Lux Olympiad semi final

preparation [118 marks]

A heat pump is modelled by the cycle A→B→C→A.

The heat pump transfers thermal energy to the interior of a building during
processes C→A and A→B and absorbs thermal energy from the environment
during process B→C. The working substance is an ideal gas.

1a. Show that the work done on the gas for the isothermal process C→A is [2 marks]
approximately 440 J.
1b. Calculate the change in internal energy of the gas for the process A→B. [2 marks]

1c. Calculate the temperature at A if the temperature at B is −40°C. [1 mark]

1d. Determine, using the first law of thermodynamics, the total thermal [3 marks]
energy transferred to the building during the processes C→A and A→B.
1e. Suggest why this cycle is not a suitable model for a working heat pump. [2 marks]

The moment of inertia of a solid sphere is I = 25 mr2 where m is the mass of the
sphere and r is the radius.

2a. Show that the total kinetic energy Ek of the sphere when it rolls, without [2 marks]
7
slipping, at speed v is EK = 10 mv2 .
2b. A solid sphere of mass 1.5 kg is rolling, without slipping, on a horizontal [3 marks]
surface with a speed of 0.50 m s-1. The sphere then rolls, without
slipping, down a ramp to reach a horizontal surface that is 45 cm lower.

Calculate the speed of the sphere at the bottom of the ramp.

 The pV diagram of a heat engine using an ideal gas consists of an isothermal
expansion A → B, an isobaric compression B → C and an adiabatic compression C
→ A.

The following data are available:

Temperature at A = 385 K
Pressure at A = 2.80 × 106 Pa
Volume at A = 1.00 × 10–4 m 3
Volume at B = 2.80 × 10–4 m 3
Volume at C = 1.85 × 10–4 m 3

3a. Show that at C the pressure is 1.00 × 106 Pa. [2 marks]

3b. Show that at C the temperature is 254 K. [2 marks]

3c. Show that the thermal energy transferred from the gas during the [3 marks]
change B → C is 238 J.
3d. The work done by the gas from A → B is 288 J. Calculate the efficiency [2 marks]
of the cycle.

3e. State, without calculation, during which change (A → B, B → C or C → A) [1 mark]

the entropy of the gas decreases.
 A constant force of 50.0 N is applied tangentially to the outer edge of a merry-go-
round. The following diagram shows the view from above.

The merry-go-round has a moment of inertia of 450 kg m2 about a vertical axis.

The merry-go-round has a diameter of 4.00 m.

4a. Show that the angular acceleration of the merry-go-round is 0.2 rad s–2. [2 marks]

The merry-go-round starts from rest and the force is applied for one complete
revolution.

4b. Calculate, for the merry-go-round after one revolution, the angular [1 mark]
speed.
4c. Calculate, for the merry-go-round after one revolution, the angular [1 mark]
momentum.

A child of mass 30.0 kg is now placed onto the edge of the merry-go-round. No
external torque acts on the system.

4d. Calculate the new angular speed of the rotating system. [2 marks]

The child now moves towards the centre.

4e. Explain why the angular speed will increase. [2 marks]

4f. Calculate the work done by the child in moving from the edge to the [2 marks]
centre.
 A wheel of mass 0.25 kg consists of a cylinder mounted on a central shaft. The
shaft has a radius of 1.2 cm and the cylinder has a radius of 4.0 cm. The shaft
rests on two rails with the cylinder able to spin freely between the rails.

The stationary wheel is released from rest and rolls down a slope with the shaft
rolling on the rails without slipping from point A to point B.

5a. The moment of inertia of the wheel is 1.3 × 10–4 kg m2. Outline what is [1 mark]
meant by the moment of inertia.
5b. In moving from point A to point B, the centre of mass of the wheel falls [3 marks]
through a vertical distance of 0.36 m. Show that the translational speed
of the wheel is about 1 m s –1 after its displacement.

5c. Determine the angular velocity of the wheel at B. [1 mark]

 The wheel leaves the rails at point B and travels along the flat track to point C. For
a short time the wheel slips and a frictional force F exists on the edge of the wheel
as shown.

5d. Describe the effect of F on the linear speed of the wheel. [2 marks]

5e. Describe the effect of F on the angular speed of the wheel. [2 marks]

–3 3
 A monatomic ideal gas is confined to a cylinder with volume 2.0 x 10–3 m3. The
initial pressure of the gas is 100 kPa. The gas undergoes a three-step cycle. First,
the gas pressure increases by a factor of five under constant volume. Then, the
gas expands adiabatically to its initial pressure. Finally it is compressed at
constant pressure to its initial volume.

6a. Show that the volume of the gas at the end of the adiabatic expansion is [2 marks]
approximately 5.3 x 10–3 m3.

6b. Using the axes, sketch the three-step cycle. [2 marks]

6c. The initial temperature of the gas is 290 K. Calculate the temperature of [2 marks]
the gas at the start of the adiabatic expansion.

6d. Using your sketched graph in (b), identify the feature that shows that [2 marks]
net work is done by the gas in this three-step cycle.
 A horizontal rigid bar of length 2R is pivoted at its centre. The bar is free to rotate
in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis through the pivot. A point particle of
mass M is attached to one end of the bar and a container is attached to the other
end of the bar.
A point particle of mass M3
moving with speed v at right angles to the rod collides
with the container and gets stuck in the container. The system then starts to
rotate about the vertical axis.
The mass of the rod and the container can be neglected.

7a. Write down an expression, in terms of M, v and R, for the angular [1 mark]
momentum of the system about the vertical axis just before the collision.

7b. Just after the collision the system begins to rotate about the vertical axis [1 mark]
with angular velocity ω. Show that the angular momentum of the system
is equal to 43 MR2 ω.

v
=
7c. Hence, show that ω = v . [1 mark]
4R

7d. Determine in terms of M and v the energy lost during the collision. [3 marks]

A torque of 0.010 N m brings the system to rest after a number of revolutions. For
this case R = 0.50 m, M = 0.70 kg and v = 2.1 m s–1.

7e. Show that the angular deceleration of the system is 0.043 rad s–2. [1 mark]
7f. Calculate the number of revolutions made by the system before it comes[3 marks]
to rest.

An air bubble has a radius of 0.25 mm and is travelling upwards at its terminal
speed in a liquid of viscosity 1.0 × 10–3 Pa s.
The density of air is 1.2 kg m–3 and the density of the liquid is 1200 kg m–3.

8a. Explain the origin of the buoyancy force on the air bubble. [2 marks]
8b. With reference to the ratio of weight to buoyancy force, show that the [2 marks]
weight of the air bubble can be neglected in this situation.

8c. Calculate the terminal speed. [2 marks]

 A flywheel consists of a solid cylinder, with a small radial axle protruding from its
centre.

The following data are available for the flywheel.

Flywheel mass
= 1.22 kg
M
Small axle
= 60.0 mm
radius r
Flywheel
= 240 mm
radius R
Moment of
= 0.5 MR2
inertia

An object of mass m is connected to the axle by a light string and allowed to fall
vertically from rest, exerting a torque on the flywheel.

9a. The velocity of the falling object is 1.89 m s–1 at 3.98 s. Calculate the [2 marks]
average angular acceleration of the flywheel.
9b. Show that the torque acting on the flywheel is about 0.3 Nm. [2 marks]

9c. (i) Calculate the tension in the string. [4 marks]

(ii) Determine the mass m of the falling object.

This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about electromagnetic induction. Part 2 is about nuclear
fusion.

Part 1 Electromagnetic induction

10a. A bar magnet falls vertically from rest through a coil of wire. The [6 marks]
potential difference (pd) across the coil is recorded by a datalogger.
The graph shows the variation with time of the pd across the coil.
(i) Explain, with reference to Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws, the shape of the graph.
(ii) The coil has 1500 turns. Calculate the magnitude of the maximum rate of
change of magnetic flux.
10b. The magnet is now suspended from a spring. The magnet is displaced [5 marks]
vertically and starts to oscillate in and out of the coil. A sinusoidal
alternating current of rms value 280 nA is induced in the coil.
(i) State in words how the rms value of the alternating current relates to a direct
current of 280nA.
(ii) The coil has a resistance of 1.5MΩ. Calculate the peak voltage across the coil.
(iii) Explain what effect the generation of the current has on the oscillation of the
magnet.
 A planet of mass m is in a circular orbit around a star. The gravitational potential
due to the star at the position of the planet is V.

11a. Show that the total energy of the planet is given by the equation [2 marks]
shown.
E = 12 mV

11b. Suppose the star could contract to half its original radius without any [2 marks]
loss of mass. Discuss the effect, if any, this has on the total energy of
the planet.
11c. The diagram shows some of the electric field lines for two fixed, [2 marks]
charged particles X and Y.

The magnitude of the charge on X is Q and that on Y is q. The distance between X

and Y is 0.600 m. The distance between P and Y is 0.820 m.
Q
At P the electric field is zero. Determine, to one significant figure, the ratio q .

A planet has radius R. At a distance h above the surface of the planet the
gravitational field strength is g and the gravitational potential is V.

12a. State what is meant by gravitational field strength. [1 mark]

12b. Show that V = –g(R + h). [2 marks]

12c. Draw a graph, on the axes, to show the variation of the gravitational [2 marks]
potential V of the planet with height h above the surface of the planet.

12d. A planet has a radius of 3.1 × 106 m. At a point P a distance 2.4 × 107 m [1 mark]
above the surface of the planet the gravitational field strength is 2.2 N
kg–1. Calculate the gravitational potential at point P, include an appropriate unit
for your answer.
12e. The diagram shows the path of an asteroid as it moves past the planet. [3 marks]

When the asteroid was far away from the planet it had negligible speed. Estimate
the speed of the asteroid at point P as defined in (b).

12f. The mass of the asteroid is 6.2 × 1012 kg. Calculate the gravitational [2 marks]
force experienced by the planet when the asteroid is at point P.
 A longitudinal wave is travelling in a medium from left to right. The graph shows
the variation with distance x of the displacement y of the particles in the medium.
The solid line and the dotted line show the displacement at t=0 and t=0.882 ms,
respectively.

The period of the wave is greater than 0.882 ms. A displacement to the right of
the equilibrium position is positive.

13a. State what is meant by a longitudinal travelling wave. [1 mark]

13b. Calculate, for this wave, [4 marks]
(i) the speed.
(ii) the frequency.

13c. The equilibrium position of a particle in the medium is at x=0.80 m. For [4 marks]
this particle at t=0, state and explain
(i) the direction of motion.
(ii) whether the particle is at the centre of a compression or a rarefaction.
 A uniform ladder of weight 50.0 N and length 4.00 m is placed against a
frictionless wall making an angle of 60.0° with the ground.

14a. Outline why the normal force acting on the ladder at the point of contact [1 mark]
with the wall is equal to the frictional force F between the ladder and the
ground.

14b. Calculate F. [2 marks]

 14c. The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the ground is 0.400. [2 marks]
Determine whether the ladder will slip.

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