the coordinate of the block relative to the floor.
m1 g m1 x1 x2 , (Newton's equation for the ball)

,
m
1 1 2x x m x
2 2 0, (zero acceleration for center of mass.)
m1 m1
Solving the two equations, x2 x1 L
m1 m2 m1 m2
m1 m2 g m1 m2
g 1 x1 L .
m1 m2 m1 m2 m2 L
Method 2: (4 points)
Both coordinates are relative to the floor.
m L
x1 2
x1 x2 L m1 m2
,
m1 x1 m2 x2 0 x m1 L
2 m1 m2
1 1 m1m2 L2 2
Ek m1 x1 m2 x2
2 2
,
2 2 2 m1 m2

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 HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

1
U m1 gL 2 .
2
g m1 m2
Thus .
m2 l
We now proceed to get the equations of motion of the ball and the block.
The general solution is (t) Asin( t) B cos( t) .
Consider the initial conditions (0) 0, (0) v0 / L , thus
v0 m2
(t ) sin(t ) v0 sin(t ) , and
L Lg m1 m2
m2v0 Lm2
x1 sin(t ) ,
m1 m2 g m1 m2
or, in the reference system of the floor,
m2 v0 Lm2 m1v0
x1 sin(t ) t
m1 m2 g m1 m2 m1 m2
.(3 points)
x 1 0 m v Lm 2
sin(t )
m v
1 0
t
2 m m g m m m m
1 2 1 2 1 2

(b) Throughout the process, momentum and energy are always conserved. (7 points)
Take all coordinates to be relative to the floor. As the rod mass is ignored, the force of rod on the
ball is always along the rod so it does not produce a torque to the rod. One can therefore replace
the rod by a massless thread, or assuming the ball is moving on a smooth circular rail centered
at the hinge.
m1v1 m2 v2 m1v0

1
1 1
2 m1 v1 vy 2 m2 v2 mgh 2 m1v0
2 2 2 2

v1 v0 v2
(i) vy 0, h 0 , and F m1v02 / L , T F m1 g m1 0 g , and The force of the
v2 0 L
floor on the block is N m2 g T m1 m2 g m1v02 / L .(2 points)
m1v0
v x m m
1 2
(ii) h L, v1 v2 vx 2
,
v m v
2 0
2 gL
y m m2
1

m1v y2 m1m2v02
T F 2m1 g
L (m1 m2 ) L

N (m1 m2 ) g (2 points)
m12 v0 m12 m2 m2 v02 4 m1 m2 gL
v
1 m1 m1 m2
(iii) v y 0, h 2 L ,
m1m2 v0 m1 m2 m2v0 4 m1 m2 gL
2 2

v2
m2 m1 m2

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 HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

v1 v2 2 v 2 4m
T F m1 g m1 g m1 0 1 5 g
L L m2

N m2 g T m1 m2 4m1 m2 g / m2 m1v02 / L .(2 points)

Q 3: (10 points)
Method-1
M B , and F ev B .
Maintaining the relative direction between spin and velocity requires simply that
/I F/P
geB evB eB
, so g 2 .
2m mv m

Method-2
The electron will move in a circle in the magnetic field. We need to find the period of such
circular motion first. Let the radius of the circle be R. Then evB mv 2 / R v eBR / m . The
2 mR 2 m
period is Te 2 R / v .
eBR eB

For the electron spin S , the torque is always perpendicular to the spin, so the spin will rotate.
Suppose the spin rotate by a small angle over a short time period t , the change of angular
momentum is S S , similar to circular motion where the change of velocity is v v .
The angular speed of the spin rotation is then / t .
geSB S S
Using the equation for torque and angular momentum, S .
2m t t
2 4 m
The rotation period of the spin is Ts .
geB
Finally, Ts Te g 2 .

Q4 (12 points)
(a) At the same pressure, T Constant, (1 point)
293
The density at 40C is 0 1.2 1.12 kg/m3 (1 point)
313
55.35
(b) The fraction of water vapor at 40C at sea level 1 90% (2 points)
760
For adiabatic process, PV 7/5 constant, and for ideal gas PV = nkT, so P CT 7/2

6.5
The fraction of water at 5C at high altitude 2 7
(2 points)
278 2
760 ( )
313

55.35 6.5
Rain = (1 2 ) V ( 90% 7
) 1.12 (0.0665 0.013) 1.12 60 g (3 points)
760 278 2
760( )
313
2 1.12 9.8 h
(c) Height 278 313(1 ) h 3673m (3 points)
7 1.03 105

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 HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

Q 5: (14 points)

A
S1

S2
B

(a) (7 points)
Using the lens formula, we know that there are two images S1 and S2 at distance 2f from the split
lens and their distance is 4d. (1 point) The two images are equivalent to the two small holes
illuminated by a point source in a typical Youngs interference experiment. Their interference
effect produces the fringes on the screen.
L L f . Let be the distance of the observation position on the screen to the optical axis.
L 2d L 2d
2 2
1
1 2d L 1 1
2
,
2

L L
L 2d
2
4d
2 1 . And then optical path difference is 1 2 . (2 points)
L L
The width of the fringe is then
L 500 10 1 0.2
9
4d
1.0 104 m = 0.1 mm .
L 4d 4 103
Now we need to know the width of the area where interference occurs, or where the light from
S1 overlap with the light from S2. From the figure we see that the area is between point-A and
point-B. By simple geometry, we get the distance between point-A and point-B to be
d
D (3 f L) 1600 1/ 200 8 mm (1 point)
f
D 8
So Number 80 . (2 points)
0.1

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 HKPhO 2011 (Senior Level) - Suggested Solutions

(b)

Each source (red or green) will form a pair of images, just like in (a). Each pair forms its own set
of interference fringes on the screen. When the red set bright fringes overlap with the dark
fringes of the green pair, then the light intensity on the screen is uniform and no fringes can be
observed. This means that at any point on the screen, the optical path difference from the red
pair should differ from that from the green pair by at least half the wavelength.

The distance between each pair of interfering images is still 4d . The center position of the red
pair from the optical axis is ((2d b) (2d b)) / 2 b . At a position above the optical axis by ,
4d
the optical path difference is R ( b) .
L
Likewise, the center position of the green pair from the optical axis is b . At the same position
4d
above the optical axis by the optical path difference is G ( b) (2 points)
L
8db
For fringes to disappear, we must have G R .
L 2
L 5 10 800
4
Finally, b 0.025mm . (3 points)
16d 16