General Physics I (PHYS1414) : Supplementary Examples With Selected Answers
General Physics I (PHYS1414) : Supplementary Examples With Selected Answers
Supplementary Examples
with
Selected Answers
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Example (September 20, 2012)
A block of mass m slides down on the frictionless inclined surface of a wedge which is
fixed on a scale. If the mass of the wedge is also m, find the weight of the system
recorded by the scale.
m Slides down
Frictionless
Fixed
m surface
wedge
Scale
N sin
N N
N cos
Frictionless
g sin
surface
mg N
R
f
mg
Answer:
Since the wedge is fixed on the scale, the block slides down the wedge with an
acceleration g sin . On the other hand, we notice that there is no acceleration in the
direction perpendicular to the inclined plane, hence the normal reaction, N given by the
wedge to the block is mg cos . The same force acts on the wedge by the block. As the
scale measures the reaction force R which is given by mg + N cos, that is
R mg mg cos 2 .
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Example (September 20, 2012)
A man traveling East at 8 km h1 finds that the wind seems to blow directly from the
North. On doubling his speed he finds that it appears to come NE. Find the velocity of the
wind.
Answer:
Let the velocity of the wind be
8 iˆ
w x iˆ y ˆj .
Then the velocity of the wind relative to the man is Parallel to
ĵ
w 8 iˆ ( x 8) iˆ y ˆj w
But this is from the North, and is therefore parallel to ĵ . Hence, we obtain x 8 = 0.
A swimmer wishes to across a swift, straight river of width d. The speed of the swimmer
in still water is u and that of the water is v, where v > u. If the swimmer wants to cross the
swift with a minimum time, find the minimum time and the position that he reaches in the
opposite bank.
Answer:
A s B
ĵ
d
C
u u
O Q iˆ
v
The minimum time of travel can be obtained if the swimmer directs in the direction of j .
The magnitude of u is contributed completely in the direction of crossing the swift. It is
the fastest way. Hence the minimum time t = d/u. The distance downstream s = vt =
(vd)/u.
Example (Challenging)
As an extension of the last example, keeping all information above, what is the direction
along which the swimmer should proceed such that the downstream distance he has
traveled when he reaches the opposite bank is the smallest possible? What is the
corresponding time required?
Answer:
A s B
ĵ
d
C
u
u
O Q iˆ
v
The downstream distance is smallest when OB is tangent to the circle, centered Q, radius
u.
u
d 1 ( )2
u d cos v d v2 u2
sin , and AB d cot .
v sin u u
v
d d dv
The time taken is t .
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u 1 ( )2
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Answer:
Before doing this problem, we look at two remarks first.
If M is not moving then we have the trajectory
Trajectory
sketched in the right.
If M is moving to the left, then the actual trajectory is sketched as below, where
aM is the acceleration of the block relative to the wedge of mass M.
a1
a aM
Actual trajectory
Now, we look at the force diagram of the wedge and the block.
For M: N 2 sin Ma1 (1)
For m: mg N 2 cos ma M sin (2)
N 2 sin m(a M cos a1 ) (3)
N1 N2
a1 a
N2
mg
Mg
This is a set of simultaneous equations with 3 unknowns. After solving, we obtain
mg sin cos
a1 M m sin 2
(*)
a ( M m) g sin
M M m sin 2
Since the horizontal and vertical components of a are given by
a x a M cos a1 and a y a M sin ,
Mg sin cos
a x M m sin 2
hence we have
a ( M m) g sin
2
y M m sin 2
The reaction between the wedge and the block is given by the expression of a1 and
mMg cos
equation (1), i.e. N2 .
M m sin 2
Consider the equation set (*), when M is very large, e.g. M , we have
a1 0 and a M g sin .
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Example (October 8, 2012)
Three particles A, B and C, of masses 4, 6 and 8 kg, respectively, lie at rest on a smooth
horizontal table. They are connected by taut light inextensible strings AB and BC and
ABC 120 o . An impulse I is applied to C. If the magnitude of I is 88 Ns and it acts in
the direction BC, find the initial speeds of A, B and C.
Answer:
B u
6 kg
I2
u I1
A 120o I1 V
I2
4 kg v
C
8 kg I = 88 Ns
Let I1 and I2 be the impulsive tensions in the strings BC and AB respectively. Since A is
acted on only by I2, its initial speed u will be in the direction of AB. Since the string AB is
taut, B must have a speed u in the direction AB. Also, let B have a speed v in a direction
perpendicular to AB [this is necessary because I1 acts in a different direction to I2].
Finally, since both I and I1, the impulses acting on C, have the same direction BC, let C
have an initial speed V in the direction BC.
Since BC is taut, the speeds of B and C in the direction BC are equal.
u cos 60 v cos 30 V
u / 2 v 3 / 2 V. (i )
Considering the motion of A,
4u = I2. (ii)
Considering the motion of B along and perpendicular to AB,
6u I 1 cos 60 I 2 .
6u I 1 / 2 I 2 (iii )
6v I 1 cos 30
6v I 1 3 / 2. (iv)
Considering the motion of C,
8V = 88 I1. (v)
Eliminating I2 from equations (ii) and (iii)
6u I 1 / 2 4u
I 1 20u. (a)
Substituting from equation (a) in equation (iv),
6v 20u 3 / 2
5
v u (b)
3
Substituting from equation (b) in equation (i),
u 5 3
u V
2 3 2
V 3u (c )
Substituting for V and I1 [equations (a) and (c)] in equation (v),
8 3u 88 20u
44u 88
u 2.
From (b) v 10 / 3 .
From (c) V 6.
Speed of A is 2 m/s,
100
Speed of B is u2 v2 4
3
7
4 m/s.
3
Speed of C is 6 m/s.
Example (October 11, 2012)
Four particles each of mass m are connected by inextensible strings. They are in the form
of square as shown in the figure. If the particle A is acted by an impulse P, find the
velocities of A, B, C, and D immediately after the impulse.
P
C A
Answer:
v3
B
v2
T2
v1
C P
A
T1
T2 v2
D
v3
v1 2v 2 (5)
2v 3 v 4 (6)
and 2mv3 mv 4
2v 3 v 4 (8)
After solving (5), (6), (7) and (8) for the velocities, we get
P P
v1 , v2 , v3 v 4 0 .
2m 2 2m
P
The initial velocity of particle A is v1 . The initial velocities of B and D are
2m
P
v2 . The velocity of particle C is zero.
2 2m
Example
A gun of mass M fires a shell of mass m and recoils horizontally. If the shell travels with
speed v relative to the barrel, find the speed with which the barrel begins to recoil if
(a) the barrel is horizontal,
(b) the barrel is inclined at an angle to the horizontal.
Answer:
(a) V
M
v
m
Let the barrel be recoiling with speed V. The speed of the shell as it leaves the
barrel is v V. Before firing the shell, the gun is at rest and the total momentum is
zero. By the conservation of momentum,
m (v V) MV = 0.
Hence V = mv / (M + m).
(b) When the gun is inclined at angle . The shell leaves the barrel with a velocity
which is the resultant of two components, v and V. By the conservation of
momentum in the direction of recoil,
m (v cos V) MV = 0.
m
Hence V = mv cos / (M + m). v
V
M
Example (Challenging)
A particle of mass m slides down the smooth inclined face of a wedge of mass 2m, and
inclination , which is free to move in a smooth horizontal table. Use equations of
momentum and energy to obtain an expression for
m
the velocity of the particle relative to the wedge
when the particle has moved a relative distance s
2m
from rest down the inclined face of the wedge.
Answer:
Let the velocity of the wedge be V and that of the particle relative to the wedge be u. By
conservation of horizontal momentum, since there is no horizontal force acting on the
system,
2mV m (u cos V) = 0.
1
V u cos .
3
By conservation of energy,
mgs sin
1
2
1
(2m)V 2 m (u cos V ) 2 (u sin ) 2
2
V m
1 2 1 V
gs sin u 2 cos 2 u 2 cos 2 u 2 sin 2 , u
9 9 2 2m
1
6 gs sin 2
u .
2 sin
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Further Example (November 22, 2012)
1. A thin rod of mass m and length l is held vertical on the top of a horizontal floor, where the rod’s lower end
is hinged to a fixed joint on the floor. The rod is released and it hits the floor when it’s angular speed is ω.
Obtain ω by the following methods.
(a) The Newton’s second law of motion for rotation.
(b) The work-energy theorem for a torque.
(c) The conservation of mechanical energy.
1
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10.3 Gas Laws
Boyle’s law
Keeping the temperature constant, the volume of a gas varies inversely with the pressure,
which is equivalent to saying that pressure times volume is constant.
1
V or PV = constant
P
Charles’s law
When the pressure is kept constant, the volume of a given amount of any gas varies
directly with the temperature (in Kelvin).
V
V T or constant
T
Gay-Lussac’s law
When the volume is kept constant, the absolute pressure of a given amount of any gas
varies directly with the temperature (in Kelvin).
P
PT or constant
T
The ideal gas law
As the pressure increases with the number of moles of gas molecules linearly, we have
P n , where n is the number of moles of gas molecules. From the Boyle’s law and the
1
Gay-Lussac’s law, we have P and P T respectively. Summing up the relations,
V
nT PV
we conclude that P , i.e. n constant . The proportional constant is nearly
V T
the same for all gases at low pressures and is referred as the universal gas constant R,
where R = 8.31451 J/(mol K). The ideal gas law is given by
PV n RT .
The Avogadro’s number NA = 6.022 1023 is the number of molecules per mole, and so
nNA equals N molecules present in a sample of gas. Now, the ideal gas law can be
rewritten as
N R
PV n RT RT N ( )T N k B T ,
NA NA
Example
A cylindrical flask of cross-sectional area A is fitted with an airtight piston that is free to
slide up and down. Contained within the flask is an ideal gas. Initially the pressure
applied by the piston is 130 kPa and the height of the piston above the base of the flask is
25 cm. When additional mass is added to the piston, the pressure increases to 170 kPa.
Assuming the system is always at the temperature 290 K, find the new height of the
piston.
Piston
Piston
h1 P1
h2 P2
Answer:
The system is basically isotherms, that is, the temperature is kept constant. The Boyle’s
law is applied here as PV = constant, or P1V1 = P2V2.
(130103)(0.25 A) = (170103)(h2 A)
gives h2 = 19 cm.
10.4 Kinetic theory
Pressure and temperature of a gas are macroscopic quantities. However, the macroscopic
quantities connect the microscopic quantities, such as the position or velocity of an
individual molecule. The kinetic theory of gas states the connection. We imagine a gas to
be made up of a collection of molecules moving about inside a container of volume V. In
particular, we assume the following:
The container holds a very large number N of identical molecules. Each molecule
has a mass m, and behaves as point particle.
The molecules move about the container in a random manner. They obey
Newton’s laws of motion at all times.
When molecules hit the walls of the container or collide with one another, they
bounce elastically. Other than these collisions, the molecules have no interactions.
(a) The origin of pressure
Imagine a container that is a cube of length L on a side. Its volume, then, is V = L3. In
addition, consider a given molecule of mass m that moves in the negative x direction
toward a wall. If its velocity is vx and then vx after rebound from the container’s wall.
The change of momentum of the molecule is given by
p x p f , x pi , x mv x ( mv x ) 2mv x . L
As the time required for this round trip of length 2L is
vx
t 2 L / v x , vx
the average force exerted by the wall on the molecule is
p 2mv x mv x2 Round trip = 2L
F .
t 2 L / v x L
F F mv x2 / L mv x2 mv x2
The average pressure exerted by the wall is P 3 .
A L2 L2 L V
Since a gas consists of molecules of different velocities, the relation above should be
m(v x2 ) av
replaced by P , where ‘av’ represents the average value. Now, the gas
V
molecules moves in a three dimensional space, we have
1 mv av2 1
v av2 (v x2 ) av (v y2 ) av (v z2 ) av 3(v x2 ) av which yields P N( ) or P v av2 ,
3 V 3
where N is the number of molecules in the container and is the density of the gas.
Rearrange the equation, we finally obtain an equation in kinetic theory of gas
1
PV N mv av2 .
3
The L.H.S. of the above equation can be expressed in terms of the kinetic energy of
1 2 mv 2 2
individual molecule, e.g. PV N mv av2 N ( av ) N K av . But, as we know that
3 3 2 3
PV N k B T , we then have a most important result
3
K av k BT .
2
The square root of (v 2 ) av is given a special name – the root mean square (rms) speed. As
1 3 3k T
K av m(v 2 ) av k B T , we obtain (v 2 ) av B , hence
2 2 m
3k B T
v rms .
m
The rms speed of the gas molecules can be expressed in terms of the molecular mass M,
3RT
e.g. v rms , since kB = R/NA.
M
P1 S P2
A B
T1 T2
Answer:
Before opening S, the number of moles of gas in containers A and B:
P1V PV
n1 and n 2 2 ,
RT1 RT2
where V is the volume of containers A and B.
After opening S, the number of moles of gas in containers A (or B):
P 'V P 'V
n1 ' and n2 ' .
RT1 RT2
P 'V
n ' RT1 T2
Therefore, 1 .
n2 ' P'V T1
RT2
P1V P2V P 'V P 'V
As n1 n 2 n1 ' n2 ' , we have , where P’ is the common
RT1 RT2 RT1 RT2
pressure in the containers.
P1 P2 P ' P '
After simplification, we obtain . Rearrange the expression
T1 T2 T1 T2
P1 P2
T1 T2 P T P2T1
P' 1 2 .
1 1 T1 T2
T1 T2
It is noted that if work is done on an insulated system (i.e. Q = 0) its internal energy
increases. The work done W has a positive value when the external world does work on
the system (e.g. compression), and it has a negative value when work is done by the
system (e.g. expansion).
U U f U i W
On the other hand, if the system does work, and / or heat is removed, its internal energy
decreases.
All processes discussed in this section are assumed to be quasi-static, which means the
processes occur so slowly that at any given time the system and its surroundings are
essentially in equilibrium. Thus, in a quasi-static process, the pressure and temperature
are always uniform throughout the system. If friction or dissipative forces are neglected,
the process is considered to be reversible. For a reversible process, it must be possible to
return both the system and its surroundings to exactly the same states they were in before
the process began.
(a) Isothermal processes
Constant-temperature
heat bath
Piston
Piston
Consider the following reversible processes at constant temperature, the piston moves
down without friction. Applying the first law of thermodynamics, U Q W , and
making use the property of ideal gas which has its internal energy depends only on the
temperature, we have U 0 and Q W , since the process is carried out at constant
temperature. The work done, W, is positive as work is done on the system. Hence we
have a negative Q, that is, heat is given out by the system to the external world. The
reversed process in the figure below performs the same idea, but this time the work W is
negative, as work is done by the system. Since U 0 again, the heat Q is then positive
or we conclude that heat is gained by the system from the external world.
Constant-temperature
heat bath
Piston
Piston
Q
Remarks: PV plots
The PV plot of one mole of an ideal gas at the temperatures 300 K, 500 K, 700 K and 900
K. Notice that each isotherm has the shape of a hyperbola. As the temperature is
increased, however, the isotherms move farther from the origin. Thus, the pressure
corresponding to a given volume increases with temperature, as one would expect.
In an isothermal expansion from the volume Vi to the volume Vf, the absolute value of the
work done is equal to the shaded area. For n moles of an ideal gas at the temperature T,
the work done on the gas is
Vf Vf nRT V f dV Vf
W P dV dV nRT nRT ln V nRT ln
Vf
Vi
V Vi
Vi Vi Vi V
Example
A cylinder contains 0.50 mol of an ideal gas at a temperature of 310 K. As the gas
expands isothermally from an initial volume of 0.31 m3 to a final volume of 0.45 m3, find
the amount of heat that must be added to the gas in order to maintain a constant
temperature.
Vf
Vi
T = constant
Q
Answer:
Since the process is isothermal, the internal energy of an ideal gas has no change, i.e.
U 0 . The relation U Q W gives Q = W, where W is negative (work is done by
the system) . Now, we know that the gas gains heat from the surrounding (positive Q). As
Vf
the work done W is given by PdV , we obtain W as
Vi
Vf Vf nRT V f dV Vf
W PdV dV nRT nRT ln V V f nRT ln( ) .
V
Vi Vi V Vi V i
Vi
Substituting n = 0.50 mol, R = 8.31 J/(mol K), Vf = 0.45 m3 and Vi = 0.31 m3, we obtain
Q = W = 480 J.
Insulation
Piston
P increases
T increases
Similarly, for an adiabatic expansion, the gas cools down and the pressure decrease.
Example
When a rod that fits snugly into a cylinder is pushed
downward rapidly, the temperature of the gas increases
before there is time for heat to flow out of the system. Thus,
the process is essentially adiabatic. As a result, the
temperature of the gas can increase enough to ignite bits of
paper in the cylinder. In a diesel engine the same principle is
used to ignite an air-gasoline mixture.
Example
An amount of gas is compressed from volume A isothermally and the PV plot is obtained
as shown in curve (ii). If the same gas is compressed adiabatically, which curve would
show the correct curve? Curve (i) or curve (iii)?
Answer:
In an adiabatic compression, no heat change occurs in the process. According to the first
law of thermodynamics, U Q W W , U is positive as W is positive during
compression. The increasing temperature gives an increasing pressure for a given volume
of gas. Hence, curve (iii) is the correct curve.
10.10 Specific heats for an ideal gas
D*t'
8= nC'aT
(lu'--d1'a'^ice)
oTJ = Q ..6W Q* r"-"f
f
= - lf 4v -- o
aU=d.
It
|n Raf
,,- a_
' naT
1--t
-
4 Cv = (4^efi)
hAT
?
Fr"a,*
de. = nCe dT
?V= xRT
'.' ll= -?&/ = - n R.dl va7 z aR df"
e&vt
laE _ = Q.+W
2 Q= dE..t '- W ft'o
+ dQ= nCndT + nKtf Rran F Jv -- ^ 4T
;. ^C?d( = + e)d7
^G"
a- Cf= C"+R
c(
fa !
cv --
lr tr?t laocnetomic
flt
ce 7ok Cv3 {n , tr= + Ji*touL
,dt
t( 4n- , cr-- 3k / Y't, P"iat'ci"
lnt
ftA;rfrl+* ehrz"-
AE* 3 CI + W A.= o
EE int
JE* = CrdT
"
Thur
(lv = - lW -- [E,*= - nC'af
Jtr..
w V "%tT
-._
Cp
cv
-Y
?4v -n Cr 4'f
-r
ll ? t/lv
fkIL= -r
-) Jt.
? )v
(
['+ tu a)
L--
v
I^ I
?i
e- -rh9y)
a tuv! , rrv{ ) r{'= ,r('
"
frlhl.t:c (ro*qs -.' P vr= o^stnf
w. - l"r,, = - Qv'.[,,'+ f, Vr" p (4Y,^rt
v.
a
. -r.t
lnf
-?+v{
? I
lu.
-f+t -ftt
(+ -V; 1
/
= itrvt,
- ftvr)
=) t,v{= hur'
vl = t\'Tr)= nCnaf
^ lr,9
{v"
L .r-e, "K
Flqn,il- d.rfat,ufth
ftN@)
,f wole'lcs heviaT s7""ls
N@ dv .' Nuh[cv
v l, vtdv -
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\
f-;3rcft,
sr0 u|-A*^--
: Mcd4v
0 po6 ffi"v
(e.ts|
7"d tuk)
dfv
{,v
-=o
Al z nth," u^etl
Vt, '
t[" v f,lculdv = IgEL
/
-
n"
8RT
r14
t
. (r') ? fr v" NcDdV g ,KT
v
lrj ^, f"* tvl
zRT.
vr-, = n
W, (rr.(on, 7
Lrl, : vt f t.
- .:-i
G$f"4ive Yo(t"nne I'
(,t )
a
, '' a
n
ie
3e 1-V
'1'- Nnd"
AF
\}
.v@ LT fincz (V'"RT
no cpt I isbvr
o,^fr.de nit
\i'te
trfu,*t, V
L= JTnNd
(e*V".(*S' 'J? )
t zoe
a
1. (a) 2.0 mol of monatomic gas A initially has 5000 J of thermal energy. It interacts with 3.0 mol of monatomic
gas B, which initially has 8000 J of thermal energy.
i. Which gas has the higher initial temperature?
ii. What are the final thermal energies of each gas?
(b) 4.0 mol of monatomic gas A initially has 9000 J of thermal energy. It interacts with 3.0 mol of monatomic
gas B, which initially has 5000 J of thermal energy. How much heat energy is transferred between the
systems, and in which direction, as they come to thermal equilibrium?
2. A insulated rectangular container has a thin barrier inside it such that the container is divided into two volumes,
A and B. Gases in A and B can interact thermally through this thin barrier. Suppose A contains n1 moles of a
monatomic gas and initial temperature T1i , and B contains n2 moles of a diatomic gas and initial temperature
T2i .
(a) Show that the equilibrium thermal energies are
3n1
E1f = (E1i + E2i ) ,
3n1 + 5n2
5n2
E2f = (E1i + E2i ).
3n1 + 5n2
1
Rrvc,rsihtc
(r,u$
(+) (o, wwd, l4.onie
\
I
t
\a
----€
o+4 @_- \\
s
t\
A(4u'
Ve("" e
f/olecnh
Co lt;slo rtr :
(b) c() Wqrsrbb
g*+wo*d r,ov'<L
Cr) \*xt(,f
o_ glal;itd,z
a
a
t\- ?+
?g'e'e -
\@
"o
?
(orr*nd, WltS-
F4orc t &t+l-v
VorJ+-art4 sPuie
A$te" ,
YfuIYI:I
8"6'. :
FfooiUZt
EIT*V't
60"(a
A) = ). I
T
(w-te,rs\bte)
A5 -- n?L^Y
v.
t nCv!,^+
a.
K q5 L Sfinte- %tAry)
@^+-p,S
A$ . D.(wrds or^ slates i a*'l +,
. I/,^dt,;y.,A*fr a( {t^ (vocfii .
( ["'11^-^"{ )
As?-g
T
ftua,nelrG,
K (\vvzvtYsibb)
{= cs'ns1ar^,f
\v'n vg
t?,)?q 4
As --+ e= !n^ = -fr, = Ietv
'"[ora
--lr#
4S= nRI^t V;
= ncT/^Jg
V;
r,.. l(J = d11t tu/
) lA. = 4U- dh/
-) d.Q.= nfr&f + ?[V (Ji.,. dtr,l=-ldy)
=) dd.
-( = "Crt* ""+
l{ tv
drS
+ a$= JT
a
__
^cu f++ xR
J.v
I
• at constant volume,
• at constant pressure, and
• by an adiabatic compression.
Neglect the vibrational modes of the gas. Complete a table, showing for each process
(a) the heat added,
(b) the work done on the gas,
(c) the change in internal energy of the gas, and
(d) the change in total translational kinetic energy of the gas molecules.
3. A Carnot engine has an efficiency of 22%. It operates between heat reservoirs differing in temperature by 75o C.
Find the temperatures of the reserviors.
4. A Carnot refrigerator operating between −20o C and +20o C extracts heat from the cold reservoir at the rate
200 J/s.
(a) What is the coefficient of performance of this refrigerator?
(b) What is the rate at which work is done on the refrigerator?
(c) What is the rate at which heat is exhausted to the hot side?
1
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