International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1974

Warsaw, Poland · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Inelastic collision of two hydrogen atoms (Bohr model, Doppler shift)

    A hydrogen atom in the ground state, moving with velocity \(v\), collides with another hydrogen atom in the ground state at rest. Using the Bohr model find the smallest velocity \(v_0\) of the atom below which the collision must be elastic.

    At velocity \(v_0\) the collision may be inelastic and the colliding atoms may emit electromagnetic radiation. Estimate the difference of frequencies of the radiation emitted in the direction of the initial velocity of the hydrogen atom and in the opposite direction as a fraction (expressed in percents) of their arithmetic mean value.

    Data:

    \[ E_i=\frac{me^4}{2\hbar^2}=13.6\ \mathrm{eV} =2.18\cdot18^{-18}\ \mathrm{J}; \quad\text{(ionization energy of hydrogen atom)} \]

    \[ m_H=1.67\cdot10^{-27}\ \mathrm{kg}; \quad\text{(mass of hydrogen atom)} \]

    (\(m\) - mass of electron; \(e\) - electric charge of electron; \(\hbar\) - Planck constant; numerical values of these quantities are not necessary.)

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Plate with a refractive index varying across its width

    Consider a parallel, transparent plate of thickness \(d\) – Fig. 1. Its refraction index varies as

    \[ n=\frac{n_0}{1-\dfrac{x}{R}}. \]

    Figure 1

    Fig. 1

    A light beam enters from the air perpendicularly to the plate at the point A (\(x_A=0\)) and emerges from it at the point B at an angle \(\alpha\).

    1. Find the refraction index \(n_B\) at the point B.
    2. Find \(x_B\) (i.e. value of \(x\) at the point B)
    3. Find the thickness \(d\) of the plate.

    Data:

    \[ n_0=1.2;\qquad R=13\,\mathrm{cm};\qquad \alpha=30^\circ. \]

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Engine using a gas source and semipermeable membranes

    A scientific expedition stayed on an uninhabited island. The members of the expedition had had some sources of energy, but after some time these sources exhausted. Then they decided to construct an alternative energy source. Unfortunately, the island was very quiet: there were no winds, clouds uniformly covered the sky, the air pressure was constant and the temperatures of air and water in the sea were the same during day and night. Fortunately, they found a source of chemically neutral gas outgoing very slowly from a cavity. The pressure and temperature of the gas are exactly the same as the pressure and temperature of the atmosphere.

    The expedition had, however, certain membranes in its equipment. One of them was ideally transparent for gas and ideally non-transparent for air. Another one had an opposite property: it was ideally transparent for air and ideally non-transparent for gas. The members of the expedition had materials and tools that allowed them to make different mechanical devices such as cylinders with pistons, valves etc. They decided to construct an engine by using the gas from the cavity.

    Show that there is no theoretical limit on the power of an ideal engine that uses the gas and the membranes considered above.

    Official English text of the problem.