Problem Set 4

Handout November 25th 2013 Due December 2nd 2013

Problem 1
B C

A The diagram above shows a light rod AB of length 4a rigidly joined at B to a light rod BC of length 2a so that the rods are perpendicular to each other and in the same vertical plane. The centre O of AB is xed, and the rods can rotate freely about O in a vertical plane. A particle of mass 4m is attached at A, and a particle of mass m is attached at C . The system rests in equilibrium, with AB inclined at an acute angle to the vertical, as shown. By taking moments about O, nd the value of .

Problem 2
When a force of 1.5 N is applied to a spring, the spring extends by 30 mm. The spring is hung vertically, and is light enough that it is unstretched in this position. A mass of 0.2 kg is then attached to the spring and released. Assume Hookes Law always holds. (i) What is the extension of the spring when the force it exerts upwards on the mass exactly counters the weight of the mass? (ii) How much gravitational potential energy has the mass lost at this extension? (iii) What is the elastic potential energy contained in the spring at this extension?

(iv) Conservation of energy still applies for this system. How do you account for the discrepancy between the loss of gravitational potential energy, and the gain in elastic potential energy?

Problem 3
A copper wire has length 0.9 m and cross-sectional area 0.9 106 m2 , while an iron wire has length 1.4 m and cross-sectional area 1.3 106 m2 . The wires are fused together at one end, as in the diagram below, and the compound wire is stretched until its total length increases by 1 cm. 0.9 m 1.4 m

Calculate (i) the ratio of the extensions of the two wires; (ii) the extension of each wire; (iii) the tension applied to the compound wire (assumed constant throughout). Take the Young modulus of copper to 1.3 1011 Pa, and the Young modulus of iron to be 2.1 1011 Pa.