Leaving Cert Physics Mechanics long questions

Please remember to photocopy 4 pages onto one sheet by going A3A4 and using back to back on the photocopier.

2011 - 2002 Solutions begin on page 7 Two Common Topics Satellite Motion (Circular Motion plus Gravity) Simple Harmonic Motion (and Hookes Law) Year of appearance 2010 no.6, 2008 no.6, 2005 no.6, 2004 12 (a) 2011 12 (a), 2009 12 (a), 2007 no 6, 2002 no. 6

2011 Question 6 (a) Define the moment of a force. A toy, such as that shown, has a heavy hemispherical base and its centre of gravity is located at C. When the toy is knocked over, it always returns to the upright position. Explain why this happens. (b) State the conditions necessary for the equilibrium of a body under a set of co-planar forces. Three children position themselves on a uniform see-saw so that it is horizontal and in equilibrium. The fulcrum of the see-saw is at its centre of gravity. A child of mass 30 kg sits 1.8 m to the left of the fulcrum and another child of mass 40 kg sits 0.8 m to the right of the fulcrum. Where should the third child of mass 45 kg sit, in order to balance the see-saw? (c) A simple merry-go-round consists of a flat disc that is rotated horizontally. A child of mass 32 kg stands at the edge of the merry-go-round, 2.2 metres from its centre. The force of friction acting on the child is 50 N. Draw a diagram showing the forces acting on the child as the merry-goround rotates. What is the maximum angular velocity of the merry-go-round so that the child will not fall from it, as it rotates? If there was no force of friction between the child and the merry-goround, in what direction would the child move as the merry-go-round starts to rotate?

2011 Question 12 (a) State Hookes law.

A body of mass 250 g vibrates on a horizontal surface and its motion is described by the equation a = 16 s, where s is the displacement of the body from its equilibrium position. The amplitude of each vibration is 5 cm. (a) Why does the body vibrate with simple harmonic motion? (b) Calculate the frequency of vibration of the body? (c) What is the magnitude of (i) the maximum force, (ii) the minimum force, which causes the bodys motion?

2010 Question 6 (Radius of the earth = 6.36 106 m Acceleration due to gravity at the earths surface = 9.81 m s2 Distance from the centre of the earth to the centre of the moon = 3.84 108 m Assume the mass of the earth is 81 times the mass of the moon.) (i) State Newtons law of universal gravitation. (ii) Use this law to calculate the acceleration due to gravity at a height above the surface of the earth, which is twice the radius of the earth. Note that 2d above surface is 3d from earths centre (iii)A spacecraft carrying astronauts is on a straight line flight from the earth to the moon and after a while its engines are turned off. Explain why the spacecraft continues on its journey to the moon, even though the engines are turned off. (iv) Describe the variation in the weight of the astronauts as they travel to the moon. (v) At what height above the earths surface will the astronauts experience weightlessness? Gravitational pull of earth = gravitational pull of moon (vi) The moon orbits the earth every 27.3 days. What is its velocity, expressed in metres per second? (vii) Why is there no atmosphere on the moon?

2009 Question 6 (i) State Newtons laws of motion. (ii) Show that F = ma is a special case of Newtons second law. A skateboarder with a total mass of 70 kg starts from rest at the top of a ramp and accelerates down it. The ramp is 25 m long and is at an angle of 200 to the horizontal. The skateboarder has a velocity of 12.2 m s1 at the bottom of the ramp.

(iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii)

Calculate the average acceleration of the skateboarder on the ramp. Calculate the component of the skateboarders weight that is parallel to the ramp. Calculate the force of friction acting on the skateboarder on the ramp. The skateboarder then maintains a speed of 10.5 m s1 until he enters a circular ramp of radius 10 m. What is the initial centripetal force acting on him? What is the maximum height that the skateboarder can reach? Sketch a velocity-time graph to illustrate his motion. (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2)

2009 Question 12 (a) (i) State Hookes law. (ii) When a sphere of mass 500 g is attached to a spring of length 300 mm, the length of the spring increases to 330 mm. Calculate the spring constant. (iii)The sphere is then pulled down until the springs length has increased to 350 mm and is then released. (iv) Describe the motion of the sphere when it is released. (v) What is the maximum acceleration of the sphere? (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s-2)

2008 Question 6 (i) State Newtons law of universal gravitation. (ii) The international space station (ISS) moves in a circular orbit around the equator at a height of 400 km. What type of force is required to keep the ISS in orbit? (iii)What is the direction of this force? (iv) Calculate the acceleration due to gravity at a point 400 km above the surface of the earth. (v) An astronaut in the ISS appears weightless. Explain why. (vi) Derive the relationship between the period of the ISS, the radius of its orbit and the mass of the earth. (vii) Calculate the period of an orbit of the ISS. (viii) After an orbit, the ISS will be above a different point on the earths surface. Explain why. (ix) How many times does an astronaut on the ISS see the sun rise in a 24 hour period? (gravitational constant = 6.6 1011 N m2 kg2; mass of the earth = 6.0 1024 kg; radius of the earth = 6.4 106 m)

2008 Question 12 (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of energy. (ii) In a pole-vaulting competition an athlete, whose centre of gravity is 1.1 m above the ground, sprints from rest and reaches a maximum velocity of 9.2 ms1 after 3.0 seconds. He maintains this velocity for 2.0 seconds before jumping. Draw a velocity-time graph to illustrate the athletes horizontal motion. (iii)Use your graph to calculate the distance travelled by the athlete before jumping. (iv) What is the maximum height above the ground that the athlete can raise his centre of gravity?

2007 Question 6 (i) State Hookes law. (ii) A stretched spring obeys Hookes law. When a small sphere of mass 300 g is attached to a spring of length 200 mm, its length increases to 285 mm. Calculate its spring constant. (iii)The sphere is pulled down until the length of the spring is 310 mm. The sphere is then released and oscillates about a fixed point. Derive the relationship between the acceleration of the sphere and its displacement from the fixed point. (iv) Why does the sphere oscillate with simple harmonic motion? (v) Calculate the period of oscillation of the sphere (vi) Calculate the maximum acceleration of the sphere (vii) Calculate the length of the spring when the acceleration of the sphere is zero. (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2)

2007 Question 12 (a) (i) What is friction? (ii) A car of mass 750 kg is travelling east on a level road. Its engine exerts a constant force of 2.0 kN causing the car to accelerate at 1.2 m s2 until it reaches a speed of 25 m s1. (iii)Calculate (i) the net force, (ii) the force of friction, acting on the car. (iv) If the engine is then turned off, calculate how far the car will travel before coming to rest.

2006 Question 6 (i) Define velocity. (ii) Define angular velocity. (iii)Derive the relationship between the velocity of a particle travelling in uniform circular motion and its angular velocity. (iv) A student swings a ball in a circle of radius 70 cm in the vertical plane as shown. The angular velocity of the ball is 10 rad s1. What is the velocity of the ball? (v) How long does the ball take to complete one revolution? (vi) Draw a diagram to show the forces acting on the ball when it is at position A. (vii) The student releases the ball when is it at A, which is 130 cm above the ground, and the ball travels vertically upwards. Calculate the maximum height, above the ground, the ball will reach. (viii) Calculate the time taken for the ball to hit the ground after its release from A. (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2)

2006 Question 12 (a) (i) Define pressure. (ii) Is pressure a vector quantity or a scalar quantity? Justify your answer. (iii)State Boyles law. (iv) A small bubble of gas rises from the bottom of a lake. The volume of the bubble increases threefold when it reaches the surface of the lake where the atmospheric pressure is 1.01 105 Pa. The temperature of the lake is 4 oC. Calculate the pressure at the bottom of the lake; (v) Calculate the depth of the lake. (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2; density of water = 1.0 103 kg m3)

2005 Question 6 (i) Define angular velocity. (ii) Define centripetal force. (iii)State Newtons Universal Law of Gravitation. (iv) A satellite is in a circular orbit around the planet Saturn. Derive the relationship between the period of the satellite, the mass of Saturn and the radius of the orbit. (v) The period of the satellite is 380 hours. Calculate the radius of the satellites orbit around Saturn. (vi) The satellite transmits radio signals to earth. At a particular time the satellite is 1.2 1012 m from earth. How long does it take the signal to travel to earth? (vii) It is noticed that the frequency of the received radio signal changes as the satellite orbits Saturn. Explain why. Gravitational constant = 6.7 1011 N m2 kg2; mass of Saturn = 5.7 1026 kg; speed of light = 3.0 108 m s1

2005 Question 12 (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of energy. (ii) A basketball of mass 600 g which was resting on a hoop falls to the ground 3.05 m below. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the ball as it falls? (iii)On bouncing from the ground the ball loses 6 joules of energy. What happens to the energy lost by the ball? (iv) Calculate the height of the first bounce of the ball. (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2)

2004 Question 6 (i) Define force. (ii) Define momentum. (iii)State Newtons second law of motion. (iv) Hence, establish the relationship: force = mass acceleration. (v) A pendulum bob of mass 10 g was raised to a height of 20 cm and allowed to swing so that it collided with a block of mass 8.0 g at rest on a bench, as shown. The bob stopped on impact and the block subsequently moved along the bench. Calculate the velocity of the bob just before the collision. (vi) Calculate the velocity of the block immediately after the collision. (vii) The block moved 2.0 m along the bench before stopping. What was the average horizontal force exerted on the block while travelling this distance? (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2) 2004 Question 12 (a) (i) State Newtons universal law of gravitation. (ii) Centripetal force is required to keep the earth moving around the sun. What provides this centripetal force? (iii)In what direction does this centripetal force act? (iv) Give an expression for centripetal force. (v) The earth has a speed of 3.0 104 m s1 as it orbits the sun. The distance between the earth and the sun is 1.5 1011 m. Calculate the mass of the sun. (gravitational constant, G = 6.7 1011 m3 kg1 s2)

2003 Question 6

(i) Give the difference between vector quantities and scalar quantities and give one example of each. (ii) Describe an experiment to find the resultant of two vectors. (iii)A cyclist travels from A to B along the arc of a circle of radius 25 m as shown. (iv) Calculate (i) the distance travelled by the cyclist. (v) Calculate the displacement undergone by the cyclist. (vi) A person in a wheelchair is moving up a ramp at a constant speed. Their total weight is 900 N. The ramp makes an angle of 10o with the horizontal. Calculate the force required to keep the wheelchair moving at a constant speed up the ramp. (You may ignore the effects of friction.) (vii) The ramp is 5 m long. Calculate the power exerted by the person in the wheelchair if it takes her 10 s to travel up the ramp.

2003 Question 12 (a) (i) State Newtons second law of motion. (ii) A skydiver falls from an aircraft that is flying horizontally. He reaches a constant speed of 50 m s1 after falling through a height of 1500 m. Calculate the average vertical acceleration of the skydiver. (iii)If the mass of the skydiver is 90 kg, what is the magnitude and direction of the average resultant force acting on him? (iv) Use a diagram to show the forces acting on the skydiver and explain why he reaches a constant speed.
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2002 Question 6 (i) State Newtons second law of motion. (ii) The equation F = ks, where k is a constant, is an expression for a law that governs the motion of a body. Name this law and give a statement of it. (iii)Give the name for this type of motion and describe the motion. (iv) A mass at the end of a spring is an example of a system that obeys this law. Give two other examples of systems that obey this law. (v) The springs of a mountain bike are compressed vertically by 5 mm when a cyclist of mass 60 kg sits on it. When the cyclist rides the bike over a bump on a track, the frame of the bike and the cyclist oscillate up and down. Using the formula F = ks, calculate the value of k, the constant for the springs of the bike. (vi) The total mass of the frame of the bike and the cyclist is 80 kg. Calculate (i) the period of oscillation of the cyclist, (ii) the number of oscillations of the cyclist per second. (acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m s-2)

2002 Question 12 (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of momentum. (ii) A spacecraft of mass 50 000 kg is approaching a space station at a constant speed of 2 m s-1. The spacecraft must slow to a speed of 0.5 m s-1 for it to lock onto the space station. Calculate the mass of gas that the spacecraft must expel at a speed 50 m s-1 for the spacecraft to lock onto the space station. (The change in mass of the spacecraft may be ignored.) (iii)In what direction should the gas be expelled? (iv) Explain how the principle of conservation of momentum is applied to changing the direction in which a spacecraft is travelling.

Solutions 2011 Question 6 (a) Define the moment of a force. Moment of a force = force perpendicular distance between the force and the fulcrum When the toy is knocked over, it always returns to the upright position. Explain why this happens. (toy non-vertical) c.g. has a (turning) moment about fulcrum / point of support/contact / (c.g. has) zero turning moment when toy is in vertical position (b) State the conditions necessary for the equilibrium of a body under a set of co-planar forces. Algebraic sum of the forces = zero Sum of the moments about any point = zero Three children position themselves on a uniform see-saw so that it is horizontal and in equilibrium. The fulcrum of the see-saw is at its centre of gravity. A child of mass 30 kg sits 1.8 m to the left of the fulcrum and another child of mass 40 kg sits 0.8 m to the right of the fulcrum. Where should the third child of mass 45 kg sit, in order to balance the see-saw? 30g(1.8) = 40g(0.8) + 45g(x) x = 0.488 m / 0.49 m / 49 cm (c) A simple merry-go-round consists of a flat disc that is rotated horizontally. A child of mass 32 kg stands at the edge of the merry-go-round, 2.2 metres from its centre. The force of friction acting on the child is 50 N. Draw a diagram showing the forces acting on the child as the merry-go-round rotates.

What is the velocity of the merry-go-round so that the child will not fall from it, as it rotates? F = m2r 50 = 30 2(2.2) = 0.842 rad s-1

maximum angular

If there was no force of friction between the child and the merry-go-round, in what direction would the child move as the merry-go-round starts to rotate? The child would remain stationary / any appropriate answer. 2011 Question 12 (a) State Hookes law. For a stretched string the restoring force is proportional to displacement A body of mass 250 g vibrates on a horizontal surface and its motion is described by the equation a = 16 s, where s is displacement of the body from its equilibrium position. The amplitude of each vibration is 5 cm. Why does the body vibrate with simple harmonic motion? The acceleration is proportional to the displacement Calculate the frequency of vibration of the body? 2 = 16 =4 f = /2 f = 0.64 Hz s-1 What is the magnitude of (i) the maximum force, (ii) the minimum force, which causes the bodys motion? a max = ()16(0.05) = 0.80 (Fmax occurs when acceleration / displacement is a maximum) Fmax = (0.250)(0.80) = 0.20 N Fmin = 0

2010 Question 6 (i) State Newtons law of universal gravitation. Force between any two point masses is proportional to product of masses and inversely/indirectly proportional to square of the distance between them. (ii) Use this law to calculate the acceleration due to gravity at a height above the surface of the earth, which is twice the radius of the earth. Note that 2d above surface is 3d from earths centre

g
g new

GM d2 GM where d = 6.36 106 m 2 (3d )

gnew = 1.09 m s-2 (iii) A spacecraft carrying astronauts is on a straight line flight from the earth to the moon and after a while its engines are turned off. Explain why the spacecraft continues on its journey to the moon, even though the engines are turned off. There are no external forces acting on the spacecraft so from Newtons 1st law of motion the object will maintain its velocity. (iv) Describe the variation in the weight of the astronauts as they travel to the moon. Weight decreases as the astronaut moves away from the earth and gains (a lesser than normal) weight as she/he approaches the moon (v) At what height above the earths surface will the astronauts experience weightlessness? Gravitational pull of earth = gravitational pull of moon

Gm E m d1 ME MM
2

Gmm m d2
2

( 81)

d12 2 d2

d1 d2

dE = 9 dm and dE + dm = 3.84 108 m 10 dm = 3.84 108 dm = 3.84 107 dE = 3.356 108 Height above the earth = (3.356 108) (6.36 106) = 3.39 108 m (vi) The moon orbits the earth every 27.3 days. What is its velocity, expressed in metres per second?

v = 1022.9 m s-1 (vii) Why is there no atmosphere on the moon? The gravitational force is too weak to sustain an atmosphere.

(i)

2009 Question 6 State Newtons laws of motion. Newtons First Law of Motion states that every object will remain in a state of rest or travelling with a constant velocity unless an external force acts on it. Newtons Second Law of Motion states that the rate of change of an objects momentum is directly proportional to the force which caused it, and takes place in the direction of the force. Newtons Third Law of Motion states that when body A exerts a force on body B, B exerts a force equal in magnitude (but) opposite in direction (on A).

(ii) Show that F = ma is a special case of Newtons second law. From Newton II: Force is proportional to the rate of change of momentum Force rate of change of momentum F (mv mu)/t F m(v-u)/t F ma F = k (ma) [but k = 1] F = ma A skateboarder with a total mass of 70 kg starts from rest at the top of a ramp and accelerates down it. The ramp is 25 m long and is at an angle of 200 to the horizontal. The skateboarder has a velocity of 12.2 m s1 at the bottom of the ramp.

(iii) Calculate the average acceleration of the skateboarder on the ramp. v2= u2 + 2as (12.2)2 = 0 +2a(25) 2 a = 2.98 m s (iv) Calculate the component of the skateboarders weight that is parallel to the ramp. W = mgsin = mgsin20 = 234.63 N (v) Calculate the force of friction acting on the skateboarder on the ramp. Force down (due to gravity) Resistive force (due to friction) = Net force Force down (due to gravity) = 234.63 N Net force= 70(2.98) = 208.38 N Friction force = 234.63 208.38 = 26.25 N (vi) The skateboarder then maintains a speed of 10.5 m s1 until he enters a circular ramp of radius 10 m. What is the initial centripetal force acting on him?

Fc

mv 2 = 70 (10.5)2/10 = 771.75 N r

(vii) What is the maximum height that the skateboarder can reach? (acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s2) v2= u2 + 2as u2 = 2g(s) s = 5.63 m (viii) Sketch a velocity-time graph to illustrate his motion. Velocity on vertical axis, time on horizontal axis, with appropriate numbers on both axes.

2009 Question 12 (a) (i) State Hookes law. When a string is stretched the restoring force is proportional to the displacement. (ii) When a sphere of mass 500 g is attached to a spring of length 300 mm, the length of the spring increases to 330 mm. Calculate the spring constant. When the mass of 500 g is attached the new force down = mg = (0.5)(g). Because the spring is in equiblibrium this must be equal to the force up (which is the restoring force). Hookes law in symbols: F = k x -1 g) = kx (iii) The sphere is then pulled down until the springs length has increased to 350 mm and is then rel eased. Describe the motion of the sphere when it is released. It executes simple harmonic motion because the displacement is proportional to t he acceleration. (iv) What is the maximum acceleration of the sphere? F = ma = kx a = kx/m = (163.3)(0.02)/(0.5) = 6.532 m s-2 OR a = 2 2 = k/m = 163.3/0.5 a = 6.532 m s-2

2008 Question 6 (i) State Newtons law of universal gravitation. Newtons Law of Gravitation states that any two point masses in the universe attract each other with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. (ii) The international space station (ISS) moves in a circular orbit around the equator at a height of 400 km. What type of force is required to keep the ISS in orbit? Gravity (iii) What is the direction of this force? Towards the centre of the orbit / inwards / towards the earth (iv) Calculate the acceleration due to gravity at a point 400 km above the surface of the earth.

Gm1m2 = mg d2

GM d2
-2

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)( 6.0 1024) / (400 000 + 6.4 106)2

(v) An astronaut in the ISS appears weightless. Explain why. He is in a state of free-fall (the force of gravity cannot be felt). (vi) Derive the relationship between the period of the ISS, the radius of its orbit and the mass of the earth. See notes Circular Motion chapter for a more detailed derivation.

(vii)

Calculate the period of an orbit of the ISS.

2

= 3.1347 107

103 s

(viii) After an orbit, the ISS will be above a different point on the earths surface. Explain why. The ISS has a different period to that of the earths rotation (it is not in geostationary orbit). (ix) How many times does an astronaut on the ISS see the sun rise in a 24 hour period? (24 1.56 + 1) = 16 ( sunrises).

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2008 Question 12 (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of energy. The Principle of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be converted from one form to another. (ii) In a pole-vaulting competition an athlete, whose centre of gravity is 1.1 m above the ground, sprints from rest and reaches a maximum velocity of 9.2 ms1 after 3.0 seconds. He maintains this velocity for 2.0 seconds before jumping. Draw a velocity-time graph to illustrate the athletes horizontal motion. See diagram (iii) Use your graph to calculate the distance travelled by the athlete before jumping. Distance (s) = area under curve s = (3)(9.2) + 2 (9.2) / 13.8 + 18.4 / 32.2 m (iv) What is the maximum height above the ground that the athlete can raise his centre of gravity? K.E. = P.E. mv2 = mgh h = v2/2g = (9.2)2/2(9.8) = 4.32 Max height above the ground = 4.32 + 1.1 = 5.42 m.

2007 Question 6 (i) State Hookes law. For a stretched string the restoring force is proportional to the extension. (ii) A stretched spring obeys Hookes law. When a small sphere of mass 300 g is attached to a spring of length 200 mm, its length increases to 285 mm. Calculate its spring constant. F = mg = ks (0.30)(9.8) = (k)(0.085) k = 34.6 N m-1 (iii) The sphere is pulled down until the length of the spring is 310 mm. The sphere is then released and oscillates about a fixed point. Derive the relationship between the acceleration of the sphere and its displacement from the fixed point. F = - ks ma = - ks a = - (k/m)s a -s a=-ks (iv) Why does the sphere oscillate with simple harmonic motion? Its acceleration is proportional to its displacement from a fixed point. (v) Calculate the period of oscillation of the sphere. From above:2 = k/m 2 = 34.6 / 0.3 / = 2/10.7 = 0.58 0.6 T = 0.6 s (vi) Calculate the maximum acceleration of the sphere. This occurs when s is a maximum, i.e. when s = amplitude = 0.310 0.285 = 0.025 m. a = -2s a = - (10.7)2 (0.025) a = (-) 2.89 m s-2 (vii) Calculate the length of the spring when the acceleration of the sphere is zero. This occurs at the fixed point when l = 0.285 m

2007 Question 12 (a) (i) What is friction? Friction is a force which opposes the relative motion between two objects. (ii) A car of mass 750 kg is travelling east on a level road. Its engine exerts a constant force of 2.0 kN causing the car to accelerate at 1.2 m s2 until it reaches a speed of 25 m s1. Calculate the net force acting on the car. Fnet = ma = (750)(1.2) = 900 N east. (iii) Calculate the force of friction acting on the car. Fnet = Fcar - Ffriction 900 = 2000 - Ffriction Ffriction = 1100 N west (iv) If the engine is then turned off, calculate how far the car will travel before coming to rest? Friction causes deceleration: a = F m a = (-1100) 750 = - 1.47 ms-2 v 2 = u 2 + 2as 0 = 252 +2(-1.47) s or s = 213 m 11

2006 Question 6 (i) Define velocity. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time. (ii) Define angular velocity. Angular velocity is the rate of change of angle with respect to time. (iii) Derive the relationship between the velocity of a particle travelling in uniform circular motion and its angular velocity. = s /r /t = s/rt = v /r v=r (iv) A student swings a ball in a circle of radius 70 cm in the vertical plane as shown. The angular velocity of the ball is 10 rad s1. What is the velocity of the ball? v = r = (10)(0.70) = 7.0 m s-1 (v) How long does the ball take to complete one revolution? T= 2r/v = 2(0.70)/v = 0.63 s (vi) Draw a diagram to show the forces acting on the ball when it is at position A. Weight (W) downwards; reaction (R) upwards; force to left (due to friction or curled fingers) (vii) The student releases the ball when is it at A, which is 130 cm above the ground, and the ball travels vertically upwards. Calculate the maximum height, above the ground, the ball will reach. v2 = u2+ 2as 0 = (7)2 + 2(-9.8) s / s = 2.5(0) m 1.30 / 3.8 m (viii) Calculate the time taken for the ball to hit the ground after its release from A. s = ut + at2 -1.30 = 7t (9.8)t2 t = 1.59 s 2006 Question 12 (a) (i) Define pressure. Pressure = Force divided by area. (ii) Is pressure a vector quantity or a scalar quantity? Justify your answer. It is a scalar because it has no direction. (iii) State Boyles law. Boyles Law states that pressure is inversely proportional to volume if temperature is constant. (iv) A small bubble of gas rises from the bottom of a lake. The volume of the bubble increases threefold when it reaches the surface of the lake where the atmospheric pressure is 1.01 105 Pa. The temperature of the lake is 4 oC. Calculate the pressure at the bottom of the lake. Pressure at bottom = 3 pressure at top = 3.03 105 Pa (v) Calculate the depth of the lake. Pressure at bottom due to water = 2.02 105 Pa P= hg h = P/g = 2.02 105 / (1.0 103)( 9.8 ) = 20.61 m

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2005 Question 6 (i) Define angular velocity. Angular velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time. (ii) Define centripetal force. The force - acting in towards the centre - required to keep an object moving in a circle is called Centripetal Force. (iii) State Newtons Universal Law of Gravitation. Newtons Law of Gravitation states that any two point masses in the universe attract each other with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. (iv) A satellite is in a circular orbit around the planet Saturn. Derive the relationship between the period of the satellite, the mass of Saturn and the radius of the orbit. See notes on the Circular Motion chapter for a more detailed derivation.

(v) The period of the satellite is 380 hours. Calculate the radius of the satellites orbit around Saturn. T = 380 60 60 = 1.37 106 s 9 r3 = T2GM/42 r3 = (1.37 106)2(6.7 1011)( 5.7 1026)/ 42 m (vi) The satellite transmits radio signals to earth. At a particular time the satellite is 1.2 1012 m from earth. How long does it take the signal to travel to earth? v = s/t (3.0 108) = (1.2 1012)/t t = 4000 s (vii) It is noticed that the frequency of the received radio signal changes as the satellite orbits Saturn. Explain why. Doppler Effect due to relative motion between source of signal and the detector

2005 Question 12 (a) (v) State the principle of conservation of energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can only be changed from one form to another . (vi) A basketball of mass 600 g which was resting on a hoop falls to the ground 3.05 m below. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the ball as it falls? KE = PE (at height of 3.05 m) v2 = u2 +2as v2 = 0 + 2(9.8)(3.05) v2 = 59.78 {you could also have use P.E. = mgh} Ek = mv2 = Ek = 17.9 J (vii) On bouncing from the ground the ball loses 6 joules of energy. What happens to the energy lost by the ball? It changes into sound and heat. (viii) Calculate the height of the first bounce of the ball. [retained energy = 17.9 E = 11.9 J E = mgh h = E / mg h = 11.9 /(0.600)(9.8) h = 2.02 m

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2004 Question 6 (i) Define force. Force is that which causes an acceleration. (ii) Define momentum. Momentum is the defined as the product of mass multiplied by velocity. (iii) State Newtons second law of motion. Newtons Second Law of Motion states that the rate of change of an objects momentum is directly proportional to the force which caused it, and takes place in the direction of the force. (iv) Hence, establish the relationship: force = mass acceleration. From Newton II: Force is proportional to the rate of change of momentum F (mv mu)/t m(v-u)/t ma (v) A pendulum bob of mass 10 g was raised to a height of 20 cm and allowed to swing so that it collided with a block of mass 8.0 g at rest on a bench, as shown. The bob stopped on impact and the block subsequently moved along the bench. Calculate the velocity of the bob just before the collision. Loss in P.E = gain in K.E mgh = mv2 v2 = 2gh = 2(9.8)(0.2) = 1.98 m s-1 (vi) Calculate the velocity of the block immediately after the collision. m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 (0.01)(2) = (0.008) v2 v2= 2.48 m s-1 (vii) The block moved 2.0 m along the bench before stopping. What was the average horizontal force exerted on the block while travelling this distance? v2 = u2 + 2as / 0 = (2.5)2 + 2a(2) a = 1.56 m s-2 F = ma = (0.008)(1.6) = 0. 0.013 N 2004 Question 12 (a) (i) State Newtons universal law of gravitation. Newtons Law of Gravitation states that any two point masses in the universe attract each other with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. (ii) Centripetal force is required to keep the earth moving around the sun. What provides this centripetal force? Gravitational pull of the sun. (iii) In what direction does this centripetal force act? Towards the centre. (iv) Give an expression for centripetal force.
Fc

(v) The earth has a speed of 3.0 104 m s1 as it orbits the sun. The distance between the earth and the sun is 1.5 1011 m. Calculate the mass of the sun.

mv 2 r

mv 2 Gm1m2 and Fc Fg r d2
s

Equating gives

= (3.0 104)2 ( 1.5 1011)/ 6.7 1011 = 2.0 1030 kg.

GM v2 R

= v2R/G

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2003 Question 6 Give the difference between vector quantities and scalar quantities and give one example of each. A vector has both magnitude and direction whereas a scalar has magnitude only. (i) Describe an experiment to find the resultant of two vectors. 1. Attach three Newton Balances to a knot in a piece of thread. 2. Adjust the size and direction of the three forces until the knot in the thread remains at rest. 3. Read the forces and note the angles. 4. The resultant of any two of the forces can now be shown to be equal to the magnitude and direction of the third force. (ii) A cyclist travels from A to B along the arc of a circle of radius 25 m as shown. Calculate the distance travelled by the cyclist. The displacement is equivalent to one quarter of the circumference of a circle = 2r/4 = 25/2 = 12.5 = 39.3 m. (iii) Calculate the displacement undergone by the cyclist. Using Pythagoras: x2 = 252 + 252 (iv) A person in a wheelchair is moving up a ramp at a constant speed. Their total weight is 900 N. The ramp makes an angle of 10o with the horizontal. Calculate the force required to keep the wheelchair moving at a constant speed up the ramp. (You may ignore the effects of friction.) If the wheelchair is moving at constant speed then the force up must equal the force down. So to calculate the size of the force up, we just need to calculate the force down: F = mgSin = 900 Sin 10o = 156.3 N (v) The ramp is 5 m long. Calculate the power exerted by the person in the wheelchair if it takes her 10 s to travel up the ramp. Power = work/time Work = Force displacement = 156.3 5 = 780 J Power = 780/10 = 78 W 2003 Question 12 (a) (i) State Newtons second law of motion. Newtons Second Law of Motion states that the rate of change of an objects momentum is directly proportional to the force which caused it, and takes place in the direction of the force. (ii) A skydiver falls from an aircraft that is flying horizontally. He reaches a constant speed of 50 m s1 after falling through a height of 1500 m. Calculate the average vertical acceleration of the skydiver. v 2= u2+2as (50)2 = 0 + 2(a)(1500) a = 0.83 m s-2 (iii) If the mass of the skydiver is 90 kg, what is the magnitude and direction of the average resultant force acting on him? F = ma = 90 0.83 = 75 N Down (iv) Use a diagram to show the forces acting on the skydiver and explain why he reaches a constant speed. Weight acting down on diagram Air resistance / friction / buoyancy acting up on diagram Air resistance = weight, therefore resultant force = 0 Therefore acceleration = 0

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2002 Question 6 (i) State Newtons second law of motion. Newtons Second Law of Motion states that the rate of change of an objects momentum is directly proportional to the force which caused it, and takes place in the direction of the force. (ii) The equation F = ks, where k is a constant, is an expression for a law that governs the motion of a body. Name this law and give a statement of it. Hookes Law states that when an object is stretched the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement, provided the elastic limit is not exceeded. (iii) Give the name for this type of motion and describe the motion. Simple harmonic motion; an object is said to be moving with Simple Harmonic Motion if its acceleration is directly proportional to its distance from a fixed point in its path, and its acceleration is directed towards that point. (iv) A mass at the end of a spring is an example of a system that obeys this law. Give two other examples of systems that obey this law. Stretched elastic, pendulum, oscillating magnet, springs of car, vibrating tuning fork, object bobbing in water waves, ball in saucer, etc. (v) The springs of a mountain bike are compressed vertically by 5 mm when a cyclist of mass 60 kg sits on it. When the cyclist rides the bike over a bump on a track, the frame of the bike and the cyclist oscillate up and down. Using the formula F = ks, calculate the value of k, the constant for the springs of the bike. 5 F = ks ks -k (.005) -k (.005) N m-1 (vi) The total mass of the frame of the bike and the cyclist is 80 kg. Calculate the period of oscillation of the cyclist. k/m = 2 = 38 s-1 T = 2/ = 0.16 s (vii) Calculate the number of oscillations of the cyclist per second. f = 1/T approximately = 6 2002 Question 12 (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of momentum. The principle of conservation of momentum states that in any collision between two objects, the total momentum before impact equals total momentum after impact, provided no external forces act on the system. (ii) A spacecraft of mass 50 000 kg is approaching a space station at a constant speed of 2 m s-1. The spacecraft must slow to a speed of 0.5 m s-1 for it to lock onto the space station. Calculate the mass of gas that the spacecraft must expel at a speed 50 m s-1 for the spacecraft to lock onto the space station. (The change in mass of the spacecraft may be ignored.) m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 (50000 2) = (50000 0.5) + (50m) m =1500 kg (iii) In what direction should the gas be expelled? Forward (toward the space station). (iv) Explain how the principle of conservation of momentum is applied to changing the direction in which a spacecraft is travelling. As the gas is expelled in one direction the rocket moves in the other direction.

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