Physics Enhancement Programme Phase 2

Selection Test 3 (Total 100 points)

22 February 2020 AM

1.(30 points) Two large parallel conducting plates are separated by a small distance 4𝑎. The two plates
are grounded. Charges +𝑄 and – 𝑄 are placed at distances 𝑎 and 3𝑎 from one plate as shown in the
figure.

+# −#
× ×
%
3%
4%

(a) How much energy is required to remove the two charges from between the plates and infinitely
apart?
(b) What is the force (magnitude and direction) on each charge?
(c) What is the force (magnitude and direction) on each plate?
(d) What is the total induced charge on each plate? (Hint: What is the potential on the plate midway
between the two charges?)
(e) What is the total induced charge on the surface of each plate after the – 𝑄 charge has been removed
while the charge +𝑄 remaining at rest?

A useful mathematical identity:

-∞
−1 )*+
= ln 2
𝑘
).+

Solution:
%

+# −# +# −# +# −#
× × × × × × &
−5( −3( −( ' ( 3( 5(
(a) The potential is found by the method of images, which requires image charges +𝑄 at
… , −9𝑎, −5𝑎, 3𝑎, 5𝑎, 7𝑎, … and image charges – 𝑄 at … − 7𝑎, −3𝑎, 5𝑎, 9𝑎, 13𝑎, …
The electrostatic field energy of the system is
1 1
𝑊 = 𝑄𝑈- − 𝑄𝑈*
2 2
where 𝑈- is the potential at the +𝑄 charged produced by other real and image charges excluding the
+𝑄 itself.
-∞
1 2𝑄 2𝑄 2𝑄 𝑄 )*+
1 𝑄 ln 2
𝑈- = − + − +⋯ =− −1 =−
4𝜋𝜖< 2𝑎 4𝑎 6𝑎 4𝜋𝜖< 𝑎 𝑘 4𝜋𝜖< 𝑎
).+
Similarly,
𝑄 ln 2
𝑈* = −𝑈- =
4𝜋𝜖< 𝑎
We have
𝑄?
𝑊=− ln 2
4𝜋𝜖< 𝑎
Hence the energy required to remove the two charges to infinite distances from the plates and from
each other is – 𝑊.

(b) The force acting on +𝑄 is just that exerted by the fields of all the other real and image charges.
Because of symmetry, this force is zero. Similarly, the force on – 𝑄 is also zero.

(c) Consider the force exerted on the left conducting plate. This is the resultant of all the forces
acting on the image charges of the left plate (i.e. image charges to the left of the left plate).
Let us consider first the force 𝐹+ acting on the image charges of the left plate by the real charge +𝑄,
∞
𝑄? 𝑄? 𝑄? −1 A*+
𝐹+ = ?
− ?
+ ⋯ =
4𝜋𝜖< 2𝑎 4𝜋𝜖< 4𝑎 16𝜋𝜖< 𝑎? 𝑛?
A.+
Similarly, the force 𝐹? between the real charge – 𝑄 and the image charges of the left plate is
∞
𝑄? 𝑄? 𝑄? −1 A*+
𝐹? = − ?
+ ?
− ⋯ = −
4𝜋𝜖< 4𝑎 4𝜋𝜖< 6𝑎 16𝜋𝜖< 𝑎? 𝑛?
A.?
Finally, consider the force 𝐹C acting on the image charges of the left plate by the image charges of
the right plate:
∞ ∞
𝑄? −1 A*+
𝐹C =
16𝜋𝜖< 𝑎? 𝑛?
D.C A.D
The total force exerted on the left plate is
∞ ∞
𝑄? −1 A*+ 𝑄? 2 3 4
𝐹 = 𝐹+ + 𝐹? + 𝐹C = = 1 − + − +⋯
16𝜋𝜖< 𝑎? 𝑛? 16𝜋𝜖< 𝑎? 2? 3? 4?
D.+ A.D
∞
𝑄? −1 A*+ 𝑄?
= = ln 2
16𝜋𝜖< 𝑛 16𝜋𝜖<
A.+
The force directs to the right.
Similarly, we can show that the force on the right plate is also equal to 𝐹 and points to the left.

(d) The potential on the plane 𝑥 = 0 is zero. So we can imagine the system as the following:
 −#/2 −#/2 +#/2 +#/2

+# −# +# −#
× × × ×

G G
Hence the total induced charge on the left plate is – and that of the right plate is + .
? ?

(e)
When the +𝑄 charge alone exists, the sum of the total induced charges on the two plates is – 𝑄. If the
total induced charges is – 𝑞 on the left plate, the total induced charges on the right plate is – 𝑄 + 𝑞.
Similarly, if – 𝑄 charge alone exists, the sum of the total induced charges on the two plates is 𝑄. The
total induced charges is 𝑄– 𝑞 on the left plate, and the total induced charges on the right plate is 𝑞
due to the symmetry.
If two charges exists at the same time, by the superposition, the total induced charge on the left plate
is
𝑄
−𝑞 + 𝑄 − 𝑞 = −
2
from part (d).
3
⇒𝑞= 𝑄
4
C
Thus after – 𝑄 has been removed, the total induced charge on the left plate is − 𝑄 and that of the
J
G
right plate is – .
J

2. (20 points) A magnetic dipole 𝜇 is moved from infinitely far away to a point on the axis of a fixed
perfectly conducting (zero resistance) circular loop of radius of 𝑏. The circular loop centered at the
origin 𝑂 with self-inductance 𝐿. In its final position the dipole is oriented along the loop axis and is at
a distance 𝑧 from the center of the loop.

Initially, when the dipole is very far away, the current in the loop is zero. And the magnetic field at
position 𝑟 due to a magnetic dipole 𝜇 = 𝜇𝑧 (pointing downward as positive) at origin is given by
𝜇< 3 𝜇 ⋅ 𝑟 𝑟
𝐵 𝑟 = −𝜇
4𝜋𝑟 C 𝑟?

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(a) Calculate the current in the loop when the dipole is in its final position. What is the orientation of
the current?

(b) Calculate for the same position the forces between the dipole and the loop.


Solution:
(a) The induced emf of the loop is given by
𝑑𝐼 𝜕
𝜀 = −𝐿 = − 𝐵 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑡
Integrating over time we have
𝐿 𝐼Y − 𝐼Z = 𝐵Y − 𝐵Z ⋅ 𝑑𝐴
where 𝑖, 𝑓 refer to the initial and final position of the dipole respectively. Initially, when the dipole is
far away, we have
𝐼Z = 0, 𝐵Z = 0
Writing for final position 𝐼 = 𝐼Y and 𝐵 = 𝐵Y
⇒ 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐵 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴
Consider a point 𝑃 in the plane of the loop. Use cylindrical coordinates 𝑃 = (𝜌, 𝜃, 𝑧). The radius
vector from the dipole to the point 𝑃 is 𝑟 = 𝜌𝑒c − 𝑧𝑒d . The magnetic induction at 𝑃 due to 𝑚 is
𝜇< 3 𝜇 ⋅ 𝑟 𝑟 𝜇
𝐵= − C
4𝜋 𝑟f 𝑟
where 𝜇 = 𝜇𝑒d . As 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜌𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜃𝑒d , we have
𝜇< 3 𝜇 ⋅ 𝑟 (𝑟 ⋅ 𝑒d ) 𝜇
𝐵 ⋅ 𝑑𝐴 = − C 𝜌𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜃
4𝜋 𝑟f 𝑟
h ?
𝜇< 𝜇 3𝑧 1
= ? ? f/?
− ? 𝜌𝑑𝜌
2 < 𝜌 +𝑧 𝜌 + 𝑧 ? C/?
𝜇< 𝜇 𝑏?
=
2 C
𝑏? + 𝑧 ? ?
And the induced current in the loop is
𝜇< 𝜇 𝑏?
𝐼=
2𝐿 C
?
𝑏 +𝑧 ? ?

By Lenz’s law, the direction of flow is clockwise when looking for the location of 𝜇.

(b) For the loop, with the current 𝐼 as above, the magnetic field at a point on its axis is
𝜇< 𝐼 𝑏? 𝜇<? 𝜇 𝑏J
𝐵j = − 𝑒
C d = − 𝑒
? + 𝑧? C d
2 ? ? 4𝐿 𝑏
𝑏 +𝑧 ?
The energy of the magnetic dipole 𝜇 in the field 𝐵′ is
𝜇<? 𝜇? 𝑏J
𝑊 = 𝜇 ⋅ 𝐵j = −
4𝐿 𝑏 ? + 𝑧 ? C
and the force between the dipole and the loop is
𝜕𝑊 3𝜇<? 𝜇? 𝑏J 𝑧
𝐹=− =
𝜕𝑧 2𝐿 𝑏 ? + 𝑧 ? J

3. (20 points) Two identical conducting rods of length 𝐿 and mass 𝑚 are connected by an elastic
spring on two ends, where the spring constant is 𝑘 and the natural length is 𝑙< (As shown in Fig 3-I).
)nop
Assume there is steady weak current 𝐼 in the system and 𝐼 ? ≪ .
qo r

(a) Find the separation between two rods when they are in equilibrium.

(b) After equilibrium, the two rods are symmetrically given a small displacement which are pointing
outward. Two rods will perform a simple harmonic motion. Find the corresponding angular frequency.

(c) Now put the conducting rod loop in motion described in (b) in a uniform weak magnetic field,
where the direction is perpendicular to the conducting loop and pointing outward (as shown in Figure
3-II). At 𝑡 = 0, the right rod located at the amplitude +𝑥< . If the total resistance of this loop is 𝑅 and
can be regarded as a constant, find the total current flowing through the conducting rod at any time
𝑡? (Assuming that the induced current is much smaller than the original current 𝐼)
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Fig: 3-I Fig: 3-II

Solution:
(a) As the current counter-propagate in two rods, there is a repulsive magnetic force between them
and two rods will be in equilibrium at the separation 𝑙 = 𝑙< + 𝛥𝑙 where
𝐹u = 𝐹v
𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿
𝐼𝐿𝐵 = 2𝑘𝛥𝑙 ⇒ = 2𝑘𝛥𝑙
2𝜋 𝑙< + 𝛥𝑙
𝜇< ?
⇒ 𝛥𝑙 ? + 𝑙< 𝛥𝑙 − 𝐼 𝐿 = 0
4𝜋𝑘
1 𝜇< ? 𝑙< 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿
⇒ 𝛥𝑙 = −𝑙< + 𝑙<? + 𝐼 𝐿 = −1 + 1 +
2 𝜋𝑘 2 𝜋𝑘𝑙<?
)nop
Since 𝛥𝑙 > 0 and 𝐼 ? ≪ , we have
qo r
𝑙< 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿
⇒ 𝛥𝑙 ≈ −1 + 1 + =
2 2𝜋𝑘𝑙<? 4𝜋𝑘𝑙<

qo y p r
The separation between two rods is 𝑙< + .
Jz)no

(b) Assume the outward displacement of each rod is 𝑥, the net force experienced by the right rod is
𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 2𝑥 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿
𝐹= − 2𝑘 𝛥𝑙 + 2𝑥 = 1− − 2𝑘𝛥𝑙 − 4𝑘𝑥 = − + 4𝑘 𝑥 = −𝑘′𝑥
2𝜋(𝑙 + 2𝑥) 2𝜋𝑙 𝑙 𝜋𝑙 ?
where the effective spring constant is
 *?
j
𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝛥𝑙
𝑘 = + 4𝑘 = + 4𝑘 = 1 + + 4𝑘 ≈ 4𝑘 + ? = 4𝑘 1 + 𝑙
𝜋𝑙 ? 𝜋𝑙 ? 𝜋𝑙<? 4𝜋𝑘𝑙<? 𝜋𝑙<
The angular frequency of the oscillation is
+
*? ? +/?
𝑘j 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿 4𝑘 4𝑘 𝜇< 𝐼 ? 𝐿
𝜔= = 1+ + ≈ 1+
𝑚 𝜋𝑙<? 𝑚 4𝜋𝑘𝑙<? 𝑚 𝑚 4𝑘𝜋𝑙<?

(c) The SHM motion of the right rod is
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑥< cos 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙
)€
where 𝜔 = . At 𝑡 = 0, 𝑥 0 = 𝑥< , we have 𝜙 = 0.
D
The induced emf is
𝑑𝛷 𝑑 𝑑
𝜀=− =− 𝐵 𝐿 𝑙 + 2𝑥 𝑡 = −2𝐵< 𝐿 𝑥 cos 𝜔𝑡 = 2𝐵< 𝐿𝑥< 𝜔 sin 𝜔𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 < < 𝑑𝑡 <
The total current is
2𝐵< 𝐿𝑥< 𝜔
𝐼ƒ„ƒ (𝑡) = 𝐼 + sin 𝜔𝑡
𝑅

4. (15 points) The Wheatstone bridge circuit is used to determine a capacitance and a leakage
resistance (𝐶? , 𝑟? ) of a capacitor. The bridge is balanced (i.e. there is no current passes through the
galvanometer 𝐺) when a sinusoidal voltage is applied. It turns out that the balance persists even
under the variations of the voltage frequency.
Determine 𝐶? and 𝑟? if 𝑟+ = 2500𝛺, 𝑟C = 10𝛺, 𝐿C = 1𝐻 and 𝑅J = 800𝛺.

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Solution:
At the point of balance:
𝑟+ 𝑟J = 𝑍C 𝑍?
where
𝑍C = 𝑟C? + 𝐿C 𝜔 ?

1 1 ?
= + 𝐶? 𝜔 ?
𝑍? 𝑟?
where 𝜔 is the angular frequency of the a.c. By substitution, we have
𝑟+ 𝑟J ?
− 𝑟C? = 𝜔? 𝐿?C − 𝐶? 𝑟+ 𝑟J ?
𝑟?
As the result is independent of 𝜔, we have
𝑟+ 𝑟J ?
− 𝑟C? = 0
𝑟?
𝐿?C − 𝐶? 𝑟+ 𝑟J ? = 0
𝑟+ 𝑟J
⇒ 𝑟? = = 200 𝑘𝛺
𝑟C
𝐿C
⇒ 𝐶? = = 0.5 𝜇𝐹
𝑟+ 𝑟J

5. (15 points) Two Lens Problem

During an Olympiad, the contesters were given a task to determine focal lengths of two thin converging
lens placed at the butts of an empty cylinder which length was 𝐿 = 20.0 cm.
A contester Tom did the experiment accurately and obtained the following results:
(i) If a point-like source of light is placed at the cylinder left at a distance 𝑙+ = 5.0 𝑐𝑚, the light passing
through the system comes out of the right end as a parallel beam.
(ii) If a parallel beam is incident on the left butt, the light coming out of the right butt converges to a
point on the cylinder axis at a distance 𝑙? = 10.0 𝑐𝑚 from the right butt.

However, Tom could not determine the focal lengths 𝑓+ and 𝑓? of these lenses using his data. Please,
help poor Tom.
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Solution:
In the first experiment, light beams must intersect at the front focal point of the second lens after
passing through the first lens, we have
1 1 1
+ = [1]
𝑙+ 𝐿 − 𝑓? 𝑓+
Similarly, the second measurement gives
1 1 1
+ = [2]
𝑙? 𝐿 − 𝑓+ 𝑓?
After some algebra, eqtn [2] gives
𝑙? 𝐿 − 𝑓+
𝑓? =
𝐿 − 𝑓+ + 𝑙?
Sub into eqtn [1], we have
𝑓+? 𝐿 + 𝑙+ − 𝑙? − 𝑓+ 𝐿? + 2𝑙+ 𝐿 + 𝐿? 𝑙+ = 0
Its solutions are:
𝐿? + 2𝑙+ 𝐿 ± 𝐿 𝐿? + 4𝑙+ 𝑙?
𝑓+ = = 20.0 ± 16.3 𝑐𝑚
2 𝐿 + 𝑙+ − 𝑙?

𝑓? = 16.0 ± 9.8 𝑐𝑚
Both solutions are possible.
Case 1: 𝑓+ = 36.3𝑐𝑚 and 𝑓? = 25.8𝑐𝑚
Case 2: 𝑓+ = 3.7𝑐𝑚 and 𝑓? = 6.2𝑐𝑚