International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1990

Groningen, Netherlands · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: X-ray Diffraction from a crystal

    We wish to study X-ray diffraction by a cubic crystal lattice. To do this we start with the diffraction of a plane, monochromatic wave that falls perpendicularly on a 2-dimensional grid that consists of \(N_1 \times N_2\) slits with separations \(d_1\) and \(d_2\). The diffraction pattern is observed on a screen at a distance \(L\) from the grid. The screen is parallel to the grid and \(L\) is much larger than \(d_1\) and \(d_2\).

    a - Determine the positions and widths of the principal maximum on the screen. The width is defined as the distance between the minima on either side of the maxima.

    We consider now a cubic crystal, with lattice spacing \(a\) and size \(N_0.a \times N_0.a \times N_1.a\). \(N_1\) is much smaller than \(N_0\). The crystal is placed in a parallel X-ray beam along the z-axis at an angle \(\Theta\) (see Fig. 1). The diffraction pattern is again observed on a screen at great distance from the crystal.

    Figure 1

    Figure 1 Diffraction of a parallel X-ray beam along the z-axis. The angle between the crystal and the y-axis is \(\Theta\).

    b - Calculate the position and width of the maxima as a function of the angle \(\Theta\) (for small \(\Theta\)).

    - What in particular are the consequences of the fact that \(N_1 \ll N_0\).

    The diffraction pattern can also be derived by means of Bragg's theory, in which it is assumed that the X-rays are reflected from atomic planes in the lattice. The diffraction pattern then arises from interference of these reflected rays with each other.

    c - Show that this so-called Bragg reflection yields the same conditions for the maxima as those that you found in b.

    In some measurements the so-called powder method is employed. A beam of X-rays is scattered by a powder of very many, small crystals. (Of course the sizes of the crystals are much larger than the lattice spacing, \(a\).)
    Scattering of X-rays of wavelength \(0.15\ \mathrm{nm}\) by Potassium Chloride [KCl] (which has a cubic lattice, see Fig.2) results in the production of concentric dark circles on a photographic plate. The distance between the crystals and the plate is \(0.10\ \mathrm{m}\), and the radius of the smallest circle is \(0.053\ \mathrm{m}\) (see Fig. 3). \(\mathrm{K}^{+}\) and \(\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\) ions have almost the same size, and they may be treated as identical scattering centres.

    Figure 2

    Figure 2. The cubic lattice of Potassium Chloride in which the \(\mathrm{K}^{+}\) and \(\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\) ions have almost the same size.

    Figure 3

    Figure 3. Scattering of X-rays by a powder of KCl crystals results in the production of concentric dark circles on a photographic plate.

    d - Calculate the distance between two neighbouring K ions in the crystal.

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Electric experiments in the magnetosphere of the earth

    In May 1991 the spaceship Atlantis will be placed in orbit around the earth. We shall assume that this orbit will be circular and that it lies in the earth's equatorial plane.

    At some predetermined moment the spaceship will release a satellite S, which is attached to a conducting rod of length \(L\). We suppose that the rod is rigid, has negligible mass, and is covered by an electrical insulator. We also neglect all friction. Let \(\alpha\) be the angle that the rod makes to the line between the Atlantis and the centre of the earth. (see Fig. 1).

    S also lies in the equatorial plane.

    Assume that the mass of the satellite is much smaller than that of the Atlantis, and that \(L\) is much smaller than the radius of the orbit.

    Figure 1

    Figure 1 The spaceship Atlantis (A) with a satellite (S) in an orbit around the earth. The orbit lies in the earth’s equatorial plane. The magnetic field (B) is perpendicular to the diagram and is directed towards the reader.

    \(\mathrm{a}_1\) - Deduce for which value(s) of \(\alpha\) the configuration of the spaceship and satellite remain unchanged (with respect to the earth)? In other words, for which value(s) of \(\alpha\) is \(\alpha\) constant?

    \(\mathrm{a}_2\) - Discuss the stability of the equilibrium for each case.

    Suppose that, at a given moment, the rod deviates from the stable configuration by a small angle. The system will begin to swing like a pendulum.

    b - Express the period of the swinging in terms of the period of revolution of the system around the earth.

    In Fig. 1 the magnetic field of the earth is perpendicular to the diagram and is directed towards the reader. Due to the orbital velocity of the rod, a potential difference arises between its ends. The environment (the magnetosphere) is a rarefied, ionised gas with a very good electrical conductivity. Contact with the ionised gas is made by means of electrodes in A (the Atlantis) and S (the satellite). As a consequence of the motion, a current, \(I\), flows through the rod.

    \(\mathrm{c}_1\) - In which direction does the current flow through the rod? (Take \(\alpha=0\))

    Data:

    - the period of the orbit \(T=5{,}4\cdot10^3\ \mathrm{s}\)
    - the length of the rod \(L=2{,}0\cdot10^4\ \mathrm{m}\)
    - magnetic field strength of the eart at the height of the satellite \(B=5{,}0\cdot10^{-5}\ \mathrm{Wb.m^{-2}}\)
    - the mass of the shuttle Atlantis \(m=1{,}0\cdot10^5\ \mathrm{kg}\)

    Next, a current source inside the shuttle is included in the circuit, which maintains a net direct current of 0.1 A in the opposite direction.

    \(\mathrm{c}_2\) - How long must this current be maintained to change the altitude of the orbit by 10 m.

    Assume that \(\alpha\) remains zero. Ignore all contributions from currents in the magnetosphere.

    • Does the altitude decrease or increase?

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: The rotating neutron star

    A 'millisecond pulsar' is a source of radiation in the universe that emits very short pulses with a period of one to several milliseconds. This radiation is in the radio range of wavelengths; and a suitable radio receiver can be used to detect the separate pulses and thereby to measure the period with great accuracy.

    These radio pulses originate from the surface of a particular sort of star, the so-called neutron star. These stars are very compact: they have a mass of the same order of magnitude as that of the sun, but their radius is only a few tens of kilometers. They spin very quickly. Because of the fast rotation, a neutron star is slightly flattened (oblate). Assume the axial cross-section of the surface to be an ellipse with almost equal axes. Let \(r_p\) be the polar and \(r_e\) the equatorial radii; and let us define the flattening factor by:

    \[ \epsilon=\frac{(r_e-r_p)}{r_p} \]

    Consider a neutron star with

    a mass of \(2.0\cdot10^{30}\,\mathrm{kg}\),
    an average radius of \(1.0\cdot10^4\,\mathrm{m}\),
    and a rotation period of \(2.0\cdot10^{-2}\,\mathrm{s}\).

    a - Calculate the flattening factor, given that the gravitational constant is \(6.67\cdot10^{-11}\,\mathrm{N.m^2.kg^{-2}}\).

    In the long run (over many years) the rotation of the star slows down, due to energy loss, and this leads to a decrease in the flattening. The star has however a solid crust that floats on a liquid interior. The solid crust resists a continuous adjustment to equilibrium shape. Instead, starquakes occur with sudden changes in the shape of the crust towards equilibrium. During and after such a star-quake the angular velocity is observed to change according to figure 1.

    Figure 1

    A sudden change in the shape of the crust of a neutron star results in a sudden change of the angular velocity.

    b - Calculate the average radius of the liquid interior, using the data of Fig. 1. Make the approximation that the densities of the crust and the interior are the same. (Ignore the change in shape of the interior).

    Official English text of the problem.