International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1971

Sofia, Bulgaria · 4 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Two blocks on a triangular prism on a frictionless plane

    A triangular prism of mass \(M\) is placed one side on a frictionless horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 1. The other two sides are inclined with respect to the plane at angles \(\alpha_1\) and \(\alpha_2\) respectively. Two blocks of masses \(m_1\) and \(m_2\), connected by an inextensible thread, can slide without friction on the surface of the prism. The mass of the pulley, which supports the thread, is negligible.

    • Express the acceleration \(a\) of the blocks relative to the prism in terms of the acceleration \(a_0\) of the prism.
    • Find the acceleration \(a_0\) of the prism in terms of quantities given and the acceleration \(g\) due to gravity.
    • At what ratio \(m_1/m_2\) the prism will be in equilibrium?
    Figure 1

    Fig. 1

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Hydrogen in a tube closed by a mercury column

    A vertical glass tube of cross section \(S = 1.0\ \mathrm{cm}^2\) contains unknown amount of hydrogen. The upper end of the tube is closed. The other end is opened and is immersed in a pan filled with mercury. The tube and the pan are placed in a sealed chamber containing air at temperature \(T_0 = 273\ \mathrm{K}\) and pressure \(P_0 = 1.334\times10^5\ \mathrm{Pa}\). Under these conditions the height of mercury column in the tube above the mercury level in the pan is \(h_0 = 0.70\ \mathrm{m}\).

    One of the walls of the chamber is a piston, which expands the air isothermally to a pressure of \(P_1 = 8.00\times10^4\ \mathrm{Pa}\). As a result the height of the mercury column in the tube decreases to \(h_1 = 0.40\ \mathrm{m}\). Then the chamber is heated up at a constant volume to some temperature \(T_2\) until the mercury column rises to \(h_2 = 0.50\ \mathrm{m}\). Finally, the air in the chamber is expanded at constant pressure and the mercury level in the tube settles at \(h_3 = 0.45\ \mathrm{m}\) above the mercury level in the pan.

    Provided that the system is in mechanical and thermal equilibrium during all the processes calculate the mass \(m\) of the hydrogen, the intermediate temperature \(T_2\), and the pressure \(P\) in the final state.

    The density of mercury at temperature \(T_0\) is \(\rho_0 = 1.36\times10^4\ \mathrm{kg/m}^3\), the coefficient of expansion for mercury \(\beta = 1.84\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{K}^{-1}\), and the gas constant \(R = 8.314\ \mathrm{J/(mol\times K)}\). The thermal expansion of the glass tube and the variations of the mercury level in the pan are not considered.

    Hint. If \(\Delta T\) is the interval of temperature variations of the system then \(\beta\Delta T = x \ll 1\). In that case you can use the approximation: \[ \frac{1}{1+x}\approx 1-x. \]

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Cube-shaped circuit of batteries, capacitors and resistors

    Four batteries of EMF \(E_1 = 4\ \mathrm{V}\), \(E_2 = 8\ \mathrm{V}\), \(E_3 = 12\ \mathrm{V}\), and \(E_4 = 16\ \mathrm{V}\), four capacitors with the same capacitance \(C_1 = C_2 = C_3 = C_4 = 1\ \mu\mathrm{F}\), and four equivalent resistors are connected in the circuit shown in Fig. 3. The internal resistance of the batteries is negligible.

    • Calculate the total energy \(W\) accumulated on the capacitors when a steady state of the system is established.
    • The points H and B are short connected. Find the charge on the capacitor \(C_2\) in the new steady state.
    Figure 1

    Fig. 3

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Fish in a spherical aquarium in front of a plane mirror

    A spherical aquarium, filled with water, is placed in front of a flat vertical mirror. The radius of the aquarium is \(R\), and the distance between its center and the mirror is \(3R\). A small fish, which is initially at the point nearest to the mirror, starts to move with velocity \(v\) along the wall. An observer looks at the fish from a very large distance along a horizontal line passing trough the center of the aquarium.

    What is the relative velocity \(v_{\mathrm{rel}}\) at which the two images of the fish seen by the observer will move apart? Express your answer in terms of \(v\). Assume that:

    • The wall of the aquarium is made of a very thin glass.
    • The index of refraction of water is \(n=4/3\).

    Official English text of the problem.