International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1979

Moscow, USSR · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Landing a spacecraft from a lunar orbit

    A space rocket with mass \(M=12\mathrm{t}\) is moving around the Moon along the circular orbit at the height of \(h=100\ \mathrm{km}\). The engine is activated for a short time to pass at the lunar landing orbit. The velocity of the ejected gases \(u=10^4\ \mathrm{m/s}\). The Moon radius \(R_M=1{,}7\cdot10^3\ \mathrm{km}\), the acceleration of gravity near the Moon surface \(g_M=1.7\ \mathrm{m/s^2}\)

    Figure 1

    Fig.1

    Figure 2

    Fig.2

    1). What amount of fuel should be spent so that when activating the braking engine at point A of the trajectory, the rocket would land on the Moon at point B (Fig.1)?

    2). In the second scenario of landing, at point A the rocket is given an impulse directed towards the center of the Moon, to put the rocket to the orbit meeting the Moon surface at point C (Fig.2). What amount of fuel is needed in this case?

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Weighing a sample in dry and in humid air

    Brass weights are used to weigh an aluminum-made sample on an analytical balance. The weighing is ones in dry air and another time in humid air with the water vapor pressure \(P_h=2\cdot10^3\ \mathrm{Pa}\). The total atmospheric pressure \((P=10^5\ \mathrm{Pa})\) and the temperature \((t=20^\circ\ \mathrm{C})\) are the same in both cases.

    What should the mass of the sample be to be able to tell the difference in the balance readings provided their sensitivity is \(m_0=0.1\ \mathrm{mg}\) ?

    Aluminum density \(\rho_1=2700\ \mathrm{kg/m^3}\), brass density \(\rho_2=.8500\ \mathrm{kg/m^3}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Laser location of the Moon

    During the Soviet-French experiment on the optical location of the Moon the light pulse of a ruby laser (\(\lambda=0{,}69\,\mu\mathrm{m}\)) was directed to the Moon’s surface by the telescope with a diameter of the mirror \(D=2{,}6\,\mathrm{m}\). The reflector on the Moon’s surface reflected the light backward as an ideal mirror with the diameter \(d=20\,\mathrm{cm}\). The reflected light was then collected by the same telescope and focused at the photodetector.

    1) What must the accuracy to direct the telescope optical axis be in this experiment?

    2) What part of emitted laser energy can be detected after reflection on the Moon, if we neglect the light loses in the Earth’s atmosphere?

    3) Can we see a reflected light pulse with naked eye if the energy of single laser pulse \(E=1\,\mathrm{J}\) and the threshold sensitivity of eye is equal \(n=100\) light quantum?

    4) Suppose the Moon’s surface reflects \(\alpha=10\%\) of the incident light in the spatial angle \(2\pi\) steradian, estimate the advantage of a using reflector.

    The distance from the Earth to the Moon is \(L=380000\,\mathrm{km}\). The diameter of pupil of the eye is \(d_p=5\,\mathrm{mm}\). Plank constant is \(h=6.6\cdot10^{-34}\,\mathrm{J\cdot s}\).

    Official English text of the problem.