International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1975

Güstrow, German Democratic Republic · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Rotating rod

    A rod revolves with a constant angular velocity \(\omega\) around a vertical axis A. The rod includes a fixed angle of \(\pi/2-\alpha\) with the axis. A body of mass \(m\) can glide along the rod. The coefficient of friction is \(\mu=\tan\beta\). The angle \(\beta\) is called “friction angle”.

    a) Determine the angles \(\alpha\) under which the body remains at rest and under which the body is in motion if the rod is not rotating (i.e. \(\omega=0\)).

    b) The rod rotates with constant angular velocity \(\omega>0\). The angle \(\alpha\) does not change during rotation. Find the condition for the body to remain at rest relative to the rod.

    Figure 1

    You can use the following relations:

    \[ \sin(\alpha\pm\beta)=\sin\alpha\cdot\cos\beta\pm\cos\alpha\cdot\sin\beta \]

    \[ \cos(\alpha\pm\beta)=\cos\alpha\cdot\cos\beta\mp\sin\alpha\cdot\sin\beta \]

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Thick lens

    The focal length \(f\) of a thick glass lens in air with refractive index \(n\), radius curvatures \(r_1\), \(r_2\) and vertex distance \(d\) (see figure) is given by:

    \[ f=\frac{nr_1r_2}{(n-1)\left[n(r_2-r_1)+d(n-1)\right]} \]

    Figure 1

    Remark: \(r_i>0\) means that the central curvature point \(M_i\) is on the right side of the aerial vertex \(S_i\), \(r_i<0\) means that the central curvature point \(M_i\) is on the left side of the aerial vertex \(S_i\) (\(i=1,2\)).

    For some special applications it is required, that the focal length is independent from the wavelength.

    a) For how many different wavelengths can the same focal length be achieved?

    b) Describe a relation between \(r_i\) (\(i=1,2\)), \(d\) and the refractive index \(n\) for which the required wavelength independence can be fulfilled and discuss this relation.

    Sketch possible shapes of lenses and mark the central curvature points \(M_1\) and \(M_2\).

    c) Prove that for a given planconvex lens a specific focal length can be achieved by only one wavelength.

    d) State possible parameters of the thick lens for two further cases in which a certain focal length can be realized for one wavelength only. Take into account the physical and the geometrical circumstances.

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Ions in a magnetic field

    A beam of positive ions (charge \(+e\)) of the same and constant mass \(m\) spread from point Q in different directions in the plane of paper (see figure²). The ions were accelerated by a voltage \(U\). They are deflected in a uniform magnetic field \(B\) that is perpendicular to the plane of paper. The boundaries of the magnetic field are made in a way that the initially diverging ions are focused in point A (\(\overline{QA}=2\cdot a\)). The trajectories of the ions are symmetric to the middle perpendicular on \(\overline{QA}\).

    Figure 1

    ² Remark: This illustrative figure was not part of the original problem formulation.

    Among different possible boundaries of magnetic fields a specific type shall be considered in which a contiguous magnetic field acts around the middle perpendicular and in which the points Q and A are in the field free area.

    a) Describe the radius curvature \(R\) of the particle path in the magnetic field as a function of the voltage \(U\) and the induction \(B\).

    b) Describe the characteristic properties of the particle paths in the setup mentioned above.

    c) Obtain the boundaries of the magnetic field boundaries by geometrical constructions for the cases \(R<a\), \(R=a\) and \(R>0\).

    d) Describe the general equation for the boundaries of the magnetic field.

    Official English text of the problem.