Answers to test yourself questions

Topic 6
6.1 Circular motion
2π 2π
1 a The angular speed is just ω = = = 5.07 rad s −1. The linear speed is v = ω R = 5.07 × 3.50 = 17.7 m s −1.
T 1.24
1 1
b The frequency is f = = = 0.806 s −1.
T 1.24

2 a = 4π 2 rf 2 = 4π 2 × 2.45 × ( 3.5)2 = 1.2 × 10 3 m s −2.


 ∆v 
3 a The average acceleration is defined as a = . The velocity vectors at A and B and the change in the velocity ∆v
are shown below. ∆t

2π × 2.0
The magnitude of the velocity vector is 4.0 m s −1 and it takes a time of = 3.14 s to complete a full
4.0
3.14
revolution. Hence a time of = 0.785 s to complete a quarter of revolution from A to B. The magnitude of
4
 5.66
∆v is 4.0 2 + 4.0 2 = 5.66 m s −1 and so the magnitude of the average acceleration is = 7.2 m s −2. This is
0.785
directed towards north-west and if this vector is made to start at the midpoint of the arc AB it is then directed
towards the center of the circle.
v 2 16.0
b The centripetal acceleration has magnitude = = 8.0 m s −2 directed towards the center of the circle.
r 2.0
 2π r 
2

v 2
  4π 2 r
4 The centripetal acceleration is a = = T = 2 = 4π 2 rf 2 . Hence
r r T
a 50
f = = = 0.356 s −1 ≈ 21 min −1.
4π 2 r 4π × 10
2

v2 4.00
5 a The centripetal acceleration is = = 10.0 m s −2. The tension is the force that provides the centripetal
r 0.400
acceleration and so T = ma = 1.00 × 10.0 = 10.0 N.
v2
b From T = ma = 20.0 N we have a = = 20.0 m s −2 and so v = 20 × 0.40 = 2.83 m s −1.
r
4.00 2 16.0
c 20.0 = 1.00 × ⇒r = = 0.800 m
r 20.0

4π 2 r 4π 2 × 6.4 × 106
6 With a = 9.8 m s −2 we have that a = ⇒T = = 5.08 × 10 3 s ≈ 85 min.
T2 9.8

physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015 ANSWERS TO TEST YOURSELF QUESTIONS 6 1
  2π r 
2

v 2
  4π 2 r 4π 2 × 50.0 × 10 3
  7 a a = = T = 2 = = 3.2 × 109 m s −2
r r T ( 25.0 × 10 −3 )2
b The forces on the probe are (i) its weight, mg, and (ii) the normal reaction force N from the surface. Assuming
the probe to stay on the surface the net force would be
mv 2 mv 2  v2 
mg − N = ⇒ N = mg − = m  g −  = m(8.0 × 1010 − 3.2 × 109 ) > 0.
r r  r 
This is positive so the probe can stay on the surface.

2π R 2π × 1.5 × 1011
  8 a v = = = 2.99 × 104 ≈ 30 km m s −1
T 365 × 24 × 60 × 60
v 2
( 2.99 × 104 )2
b a = = = 5.95 × 10 −3 ≈ 6.0 × 10 −3 m s −2
r 1.5 × 1011

mv 2
c F = ma = = 6.0 × 10 24 × 5.95 × 10 −3 ≈ 3.6 × 10 22 N
r
  9 The components of L are:
L x = L sin θ , L y = L cos θ

We have that
v2
L sin θ = m
R
L cos θ = mg
Dividing side by side:
v2
m
L sin θ
= R
L cos θ mg
v2
tan θ =
gR
v2 180 2
This gives ⇒ R = = = 4.7 km
g tan θ 9.8 × tan 35°

10 a friction

reaction

weight

b Let the normal reaction force from the wall be N. Then

v2
N =m
r
mg = f s

For the minimum rotation speed the frictional force must be a maximum i.e. f s = µs N . I.e.
v2
N =m
r
mg = µs N

2 ANSWERS TO TEST YOURSELF QUESTIONS 6 physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015
 v2 gr 9.8 × 5.0
Combining gives mg = µsm i.e. v = = = 9.04 m s −1. From v = 2π rf we find
r µs 0.60
v 9.04
f = = = 0.288 rev s −1 ≈ 17 rev min −1.
2π r 2π × 5.0

11 a Let v be the speed on the flat part of the road before the loop is entered. At the top the net force on the
cart is its weight and the normal reaction force from the road, both directed vertically downwards. T   hen,
2 2
mu mu
N + mg = ⇒N = − mg where u is the speed at the top. For the cart not to fall off the road, we must
R R
1 1
have N > 0 i.e. u > gR . From conservation of energy, mv 2 = mg( 2R ) + mu 2 and so u 2 = v 2 − 4 gR .
2

2 2
Hence v 2 − 4 gR > gR , i.e. v > 5 gR = 29.7 ≈ 30 m s −1.

b For just about equal to 5 gR we get u = gR = 13.3 ≈ 13 m s −1.

12 The tension in the string must equal the weight of the hanging mass i.e. T = Mg . The tension serves as the
v2 v2 Mgr
centripetal force on the smaller mass and so T = m . Hence m = Mg ⇒ v = .
r r m

13 Let the tension in the upper string be TU and TL in the lower string. Both strings make an angle θ with the
horizontal. We have that:
TU sin θ = mg + TL sin θ
v2
TU cos θ + TL cos θ = m
r
We may rewrite these as:
TU sin θ − TL sin θ = mg
v2
TU cos θ + TL cos θ = m
r
0.50
From trigonometry, sin θ = = 0.50 ⇒ θ = 30°. Further, r = 1.0 2 − 0.50 2 = 0.866 m. Therefore the
1.0
equations simplify to
0.50 × (TU − TL ) = 2.45 TU − TL = 4.90
or .
0.866 × (TU + TL ) = 18.48 TU + TL = 21.33

Finally, TU = 13.1 N, TL = 8.22 N.

1 2
14 a By conservation of energy, mgh = mv and so v = 2 gh = 2 × 9.81 × 120 = 48.9 ≈ 49 m s −1 (with this speed,
2
this amusement park should not have a licence to operate!).
b The forces on a passenger are the weight and the reaction force R both in the vertically down direction. Thus
v2 v2
R + mg = m ⇒ R = m − mg . The speed at the top is found from energy conservation as
r r
1 2
mgH = mv + mg( 2r ) ⇒ v 2 = 9.81 × 240 − 2 × 9.81 × 60 = 1177 . Hence
2
1177
R = 60 × − 60 × 9.81 = 1765 ≈ 1800 N.
30
50 2
c Using v 2 = u 2 − 2as we get 0 = 49 2 − 2a × 40 and so a = = 30 m s −2 (some passengers will be fainting
2 × 40
now, assuming they are still alive!).

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 6.2 The law of gravitation
Mm −11 5.98 × 10 24 × 7.35 × 10 22
15 a F = G = 6.67 × 10 × = 1.99 × 10 20 N
R2 ( 3.84 × 108 )2
Mm −11 1.99 × 10 30 × 1.90 × 10 27
b F = G = 6.67 × 10 × = 4.17 × 10 23 N
R2 (7.78 × 1011 )2
Mm −11 1.67 × 10 −27 × 9.11 × 10 −31
c F = G = 6.67 × 10 × = 1.0 × 10 −47 N
R2 (1.00 × 10 −10 )2
16 a Zero since it is being pulled equally from all directions.
b Zero, by Newton’s third law.
m2 m2 Mm m(m + M )
c F = G , (d) F = G 2
+G 2
=G
4R 2
4R 4R 4R 2

 GM 
g  (9R )2  1
17 A = =
gB  GM  81
 R2 
 G 2M 
g  ( 2R )2  1
18 A = =
gB  GM  2
 R2 
19 Since star A is 27 times as massive and the density is the same the volume of A must be 27 times as large. Its radius
 G 27M 
g A  ( 3R )2 
must therefore be 3 times as large. Hence = = 3.
gB  GM 
 R2 
 GM / 2 
g  ( R / 2)2 
20 new = =2
g old  GM 
 R2 

21 Let this point be a distance x from the center of the Earth and let d be the center to center distance between the
earth and the moon.  Then
G 81M GM
=
x 2
(d − x )2
81(d − x )2 = x 2
9(d − x ) = x

x 9
= = 0.9
d 10
22 a At point P the gravitational field strength is obviously zero.
b The gravitational field strength at Q from each of the masses is
GM −11 3.0 × 10 22
g= = 6.67 × 10 × = 1.0 × 106 N kg −1. The net field, taking components, is directed from Q
R 2
( 2 × 10 )
9 2

to P and has magnitude 2 g cos 45° = 2 × 1 × 106 cos 45° = 1.4 × 106 N kg −1.

4 ANSWERS TO TEST YOURSELF QUESTIONS 6 physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015
 GMm v2 GM 2π r 4π 2 r 3
23 W
 e know that 2 = m ⇒ v2 = . But v = and so we deduce that T 2 = . Therefore
r r r T GM
GMT 2 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 10 24 × ( 24 × 60 × 60)2
r= 3 = 3 = 4.2 × 107 m.
4π 2 4π 2
GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 10 24
24 a From v 2 = we calculate v = = 7.5828754 × 10 3 ≈ 7.6 × 10 3 m s −1.
r (6.4 + 0.560) × 106

6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 10 24

b The shuttle speed is v = = 7.5831478 × 10 3 m s −1. The relative speed of the shuttle
6.9595 × 10 6

104
−1
and Hubble is 0.2724 m s and so the distance of 10 km will be covered in = 36711 s ≈ 10 hrs.
0.2724
Gm m v2 Gm 2π r  2π r  = Gm1 giving
2
25 a  n1 2 = m2 ⇒ v 2 = n − 11 . But v = and so  
r r r T T r n −1
4π 2 r 2 Gm1
= n −1
T2 r

4π r
2 n +1
T2 =
Gm1
b For this to be consistent with Kepler’s third law we need n + 1 = 3 ⇒ n = 2

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