International Physics Olympiad

IPhO 1994

Beijing, China · 3 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Relativistic Particle

    In the theory of special relativity the relation between energy \(E\) and momentum \(P\) or a free particle with rest mass \(m_0\) is

    \[ E=\sqrt{p^2c^2+m_0^2c^4}=mc^2 \]

    When such a particle is subject to a conservative force, the total energy of the particle, which is the sum of \(\sqrt{p^2c^2+m_0^2c^4}\) and the potential energy, is conserved. If the energy of the particle is very high, the rest energy of the particle can be ignored (such a particle is called an ultra relativistic particle).

    1) consider the one dimensional motion of a very high energy particle (in which rest energy can be neglected) subject to an attractive central force of constant magnitude \(f\). Suppose the particle is located at the centre of force with initial momentum \(p_0\) at time \(t=0\). Describe the motion of the particle by separately plotting, for at least one period of the motion: \(x\) against time \(t\), and momentum \(p\) against space coordinate \(x\). Specify the coordinates of the “turning points” in terms of given parameters \(p_0\) and \(f\). Indicate, with arrows, the direction of the progress of the mothon in the \((p,x)\) diagram. There may be short intervals of time during which the particle is not ultrarelativistic. However, these should be neglected.

    Use Answer Sheet 1.

    2) A meson is a particle made up of two quarks. The rest mass \(M\) of the meson is equal to the total energy of the two-quark system divided by \(c^2\).

    Consider a one--dimensional model for a meson at rest, in which the two quarks are assumed to move along the \(x\)-axis and attract each other with a force of constant magnitude \(f\) It is assumed they can pass through each other freely. For analysis of the high energy motion of the quarks the rest mass of the quarks can be neglected. At time \(t=0\) the two quarks are both at \(x=0\). Show separately the motion of the two quarks graphically by a \((x,t)\) diagram and a \((p,x)\) diagram, specify the coordinates of the “turning points” in terms of \(M\) and \(f\), indicate the direction of the process in your \((p,x)\) diagram, and determine the maximum distance between the two quarks.

    Use Answer Sheet 2.

    3) The reference frame used in part 2 will be referred to as frame \(S\), the Lab frame, referred to as \(S\), moves in the negative \(x\)-direction with a constant velocity \(v=0.6c\). the coordinates in the two reference frames are so chosen that the point \(x=0\) in \(S\) coincides with the point \(x'=0\) in \(S''\) at time \(t=t'=0\). Plot the motion of the two quarks graphically in a \((x',t')\) diagram. Specify the coordinates of the turning points in terms of \(M\), \(f\) and \(c\), and determine the maximum distance between the two quarks observed in Lab frame \(S'\).

    Use Answer Sheet 3.

    The coordinates of particle observed in reference frames \(S\) and \(S''\) are related by the Lorentz transformation

    \[ \begin{cases} x'=\gamma(x+\beta ct),\\[2pt] t'=\gamma\left(t+\beta\dfrac{x}{c}\right) \end{cases} \]

    where \(\beta=v/c\), \(\gamma=1/\sqrt{1-\beta^2}\) and \(v\) is the velocity of frame \(S\) moving relative to the frame \(S''\).

    4) For a meson with rest energy \(Mc^2=140\ \mathrm{MeV}\) and velocity \(0.60c\) relative to the Lab frame \(S''\), determine its energy \(E'\) in the Lab Frame \(S''\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Superconducting Magnet

    Super conducting magnets are widely used in laboratories. The most common form of super conducting magnets is a solenoid made of super conducting wire. The wonderful thing about a superconducting magnet is that it produces high magnetic fields without any energy dissipation due to Joule heating, since the electrical resistance of the superconducting wire becomes zero when the magnet is immersed in liquid helium at a temperature of 4.2 K. Usually, the magnet is provided with a specially designed superconducting switch, as shown in Fig. 1. The resistance \(r\) of the switch can be controlled: either \(r=0\) in the superconducting state, or \(r=r_n\) in the normal state. When the persistent mode, with a current circulating through the magnet and superconducting switch indefinitely. The persistent mode allows a steady magnetic field to be maintained for long periods with the external source cut off.

    The details of the superconducting switch are not given in Fig. 1. It is usually a small length of superconducting wire wrapped with a heater wire and suitably thermally insulated from the liquid helium bath. On being heated, the temperature of the superconducting wire increases and it reverts to the resistive normal state. The typical value of \(r_n\) is a few ohms. Here we assume it to be \(5\,\Omega\). The inductance of a superconducting magnet depends on its size; assume it be \(10\,\mathrm H\) for the magnet in Fig. 1. The total current \(I\) can be changed by adjusting the resistance \(R\).

    This problem will be graded by the plots only!

    The arrows denote the positive direction of \(I\), \(I_1\) and \(I_2\).

    Figure 1

    Fig. 1

    1) If the total current \(I\) and the resistance \(r\) of the superconducting switch are controlled to vary with time in the way shown in Figs, 2a and 2b respectively, and assuming the currents \(I_1\) and \(I_2\) flowing through the magnet and the switch respectively are equal at the beginning (Fig. 2c and Fig. 2d), how do they vary with time from \(t_1\) to \(t_4\)? Plot your answer in Fig. 2c and Fig. 2d

    Figure 2

    Fig.2a

    Figure 3

    2b

    Figure 4

    2c

    Figure 5

    2d

    2) Suppose the power switch \(K\) is turned on at time \(t=0\) when \(r=0\), \(I_1=0\) and \(R=7.5\,\Omega\), and the total current \(I\) is \(0.5\,\mathrm A\). With \(K\) kept closed, the resistance \(r\) of the superconducting switch is varied in he way shown in Fig. 3b. Plot the corresponding time dependences of \(I\), \(I_1\) and \(I_2\) in Figs. 3a, 3c and 3d respectively.

    Figure 6

    Fig. 3a

    Figure 7

    3b

    Figure 8

    3c

    Figure 9

    3d

    3) Only small currents, less than \(0.5\,\mathrm A\), are allowed to flow through the superconducting switch when it is in the normal state, with larger currents the switch will be burnt out. Suppose the superconducting magnet is operated in a persistent mode, i. e. \(I=0\), and \(I_1=i_1\)(e. g. \(20\,\mathrm A\)), \(I_2=-i_1\), as shown in Fig. 4, from \(t=0\) to \(t=3\mathrm{min}\). If the experiment is to be stopped by reducing the current through the magnet to zero, how would you do it? This has to be done in several operation steps. Plot the corresponding changes of \(I\), \(r\), \(I_1\) and \(I_2\) in Fig. 4

    Figure 10

    Fig. 4a

    Figure 11

    4b

    Figure 12

    4c

    Figure 13

    4d

    4) Suppose the magnet is operated in a persistent mode with a persistent current of \(20\,\mathrm A\) (\(t=0\) to \(t=3\mathrm{min}\). See Fig. 5). How would you change it to a persistent mode with a current of 30a? plot your answer in Fig. 5.

    Figure 14

    Fig. 5a

    Figure 15

    5b

    Figure 16

    5c

    Figure 17

    5d

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Collision of Discs with Surface Friction

    A homogeneous disc A of mass \(m\) and radius \(R_A\) moves translationally on a smooth horizontal \(x\)-\(y\) plane in the \(x\) direction with a velocity \(V\) (see the figure on the next page). The center of the disk is at a distance \(b\) from the x-axis. It collides with a stationary homogeneous disc B whose center is initially located at the origin of the coordinate system. The disc B has the same mass and the same thickness as A, but its radius is \(R_B\). It is assumed that the velocities of the discs at their point of contact, in the direction perpendicular to the line joining their centers, are equal after the collision. It is also assumed that the magnitudes of the relative velocities of the discs along the line joining their centers are the same before and after the collision.

    1) For such a collision determine the X and Y components of the velocities of the two discs after the collision, i. e. \(V'_{AX}\), \(V'_{AY}\), \(V'_{BX}\) and \(V'_{BY}\) in terms of \(m\), \(R_A\), \(R_B\), \(V\) and \(b\).

    2) Determine the kinetic energies \(E'_A\) for disc A and \(E'_B\) for disc B after the collision in terms of \(m\), \(R_A\), \(R_B\), \(V\) and \(b\).

    Figure 1

    Official English text of the problem.