Physics Outreach Program Physics Olympiad Preparation 2011-2012

- University of Toronto -

Mechanics
Solutions
Problem 1: Dimensional analysis Dimensional analysis is a method of estimating the unknown function of a number of variables using either dimensions or units of the variables and combining them in the way that results in the correct dimension or the unit of the function. A particle with mass m and initial speed V0 is a subject to a velocity-dependent damping force of the form bVn. (a) With dimensional analysis determine how the stopping time depends on m, Vo, and b for n = 0, 1, 2, . . . . Begin with writing t = A m b V0 ; then work out the powers , , and to get a quantity with unit of time and assuming A being dimensionless. (b) Using result of part (a), find a range for n in which this time is finite. Solution First, we must verify whether the function F = bVn can give a solution for stopping time as t = A m b V0 (1) (2)

The shortest way to do this is to use the definition of acceleration and the Newtons second law: dV F a= = (3) dt m Substituting F in Eq. 3 by its value given for the damping force (1) and taking into account that the force must be directed appositely to the velocity V, we can derive

dV =

b n V dt m

m dV = dt b Vn

(4)

In general, integration will result in

t=

m dV + const b Vn

(5)

Integration in (5) depends upon the value of n; if n = 1, the antiderivative is a logarithmic function; if n 1, the antiderivative is V1-n. Suppose, n = 1. Taking V = V0 at t = 0, at any other instant of time the relationship between instantaneous speed V and time is given by

t=

m ln V + const b

(6)

Logarithm of a zero does not exist. Even for very small speeds, when the particle is just about to stop, the relationship (6) gives an infinitely large time. Thus, we have to exclude n = 1 from consideration. For all n 1, the solution of Eq.5 is m V 1 n + const t= b (n 1) The value for the constant can be found easily as at t = 0 V = V0, and finally
t= m 1 V 1 n V01 n b (n 1)

We are looking for the time interval t before the particle stops and therefore at t = t, V = 0. This is possible for n <1, and is impossible for n >1. (a) At the instant of time when V = 0, t = unknown powers, we can write: A =
m 1 V01n = Am b V0 as in Eq.2. For b (1 n)

1 ; = 1; = -1; and = 1 n. 1 n (b) The given relationship of Eq.1 suggests that the force increases with the speed increase. Therefore for n, the following range is permitted: 0 < n < 1. The above solution is not based on the dimensional analysis and can be taken as a verification of the correctness of the dimensional analysis. Let us try the method of dimensional analysis now. (a) Basing on the given relationship F = ma = bVn, we can assume that to make the dimension of the expression t = A m b V0 mass independent, the following must be true: = - . We can also suggest that A must depend on n. For the dimension of b, we will substitute quantities in Eq.1 by their SI units for simplicity. The dimension or a unit of a quantity is usually denoted by square brackets, and [b] = kg m1-n sn-2 , where kg is a kilogram, m is a meter, and s is a second. Substituting physical quantities in Eq. 2 by their SI units and taking into account that the value of A is dimensionless and = - , we can obtain the following equation for units:

kg s= kg m1 n s n 2

m (1 n )+ s (2 n ) s =m

(7)

Equation 7 gives two relationships for the unknown constants: - (1 n) + = 0 (for meters) 1 = 2 n (for seconds) Solving them together, we get = 1 n ; = 1; and = -1.

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3 (b) For the range of the value of n, we should analyze the relationship between time and V0. It is clear that the greater is the initial speed V0, the greater will be the stopping time, so must be positive with positive n. Thus, 0 < n < 1. The dimensional analysis permits to solve the problem without differentiation and integration and by means of just simplest algebraic operations.

Problem 2 A small block is at rest on the floor at front of a railroad boxcar that has length l . The coefficient of kinetic friction between the floor of the car and the block is k. The car, originally at rest, begins to move with acceleration a. The block slides back horizontally until it hits the back wall of the car. At that moment, what is its speed (a) relative to the car? (b) relative to Earth? Possible solution 1 Suppose, the car moves to the right with acceleration a (we will denote vectors with letters in bold). x abc

a) In the accelerating car, the block experiences a fictitious force ma to the left, and the force of friction with the magnitude kmg and directed to the right. In the accelerating frame, the Newtons 2nd law for the block gives: - mabc =- ma + kmg, where abc is acceleration of the block relative to the car. m is the common factor and can be canceled. The relationship among the length of the car l , the time t the box travels this distance and the acceleration abc is as follows: a t 2 (a k g )t 2 l = bc = 2 2

t=

2l a k g 2l = 2l (a k g ) a k g

Speed of the box relative to the car is vbc = abct = (a k g ) (to the left, or in the direction opposite to the direction of a) b) Relative to the earth, the car has the velocity vce:

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vce = at = a

2l a k g

Velocity of the box relative to the car is given by r r v =v v be bc + v ce 2l 2l 2l +a = k g a k g a k g a k g (to the right, or in the direction of a). vbe = (a k g )
Possible solution 2 The car moves to the right with acceleration a. We find the acceleration of a b of the block relative to the Earth. The block moves to the right also.

Fy = m a y : + n m g = 0 , n = m g , f = k m g Fx = m ax : + k m g = m ab , ab = k g

The acceleration of the block relative to the car is ab a = k g a . In this frame the block starts from rest and undergoes displacement l and gains speed according to
2 2 v xf = v xi + 2 ax x f x i

2 v xf = 0 + 2 ( k g a) ( l 0 ) = 2 l ( a k g ) .

(a) (b)

v = 2l ( a k g)

12

in the direction opposite to the direction of a

The time for which the box slides is given by

x = 1 2 1 l = 2

(v

xi +

v xf t

0 2l a g ( k )
1 2

1 2

2l t= a kg

The car in the Earth frame acquires finals speed

vxf 2l = vxi + at = 0 + a a kg
12

The speed of the box in the Earth frame is then

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5
vbe = vbc + vce = 2l ( a k g ) = = ( 2l )
12 12

2l + a a kg

12

( a k g ) + ( 2l )1 2 a = k g ( 2l )1 2 ( a k g )1 2 ( a k g )1 2
12

2l ( a k g )

k g 2l

2 k gl . v

in the direction of a.

Problem 3 A ball of mass M moving with velocity V0 on a frictionless plane strikes the first of two identical balls, each of mass m, connected by a massless spring with spring constant k, (see Figure below). Consider the collision to be central and elastic and essentially instantaneous. Find the minimum value of the mass M for the incident ball to strike the system of two balls again. Hint: write your equations in the centre of mass of the two identical particles. This question needs more time and efforts than the others

Solution For the instant just after the collision, we can assume that the mass M and the left mass m will get velocities u and u1 as if the balls collide in the absence of the spring, and thus:

MV0 = Mu + mu1 MV mu Mu = + 2 2 2
2 0 2 2 1

(conservation of momentum) (1) (conservation of energy in the elastic collision)

Solutions for u and u1 for perfectly elastic collision are: u= M m 1 V0 = V0 M +m 1+ and u1 = 2M 2 V0 = V0 M +m 1+ (2)

where = m / M. After the first collision, the mass M will move with constant velocity, and its position is given by 1 x = ut = V0 t (3) 1+ The center of mass of two identical balls will move with the constant velocity uC = u1 and its position is given by Page 5 of 8

xC = u C t =

V0 t 1+

(4)

In the frame of reference of the center of mass (CM) of two identical balls, the velocity of the center of mass is zero, and the two balls are moving toward each other with the initial speed ul. The spring between the balls causes harmonic vibrations and the position of each ball in the center of mass reference frame is given by 2k k' = (5) x1,2(C)= A sin (t), where = m m Why k = 2k? Due to symmetry, when one of the balls moves l toward the center of the spring, the other mass moves same distance, and the spring becomes stretched by 2l. So, according to Hooks law, F = k (2 l.) = 2k l. = k l.. The maximum possible velocity of either mass m in the CM frame is given by:
) u1(,C 2 = A = u1 u C =

1 V0 1+

A=

V0 (1 + )

(6)

Switching back to laboratory reference frame, we can find the position of the ball m at some instant of time after the first collision as V0 V0 sin(t ) ) (7) x1 (t ) = x1(,C t= + t 2 (t ) + xC = A sin(t ) + 1+ (1 + ) For the second collision to happen, we need x = x1 or V0 t 1 1 sin(t ) = V0 t 1 + 1+ 1+ t m sin(t ) = = t M (8)

The function to the left of Eq.8 is shown in the diagram below and is called the sinc function of x.
sin( x ) x

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7 The same function in a different presentation is the normalized sinc function and is given by t sin sin (x ) T /2 t , or sinc ( x ) = sinc = t x T /2 T /2 sin (x ) is also the first spherical Bessel function. All the above you can x find on the Internet to get familiar with a variety of interesting functions that are being used in a lot of mathematical, scientific and engineering applications. The sinc functions and Bessel functions are tabulated. The function j 0 ( x) = The general conclusion based on Eq.8, is M > m. Equation 8 cannot be solved algebraically. Therefore, we will try to make reasonable assumptions on possible solutions. It is clear that the solution must belong to the interval of x = t between and 2, where sinx is negative. It is possible to narrow the interval if we assume that Eq.8 can be solved graphically by graphing y1 = (m/M)t and y2 = - sint in one system of coordinates as shown below. The graphs must have at least one common point (the second collision between m and M). It will happen at the point where the graph of y1 is tangent to the graph of y2. In this case, the range of t becomes [ 3/2 ]. The graph can give us the value of t which slightly exceeds 4.5. Then, the solution of Eq.8 is M 4.6 m.

y1 =(m/M) t

y2 = - sin(t)

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Problem 4 A block of mass m is placed on a level frictionless table. The block is attached to a horizontally aligned spring, fixed with its other end, and is vibrating in a horizontal plane with the period T. Suddenly, at the instant of time when the spring comes to the position of equilibrium and becomes unstretched, the block disconnects from the spring and continues sliding across the frictionless surface away from the spring until it encounters a loop of radius R. What must be the amplitude of vibrations of the block on the spring in order for the block to complete one loop without falling down? Solution

m x=0 A

kA 2 mv 2 = mg 2 R + (law of conservation of energy) (1) 2 2 The threshold condition for the block to not fall down still participating in the circular motion is: mv 2 N =0 and mg = (2) R (centripetal force at the top of the loop in absence of a normal force) Combination of (1) and (2) gives: 5mgR k m k kA 2 = 2mgR + mgR/2 = 5/2 mgR 2 A= T 2 5 gR or in general A T 2 5 gR

A=

T = 2

The amplitude is the mass independent value that can be also proved with the dimensional analysis (see Problem 1).

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