International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1984

Sigtuna, Sweden · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Refraction in a layered medium and the desert mirage

    a) Consider a plane-parallel transparent plate, where the refractive index, \(n\), varies with distance, \(z\), from the lower surface (see figure). Show that \(n_A\sin\alpha=n_B\sin\beta\). The notation is that of the figure.

    Figure 1

    b) Assume that you are standing in a large flat desert. At some distance you see what appears to be a water surface. When you approach the “water” is seems to move away such that the distance to the “water” is always constant. Explain the phenomenon.

    c) Compute the temperature of the air close to the ground in b) assuming that your eyes are located 1.60 m above the ground and that the distance to the “water” is 250 m. The refractive index of the air at \(15^\circ\mathrm{C}\) and at normal air pressure (101.3 kPa) is 1.000276. The temperature of the air more than 1 m above the ground is assumed to be constant and equal to \(30^\circ\mathrm{C}\). The atmospheric pressure is assumed to be normal. The refractive index, \(n\), is such that \(n-1\) is proportional to the density of the air. Discuss the accuracy of your result.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Seiching of lake water

    In certain lakes there is a strange phenomenon called “seiching” which is an oscillation of the water. Lakes in which you can see this phenomenon are normally long compared with the depth and also narrow. It is natural to see waves in a lake but not something like the seiching, where the entire water volume oscillates, like the coffee in a cup that you carry to a waiting guest.

    Figure 1

    In order to create a model of the seiching we look at water in a rectangular container. The length of the container is \(L\) and the depth of the water is \(h\). Assume that the surface of the water to begin with makes a small angle with the horizontal. The seiching will then start, and we assume that the water surface continues to be plane but oscillates around an axis in the horizontal plane and located in the middle of the container.

    Create a model of the movement of the water and derive a formula for the oscillation period \(T\). The starting conditions are given in figure above. Assume that \(\xi \ll h\). The table below shows experimental oscillation periods for different water depths in two containers of different lengths. Check in some reasonable way how well the formula that you have derived agrees with the experimental data. Give your opinion on the quality of your model.

    Table 1. \(L = 479\ \mathrm{mm}\)

    \(h/\mathrm{mm}\) 30 50 69 88 107 124 142
    \(T/\mathrm{s}\) 1.78 1.40 1.18 1.08 1.00 0.91 0.82

    Table 2. \(L = 143\ \mathrm{mm}\)

    \(h/\mathrm{mm}\) 31 38 58 67 124
    \(T/\mathrm{s}\) 0.52 0.52 0.43 0.35 0.28

    The graph below shows results from measurements in lake Vättern in Sweden. This lake has a length of 123 km and a mean depth of 50 m. What is the time scale in the graph?

    Figure 2

    The water surface level in Bastudalen (northern end of lake Vättern) and Jönköping (southern end).

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Electronic frequency filter

    An electronic frequency filter consists of four components coupled as in the upper figure. The impedance of the source can be neglected and the impedance of the load can be taken as infinite. The filter should be such that the voltage ratio \(U_{out}/U_{in}\) has a frequency dependence shown in the lower where \(U_{in}\) is the input voltage and \(U_{out}\) is the output voltage. At frequency \(f_0\) the phase lag between the two voltages is zero.

    Figure 1

    In order to build the filter you can choose from the following components:

    2 resistors, 10 kΩ
    2 capacitors, 10 nF
    2 solenoids, 160 mH (iron-free and with neglible resistance)

    Figure 2

    Construct, by combining four of these components, a filter that fulfils the stated conditions. Determine the frequency \(f_0\) and the ratio \(U_{out}/U_{in}\) at this frequency for as many component combinations as possible.

    Official English text of the problem.