International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1969

Brno, Czechoslovakia · 4 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Three carts connected by a string over a pulley

    Figure 1 shows a mechanical system consisting of three carts \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\) of masses \(m_1 = 0.3\ \mathrm{kg}\), \(m_2 = 0.2\ \mathrm{kg}\) and \(m_3 = 1.5\ \mathrm{kg}\) respectively. Carts \(B\) and \(A\) are connected by a light taut inelastic string which passes over a light smooth pulley attaches to the cart \(C\) as shown. For this problem, all resistive and frictional forces may be ignored as may the moments of inertia of the pulley and of the wheels of all three carts. Take the acceleration due to gravity \(g\) to be \(9.81\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}\).

    Figure 1

    Figure 1:

    1. A horizontal force \(\vec{F}\) is now applied to cart \(C\) as shown. The size of \(\vec{F}\) is such that carts \(A\) and \(B\) remain at rest relative to cart \(C\).

    a) Find the tension in the string connecting carts \(A\) and \(B\).

    b) Determine the magnitude of \(\vec{F}\).

    1. Later cart \(C\) is held stationary, while carts \(A\) and \(B\) are released from rest.

    a) Determine the accelerations of carts \(A\) and \(B\).

    b) Calculate also the tension in the string.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Ice dropped into water in a copper calorimeter

    Water of mass \(m_2\) is contained in a copper calorimeter of mass \(m_1\). Their common temperature is \(t_2\). A piece of ice of mass \(m_3\) and temperature \(t_3<0^\circ\mathrm{C}\) is dropped into the calorimeter.

    a) Determine the temperature and masses of water and ice in the equilibrium state for general values of \(m_1,m_2,m_3,t_2\) and \(t_3\). Write equilibrium equations for all possible processes which have to be considered.

    b) Find the final temperature and final masses of water and ice for \(m_1=1.00\ \mathrm{kg}\), \(m_2=1.00\ \mathrm{kg}\), \(m_3=2.00\ \mathrm{kg}\), \(t_2=10^\circ\mathrm{C}\), \(t_3=-20^\circ\mathrm{C}\).

    Neglect the energy losses, assume the normal barometric pressure. Specific heat of copper is \(c_1=0.1\ \mathrm{kcal/kg\cdot{}^\circ C}\), specific heat of water \(c_2=1\ \mathrm{kcal/kg\cdot{}^\circ C}\), specific heat of ice \(c_3=0.492\ \mathrm{kcal/kg\cdot{}^\circ C}\), latent heat of fusion of ice \(l=78,7\ \mathrm{kcal/kg}\). Take \(1\ \mathrm{cal}=4.2\ \mathrm{J}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Charged ball hanging on the axis of a charged ring

    A small charged ball of mass \(m\) and charge \(q\) is suspended from the highest point of a ring of radius \(R\) by means of an insulating cord of negligible mass. The ring is made of a rigid wire of negligible cross section and lies in a vertical plane. On the ring there is uniformly distributed charge \(Q\) of the same sign as \(q\). Determine the length \(l\) of the cord so as the equilibrium position of the ball lies on the symmetry axis perpendicular to the plane of the ring.

    Find first the general solution a then for particular values \(Q=q=9.0\cdot10^{-8}\ \mathrm{C}\), \(R=5\ \mathrm{cm}\), \(m=1.0\ \mathrm{g}\), \(\varepsilon_0=8.9\cdot10^{-12}\ \mathrm{F/m}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Interference in an air layer between a glass plate and a cube

    A glass plate is placed above a glass cube of \(2\ \mathrm{cm}\) edges in such a way that there remains a thin air layer between them, see Figure 5.

    Electromagnetic radiation of wavelength between \(400\ \mathrm{nm}\) and \(1150\ \mathrm{nm}\) (for which the plate is penetrable) incident perpendicular to the plate from above is reflected from both air surfaces and interferes. In this range only two wavelengths give maximum reinforcements, one of them is \(\lambda = 400\ \mathrm{nm}\). Find the second wavelength. Determine how it is necessary to warm up the cube so as it would touch the plate. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion is \(\alpha = 8.0 \cdot 10^{-6}\ {}^\circ\mathrm{C}^{-1}\), the refractive index of the air \(n = 1\). The distance of the bottom of the cube from the plate does not change during warming up.

    Figure 1

    Figure 5:

    Official English text of the problem.