International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1985

Portorož, Yugoslavia · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Aerial array for a radio link

    A young radio amateur maintains a radio link with two girls living in two towns. He positions an aerial array such that when the girl living in town A receives a maximum signal, the girl living in town B receives no signal and vice versa. The array is built from two vertical rod aerials transmitting with equal intensities uniformly in all directions in the horizontal plane.

    a) Find the parameters of the array, i.e. the distance between the rods, its orientation and the phase shift between the electrical signals supplied to the rods, such that the distance between the rods is minimum.

    b) Find the numerical solution if the boy has a radio station transmitting at 27 MHz and builds up the aerial array at Portorož. Using the map he has found that the angles between the north and the direction of A (Koper) and of B (small town of Buje in Istria) are \(72^\circ\) and \(157^\circ\), respectively.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Hall effect in an InSb bar

    In a long bar having the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with sides \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) (\(a\gg b\gg c\)), made from the semiconductor InSb flows a current \(I\) parallel to the edge \(a\). The bar is in an external magnetic field \(B\) which is parallel to the edge \(c\). The magnetic field produced by the current \(I\) can be neglected. The current carriers are electrons. The average velocity of electrons in a semiconductor in the presence of an electric field only is \(v=\mu E\), where \(\mu\) is called mobility. If the magnetic field is also present, the electric field is no longer parallel to the current. This phenomenon is known as the Hall effect.

    a) Determine what the magnitude and the direction of the electric field in the bar is, to yield the current described above.

    b) Calculate the difference of the electric potential between the opposite points on the surfaces of the bar in the direction of the edge \(b\).

    c) Find the analytic expression for the DC component of the electric potential difference in case b) if the current and the magnetic field are alternating (AC); \(I=I_0\sin\omega t\) and \(B=B_0\sin(\omega t+\delta)\).

    d) Design and explain an electric circuit which would make possible, by exploiting the result c), to measure the power consumption of an electric apparatus connected with the AC network.

    Data: The electron mobility in InSb is \(7.8\ \mathrm{m^2T/Vs}\), the electron concentration in InSb is \(2.5\cdot10^{22}\ \mathrm{m^{-3}}\), \(I=1.0\ \mathrm A\), \(B=0.10\ \mathrm T\), \(b=1.0\ \mathrm{cm}\), \(c=1.0\ \mathrm{mm}\), \(e_0=-1.6\cdot10^{-19}\ \mathrm{As}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Space probe escaping the Solar system with the help of Mars

    In a space research project two schemes of launching a space probe out of the Solar system are discussed. The first scheme (i) is to launch the probe with a velocity large enough to escape from the Solar system directly. According to the second one (ii), the probe is to approach one of the outer planets, and with its help change its direction of motion and reach the velocity necessary to escape from the Solar system. Assume that the probe moves under the gravitational field of only the Sun or the planet, depending on whichever field is stronger at that point.

    a) Determine the minimum velocity and its direction relative to the Earth’s motion that should be given to the probe on launching according to scheme (i).

    b) Suppose that the probe has been launched in the direction determined in a) but with another velocity. Determine the velocity of the probe when it crosses the orbit of Mars, i. e., its parallel and perpendicular components with respect to this orbit. Mars is not near the point of crossing, when crossing occurs.

    c) Let the probe enter the gravitational field of Mars. Find the minimum launching velocity from the Earth necessary for the probe to escape from the Solar system.

    Hint: From the result a) you know the optimal magnitude and the direction of the velocity of the probe that is necessary to escape from the Solar system after leaving the gravitational field of Mars. (You do not have to worry about the precise position of Mars during the encounter.) Find the relation between this velocity and the velocity components before the probe enters the gravitational field of Mars; i. e., the components you determined in b). What about the conservation of energy of the probe?

    d) Estimate the maximum possible fractional saving of energy in scheme (ii) with respect to scheme (i). Notes: Assume that all the planets revolve round the Sun in circles, in the same direction and in the same plane. Neglect the air resistance, the rotation of the Earth around its axis as well as the energy used in escaping from the Earth’s gravitational field.

    Data: Velocity of the Earth round the Sun is 30 km/s, and the ratio of the distances of the Earth and Mars from the Sun is 2/3.

    Official English text of the problem.