Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

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School of Mathematics & Physics

PROBLEM SET 2
Semester One, 2021

PHYS1001 Mechanics & Thermal Physics I

Instructions To Students:

Answer both questions. Each question is graded out of 7. A maximum grade of 5 can be achieved
by answering the standard parts of each question, and then demonstrating mastery of the
[Advanced] sections can raise your grade to 7.

DUE DATE: Friday 7TH MAY 2021, 5:00 PM

Certification (must be signed before submission – the following written at the start of your
exam answers is fine):

I certify that my submitted answers are entirely my own work and that I have neither given nor
received any unauthorised assistance on this assessment item.

Signed:_______________________________Date:______________________

Page 1 of 9
Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

Question 1.
Alice and Bob, each of mass 𝑀, were out on a walking adventure when disaster struck:
the ground between them gave way exposing a gorge of width 𝑊. Luckily, they each have
at their disposal a tree trunk of length L and mass 5𝑀.

They set off to make a bridge to go across the gorge in order to be reunited again. Alice
slides her tree trunk by a maximum distance 𝐴, such that the tree trunk does not topple
even when she stands on its end above the gorge. Bob slides his tree trunk - to meet one
end of Alice's tree trunk - a distance 𝐵, such that the tree trunk does not topple when he
stands on one end while Alice stands on the edge that is above the gorge. (Distances in
the sketch below are not to scale)

a) Draw the forces acting on Alice's tree trunk as she stands on its end above the
gorge. For simplicity, assume that the normal force on the tree trunk is acting from
the edge of the gorge.

b) Write the conditions for static equilibrium for Alice's tree trunk. Use the edge of the
gorge as the pivot point.

c) What is the distance 𝐴 in terms of the tree trunk's length 𝐿?

d) What is the distance 𝐵 in terms of the tree trunk's length 𝐿?

[Advanced]:

If the tree trunks were allowed to overlap (e.g. when they have a joint as shown below):

e) Will the maximum width 𝑊 increase or decrease? Explain your answer using
equations or sound physics arguments (or both).

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Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

Question 2.
Iceberg B-15 is the world's largest recorded iceberg. It carved from the Ross Ice Shelf in
March 2000 and floated for some time before it was eventually broken up by storms. It has
a surface area of 11,000 km! .

a) The freeboard (height of the iceberg above the water) for B-15 is 30 m. What is the
height that is under the water? Freshwater ice has a density of 920 kg m"# ;
seawater has a density of 1,025 kg m"# .

b) B-15 broke up into several pieces, the largest piece is B-15A and has an area of
6,400 km! . What is B-15A's freeboard?

[Advanced]:

Imagine that a colony of penguins (of negligible mass compared to the iceberg)
simultaneously jumped once on top of the iceberg. This will cause the iceberg to be
displaced vertically by amount 𝑦 - just a little bit such that 𝑦 is much less than the total
height of the iceberg - and undergo simple harmonic motion.

c) Does the period of the simple harmonic motion depend on the area? Explain your
answer using equations or sound physics arguments (or both).

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Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

PHYS1001: Useful formulae and numerical values

MATHEMATICS
Quadratic eqn: 𝑎𝑥 ! + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
√# ! $%&'
Solution: 𝑥 = −𝑏 ± !&

Trigonometry
𝑐𝑜𝑠 ! 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛! 𝜃 = 1
sin(𝐴 ± 𝐵) = sin 𝐴 cos 𝐵 ± cos 𝐴 sin 𝐵
cos(𝐴 ± 𝐵) = cos 𝐴 cos 𝐵 ∓ sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵
𝐴±𝐵 𝐴∓𝐵
sin 𝐴 ± sin 𝐵 = 2 sin < = cos > ?
2 2
𝐴+𝐵 𝐴−𝐵
cos 𝐴 + cos 𝐵 = 2 cos < = cos < =
2 2
𝐴+𝐵 𝐴−𝐵
cos 𝐴 − cos 𝐵 = 2 sin < = sin < =
2 2
Binomial expansion
𝑛(𝑛 − 1) !
(1 + 𝑥)( = 1 + 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑥 +⋯
2!
Calculus
d n
x = n x n -1
dx
x n +1
ò =
n
x dx
n +1
1
ò x dx = ln ( x )
d
sin ( ax ) = a cos ( ax )
dx
d
cos ( ax ) = - a sin ( ax )
dx
Vectors
𝐴⃗∙𝐵
D⃗ = 𝐴𝐵 cos 𝜙

𝐴⃗×𝐵D⃗ = 𝐴𝐵 sin 𝜙 𝑛D⃗

where 𝑛D⃗ is a unit vector normal to both 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
D⃗.

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Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

Vectors – continued
If 𝚤⃗, 𝚥⃗, and 𝑘D⃗ are mutually perpendicular unit vectors then

D⃗ ∙𝑘D⃗= 1 and 𝚤⃗∙𝚥⃗=𝚥⃗∙𝑘D⃗=𝑘

𝚤⃗∙𝚤⃗=𝚥⃗∙𝚥⃗=𝑘 D⃗ ∙𝚤⃗= 0 and 𝚤⃗×𝚤⃗=𝚥⃗×𝚥⃗=𝑘D⃗×𝑘D⃗= 0 and 𝚤⃗×𝚥⃗=𝑘
D⃗ , 𝚥⃗×𝑘
D⃗ =𝚤⃗, 𝑘D⃗×𝚤⃗=𝚥⃗.

𝚤⃗ 𝚥⃗ D⃗
𝑘
⃗ D⃗
𝐴×𝐵= J𝐴) 𝐴* 𝐴+ J
𝐵) 𝐵* 𝐵+

KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS

vs = ds / dt w = dq / dt 
 Fnet
as = dvs / dt a = dw / dt s a=
θ= m
tf tf r
s f = si + ò vs dt q f = qi + ò w dt FG = mg
ti ti vt = ω r
tf tf f s,max = µ s n
v f = vi + ò as dt w f = wi + ò a s dt at = α r
ti
ti
f k = µk n
v fs = vis + as Dt w f = wi + a Dt v2
ar = t f r = µr n
r
1 1
s f = si + vis Dt + as (Dt ) 2 q f = qi + wi Dt + a (Dt ) 2 2π r 2π D≈
1 2
Av
2 2 T= =
v ω 4
v fs = vis + 2as Ds
2 2
w f = wi + 2a Dq
2 2

IMPULSE, MOMENTUM, ENERGY, WORK

 
Pf = Pi ΔEsys = ΔK + ΔU + ΔEth = Wext
 
F = d p / dt K f +U f + ΔEth = K i +U i +Wext
tf
Jx = ∫ Fx (t)dt ΔK = Wnet = Wc +Wdiss +Wext
ti
sf
Δpx = J x W= ∫ Fs ds
si

K f +U f = K i +U i ΔEth = f k Δs
 
1 W = F • Δr
K = mv 2
2 Fs = −dU / ds
U g = mgy dEsys
P=
1
U s = k(Δs) 2 dt 
2 P = F •v
Fs = −kΔs

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Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

RIGID BODY ROTATION

 
τ net L = Iω
α= 
I dL
1 1 = τ net
E = K rot + K cm +U g = Iω 2 + Mvcm
2
+ Mgycm dt
2 2 1
! ! ! xcm =
τ =r×F M
∫ x dm
τ = rF sin θ = rFt = dF 1
ycm = ∫ y dm
vcm = Rω M
I = I cm + Md 2 I = ∑ mi ri 2 = ∫ r 2 dm
i

MOMENTS OF INERTIA
1
I= ML2 Thin rod, about centre. 1
12 I= MR 2 Cylinder or disk, about centre.
2
1
I = ML2 Thin rod, about end. I = MR 2 Cylindrical hoop, about centre.
3
1 2
I = MR 2 Solid sphere, about diameter.
I = Ma 2 Plane or slab, about centre. 5
12
1 2
I = Ma 2 Plane or slab, about edge. I = MR 2 Spherical shell, about diameter.
3
3

OSCILLATIONS
( Fnet ) s = - ks
k m f = 1/ T
w= T = 2p w = 2p f = 2p / T
m k
æ mg ö x(t ) = A cos(wt + f0 )
( Fnet )t = - ç ÷s
è L ø vx (t ) = -vmax sin(wt + f0 )
g L ax = -w 2 x
w= T = 2p
L g vmax = w A
1 2 1 2 1 1 x(t ) = Ae - bt / 2 m cos(wt + f0 )
E= mvx + kx = m(vmax ) 2 = kA2
2 2 2 2 t = m/b
- t /t
E = E0 e

Page 6 of 9
Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

FLUIDS AND ELASTICITY

r = m /V F DL
v1 A1 = v2 A2 =Y
A L
p=F/A 1 1
p1 + r v12 + r gy1 = p2 + r v22 + r gy2 DV
p = p0 + r gh 2 2 p = -B
V

THERMODYNAMICS
ΔEth = W + Q
pV = nRT Vf
W =−∫ p dV
pV = Nk BT Vi

p2V2 p1V1 γ = C P / CV
=
T2 T1 C P = CV + R
M Q = ±ML
N=
m Q = Mc ΔT
N M (in grams) Q = nC ΔT
n= =
NA M mol Q / Δt = (kA / L) ΔT
Number density = N /V Q / Δt = eσ AT 4
9 pV γ = const
TF = TC + 32o
5
TV γ −1 = const
TK = TC + 273
Tpγ /(γ −1) = const
1N 2 2N
p= mvrms = ε W = −nRT ln(V f /Vi )
3V 3 V avg
3 Wout
εavg = k BT η=
2 QH
3 3 TC
Eth = Nk BT = nRT (Monatomic gas) η ≤ 1−
2 2 TH
5 5
Eth = Nk BT = nRT (Diatomic gas) QC
2 2 K=
Win
Eth = 3Nk BT = 3nRT (Elemental solid)
TC
vrms = (v 2 )avg K≤
TH − TC
Ws = ∫ p dV

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Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

NUMERICAL VALUES
𝑔 = 9.80 m s $!
𝐺 = 6.672 × 10$,, m- kg $, s $! or N m! kg $!
Earth Mass = 6.0 × 10!% kg
Earth Radius = 6.4 × 10. m
Solar Mass = 2.0 × 10-/ kg
Solar Radius = 7.0 × 100 m
Earth − Sun mean distance = 1.5 × 10,, m
one (metric) tonne = 1.0 × 10- kg

𝑘1 = 1.3801 × 10$!- J K $,
𝜎 = 5.67 × 10$0 W m$! K $%
c = 4190 J kg $, K $, (for water)
𝐿2 = 3.33 × 103 J kg $, (for water)
𝐿4 = 22.6 × 103 J kg $, (for water)
𝐿4 = 2.00 × 103 J kg $, (for carbon dioxide, dry-ice sublimation)
𝑢 = 1.6606 × 10$!5 kg
𝑁6 = 6.022 × 10!- particles mol$,
𝑀789 (H) = 0.001 kg mol$,
𝑅 = 8.314 J mol$, K $,
-
𝐶: = ! 𝑅 (monatomic gas)
3
𝐶: = ! 𝑅 (diatomic gas)
𝛾 = 1.67 (monatomic gas)
𝛾 = 1.40 (diatomic gas)
1 atm = 101.3 kPa = 1.013 × 103 Pa

UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS
Summary of rules for combining uncertainties for dependent measurements
If 𝑞 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 + ⋯ or 𝑞 = 𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 − ⋯ then
Δ𝑞 = Δ𝑥 + Δ𝑦 + Δz + ⋯.

If 𝑞 = 𝑥 × 𝑦 × 𝑧 × … or 𝑞 = 𝑥/𝑦/𝑧/ … then
$% $& $'
= + + ⋯.
% & '

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Semester One Problem Set 2, 2021 PHYS1001 Mechanics and Thermal Physics I

Summary of rules for combining uncertainties

for independent and statistical uncertainties

____________________________________________________________________________

Relationship Uncertainty obtained from

____________________________________________________________________________

Dp = (Dx) + (Dy)
2 2
p=x+y

Dp = (Dx) + (Dy)
2 2
p=x-y

æ Dx ö2 æ Dy ö
2
Dp
p= x y = ç ÷ +ç ÷
p è x ø è y ø

æ Dx ö2 æ Dy ö
2
x Dp
p= = ç ÷ +ç ÷
y p è x ø è y ø

p= Bx Dp = B Dx

Dp Dx
p= Axn =n
p x

1
p= log10 x Dp = Dx
2.3x

p= sin q Dp = cos q Dq

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