International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1993

Williamsburg, Virginia, USA · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Atmospheric Electricity

    General Tabulated Information

    Quantity Symbol Value
    Earth’s mean radius \(R_E\) \(6.4\times10^6\ \mathrm{m}\).
    acceleration due to gravity \(g\) \(9.8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}\).
    Newtonian gravitational constant \(G\) \(6.67\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\,m^2\,kg^{-2}}\).
    permittivity of vacuum \(\varepsilon_0\) \(8.85\times10^{-12}\ \mathrm{C^2\,N^{-1}\,m^{-2}}\).
    permeability of vacuum \(\mu_0\) \(8.85\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{N\,A^{-2}}\) [sic; correct value \(4\pi\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{N\,A^{-2}}\)].
    speed of light in vacuum (or air) \(c\) \(3.00\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}\).
    elementary charge \(e\) \(1.60\times10^{-19}\ \mathrm{C}\).
    mass of electron \(m_e\) \(9.11\times10^{-31}\ \mathrm{kg}\).
    mass of proton \(m_p\) \(1.67\times10^{-27}\ \mathrm{kg}\)
    Planck constant \(h\) \(6.63\times10^{-34}\ \mathrm{J\,s}\).
    Avogadro constant \(N_A\) \(6{,}02\times10^{23}\ \mathrm{mol^{-1}}\).
    Boltzmann constant \(k\) \(1.38\times10^{-23}\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}}\).
    molar gas constant \(R\) \(8.31\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}\).

    Theoretical Problem 1

    ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY

    From the standpoint of electrostatics, the surface of the Earth can be considered to be a good conductor. It carries a certain total charge \(Q_0\) and an average surface charge density \(\sigma_0\).

    1) Under fair-weather conditions, there is a downward electric field, \(E_0\), at the Earth’s surface equal to about \(150\ \mathrm{V/m}\). Deduce the magnitude of the Earth’s surface charge density and the total charge carried on the Earth’s surface.

    2) The magnitude of the downward electric field decreases with height, and is about \(100\ \mathrm{V/m}\) at a height of \(100\ \mathrm{m}\). Calculate the average amount of net charge per \(\mathrm{m^3}\) of the atmosphere between the Earth’s surface and \(100\ \mathrm{m}\) altitude.

    3) The net charge density you have calculated in (2) is actually the result of having almost equal numbers of positive and negative singly-charged ions per unit volume (\(n_+\) and \(n_-\)). Near the Earth’s surface, under fair-weather conditions, \(n_+\approx n_-\approx6\times10^8\ \mathrm{m^{-3}}\). These ions move under the action of the vertical electric field. Their speed is proportional to the field strength:

    \[ v\approx1.5\times10^{-4}\cdot E, \]

    where \(v\) is in \(\mathrm{m/s}\) and \(E\) in \(\mathrm{V/m}\). How long would it take for the motion of the atmospheric ions to neutralize half of the Earth’s surface charge, if no other processes (e.g. lightning) occurred to maintain it?

    4) One way of measuring the atmospheric electric field, and hence \(\sigma_0\), is with the system shown in the diagram. A pair of metal quadrants, insulated from ground but connected to each other, are mounted just underneath a grounded uniformly rotating disk with two quadrant-shaped holes cut in it. (In the diagram, the spacing has been exaggerated in order to show the arrangement.) Twice in each revolution the insulated quadrants are completely exposed to the field, and then (\(1/4\) of a period later) are completely shielded from it. Let \(T\) be the period of revolution, and let the inner and outer radii of the insulated quadrants be \(r_1\) and \(r_2\) as shown.

    Figure 1

    Take \(t=0\) to be an instant when the insulated quadrants are completely shielded.

    Obtain expressions that give the total charge \(q(t)\) induced on the upper surface of the insulated quadrants as a function of time between \(t=0\) and \(t=T/2\), and sketch a graph of this variation.

    [The effects of the atmospheric ion current can be ignored in this situation.]

    (5) The system described in (4) is connected to an amplifier whose input circuit is equivalent to a capacitor \(C\) and a resistor \(R\) in parallel. (You can assume that the capacitance of the quadrant system is negligible compared to \(C\).) Sketch graphs of the form of the voltage difference \(V\) between the points \(M\) and \(N\) as a function of \(t\) during one revolution of the disk, just after it has been set into rotation with period of revolution \(T\), if:

    a) \(T=T_a\ll CR\);

    b) \(T=T_b\gg CR\).

    Figure 2

    [Assume that \(C\) and \(R\) have fixed values; only \(T\) changes between situations (a) and (b).]

    Obtain an expression for the approximate ratio, \(V_a/V_b\), of the largest values of \(V(t)\) in cases (a) and (b).

    6) Assume that \(E_0=150\ \mathrm{V/m}\), \(r_1=1\ \mathrm{cm}\), \(r_2=7\ \mathrm{cm}\), \(C=0.01\ \mathrm{\mu F}\), \(R=20\ \mathrm{M\Omega}\), and suppose the disk is set into rotation at \(50\) revolutions per second.

    Approximately, what is the largest value of \(V\) during one revolution in this case?

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Laser Forces on a Transparent Prism

    General Tabulated Information

    Quantity Symbol Value
    Earth’s mean radius \(R_E\) \(6.4\times10^6\ \mathrm{m}\)
    acceleration due to gravity \(g\) \(9.8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}\)
    Newtonian gravitational constant \(G\) \(6.67\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\,m^2\,kg^{-2}}\)
    permittivity of vacuum \(\varepsilon_0\) \(8.85\times10^{-12}\ \mathrm{C^2\,N^{-1}\,m^{-2}}\)
    permeability of vacuum \(\mu_0\) \(8.85\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{N\,A^{-2}}\) [sic; correct value \(4\pi\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{N\,A^{-2}}\)]
    speed of light in vacuum (or air) \(c\) \(3.00\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}\)
    elementary charge \(e\) \(1.60\times10^{-19}\ \mathrm{C}\)
    mass of electron \(m_e\) \(9.11\times10^{-31}\ \mathrm{kg}\)
    mass of proton \(m_p\) \(1.67\times10^{-27}\ \mathrm{kg}\)
    Planck constant \(h\) \(6.63\times10^{-34}\ \mathrm{J\,s}\)
    Avogadro constant \(N_A\) \(6{,}02\times10^{23}\ \mathrm{mol^{-1}}\)
    Boltzmann constant \(k\) \(1.38\times10^{-23}\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}}\)
    molar gas constant \(R\) \(8.31\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}\)

    LASER FORCES ON A TRANSPARENT PRISM

    By means of refraction a strong laser beam can exert appreciable forces on small transparent objects. To see that this is so, consider a small glass triangular prism with an apex angle \(A=\pi-2\alpha\), a base of length \(2h\) and a width \(w\). The prism has an index of refraction \(n\) and a mass density \(\rho\).

    Suppose that this prism is placed in a laser beam travelling horizontally in the \(x\) direction. (Throughout this problem assume that the prism does not rotate, i.e., its apex always points opposite to the direction of the laser beam, its triangular faces are parallel to the \(xy\) plane, and its base is parallel to the \(yz\) plane, as shown in Fig. 1.) Take the index of refraction of the surrounding air to be \(n_{\mathrm{air}}=1\). Assume that the faces of the prism are coated with an anti-reflection coating so that no reflection occurs.

    Figure 1

    Fig. 1.

    The laser beam has an intensity that is uniform across its width in the \(z\) direction but falls off linearly with distance \(y\) from the \(x\) axis such that it has a maximum value of \(I_0\) at \(y=0\) and falls to zero at \(y=\pm4h\) (Fig. 2). [Intensity is power per unit area, e.g. expressed in \(\mathrm{W\,m^{-2}}\).]

    Figure 2

    Fig. 2.

    1) Write equations from which the angle \(\theta\) (see Fig. 3) may be determined (in terms of \(\alpha\) and \(n\)) in the case when laser light strikes the upper face of the prism.

    Figure 3

    Fig. 3.

    2) Express, in terms of \(I_0\), \(\theta\), \(h\), \(w\) and \(y_0\), the \(x\) and \(y\) components of the net force exerted on the prism by the laser light when the apex of the prism is displaced a distance \(y_0\) from the \(x\) axis where \(|y_0|\leq3h\).

    Plot graphs of the values of the horizontal and vertical components of force as functions of vertical displacement \(y_0\).

    3) Suppose that the laser beam is 1 mm wide in the \(z\) direction and \(80\,\mu\mathrm{m}\) thick (in the \(y\) direction). The prism has \(\alpha=30^\circ\), \(h=10\,\mu\mathrm{m}\), \(n=1.5\), \(w=1\,\mathrm{mm}\) and \(\rho=2.5\,\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}\).

    How many watts of laser power would be required to balance this prism against the pull of gravity (in the \(-y\) direction) when the apex of the prism is at a distance \(y_0=-h/2\) (\(=-5\,\mu\mathrm{m}\)) below the axis of the laser beam?

    4) Suppose this experiment is done in the absence of gravity with the same prism and a laser beam with the same dimensions as in (3), but with \(I_0=10^8\ \mathrm{W\,m^{-2}}\).

    What would be the period of the oscillations that occur when the prism is displaced and released a distance \(y=h/20\) from the center line of the laser beam?

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Electron Beam

    General Tabulated Information

    Quantity Symbol Value
    Earth’s mean radius \(R_E\) \(6.4\times10^6\ \mathrm{m}\).
    acceleration due to gravity \(g\) \(9.8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}\).
    Newtonian gravitational constant \(G\) \(6.67\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\,m^2\,kg^{-2}}\).
    permittivity of vacuum \(\varepsilon_0\) \(8.85\times10^{-12}\ \mathrm{C^2\,N^{-1}\,m^{-2}}\).
    permeability of vacuum \(\mu_0\) \(8.85\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{N\,A^{-2}}\) [sic; correct value \(4\pi\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{N\,A^{-2}}\)].
    speed of light in vacuum (or air) \(c\) \(3.00\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}\).
    elementary charge \(e\) \(1.60\times10^{-19}\ \mathrm{C}\).
    mass of electron \(m_e\) \(9.11\times10^{-31}\ \mathrm{kg}\).
    mass of proton \(m_p\) \(1.67\times10^{-27}\ \mathrm{kg}\)
    Planck constant \(h\) \(6.63\times10^{-34}\ \mathrm{J\,s}\).
    Avogadro constant \(N_A\) \(6{,}02\times10^{23}\ \mathrm{mol^{-1}}\).
    Boltzmann constant \(k\) \(1.38\times10^{-23}\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}}\).
    molar gas constant \(R\) \(8.31\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}\,K^{-1}}\).

    Theoretical Problem 3

    ELECTRON BEAM

    An accelerating voltage \(V_0\) produces a uniform, parallel beam of energetic electrons. The electrons pass a thin, long, positively charged copper wire stretched at right angles to the original direction of the beam, as shown in the figure. The symbol \(b\) denotes the distance at which an electron would pass the wire if the wire were uncharged. The electrons then proceed to a screen (viewing surface) a distance \(L\) (\(\gg b\)) beyond the wire, as shown. The beam initially extends to distances \(\pm b_{\max}\) with respect to the axis of the wire. Both the width of the beam and the length of the wire may be considered infinite in the direction perpendicular to the paper.

    Figure 1

    The charged wire extends perpendicularly to the plane of the paper. The sketch is not to scale.

    Some numerical data are provided here; you will find other numerical data in the table at the front of the examination:

    radius of wire \(=r_0=\) \(10^{-6}\ \mathrm{m}\)
    maximum value of \(b\) \(=b_{\max}=\) \(10^{-4}\ \mathrm{m}\)
    electric charge per unit length of wire \(=q_{\mathrm{linear}}=\) \(4.4\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{C\,m^{-1}}\)
    accelerating voltage \(=V_0=\) \(2\times10^4\ \mathrm{V}\)
    length from wire to observing screen \(=L=\) \(0.3\ \mathrm{m}\).

    Note: For parts 2 - 4, make reasonable approximations that lead to analytical and numerical solutions.

    1) Calculate the electric field \(\mathbf E\) produced by the wire. Sketch the magnitude of \(\mathbf E\) as a function of distance from the axis of the wire.

    2) Use classical physics to calculate the angular deflection of an electron. Do this for values of the parameter \(b\) such that the electron does not strike the wire. Let \(\theta_{\mathrm{final}}\) denote the (small) angle between the initial velocity of the electron and the velocity when the electron reaches the viewing surface. Hence, calculate \(\theta_{\mathrm{final}}\).

    3) Calculate and sketch the pattern of impacts (i.e. the intensity distribution) on the viewing screen that classical physics predicts.

    4) Quantum physics predicts a major difference in the intensity distribution (relative to what classical physics predicts). Sketch the pattern for the quantum prediction and provide quantitative detail.

    Official English text of the problem.