1

FOUNDATION STUDIES
EXAMINATIONS
June 2015

PHYSICS
Semester One
February Main

Time allowed 2 hours for writing

10 minutes for reading

This paper consists of 6 questions printed on 10 pages.

PLEASE CHECK BEFORE COMMENCING.

Candidates should submit answers to ALL QUESTIONS.

Marks on this paper total 70 Marks, and count as 35% of the subject.

Start each question at the top of a new page.

 2

P
INFORMATION q
H
Φ= E · dA = 0
q A
a · b = ab cos θ C≡ V
C= d
i j k
1 q2
a × b = ab sin θ ĉ = ax ay az E= 2 C
= 12 qV = 12 CV 2
bx by bz 1 1 1
dr dv
R R C = C1 + C2 C
= C1
+ C2
v ≡ dt a ≡ dt v = a dt r = v dt
1 1 1
v = u + at a = −gj R = R1 + R2 R
= R1
+ R2
x = ut + 21 at2 v = u − gtj
V = IR V = E − IR
v 2 = u2 + 2ax r = ut − 21 gt2 j
2 2
s = rθ v = rω a = ω 2 r = vr P = V I = VR = I 2 R
ωf = ωi + αt
P
K1 : P In = 0 P
θ = ωi t + 21 αt2 K2 : (IR0 s) = (EM F 0 s)
ωf2 = ωi2 + 2αθ F=q v×B dF = i dl × B
p ≡ mv
P F=il×B τ = ni A × B
N1 : P if F = 0 then δp = 0
N2 : F = ma v= E
r= m E
r= mv
B q BB0 qB
N 3 : FAB = −FBA
2πm R2 B 2 q 2
W = mg Fr = µR T = Bq
KEmax = 2m
τ≡r×F dB = 4πµ0 dl×r̂
i r2
P P P
Fx = 0 Fy = 0 τP = 0 H
B · ds = µ0 I
P
µ0 = 4π×10−7 NA−2
Rr
W ≡ r12 F dr W =F·s R
φ = area B · dA φ=B·A
KE = 21 mv 2 P E = mgh  = −N dφ  = N ABω sin(ωt)
dt
1
P ≡ dW
=F·v f=T k ≡ 2πλ
dt
ω ≡ 2πf v = fλ
F = kx P E = 12 kx2 y = f (x ∓ vt)
dv
= − dm mi
vf − vi = ve ln( m ) y = a sin k(x − vt) = a sin(kx − ωt)
ve m f
= a sin 2π( λx − Tt )
F = |ve dm
q
dt
| P = 12 µvω 2 a2 v = Fµ
F = k q1r2q2 k= 1
4π0
≈ 9 × 109 Nm2 C−2 s = sm sin(kx − ωt)
0 = 8.854 × 10−12 N−1 m−2 C 2 ∆p = ∆pm cos(kx − ωt)
 
E ≡δq→0 δF
lim
δq
E = k rq2 r̂ I = 12 ρvω 2 s2m

V ≡ W
q
E = − dV
dx
V = k qr n(db0 s) ≡ 10 log II12 = 10 log II0
 3

where I0 = 10−12 W m−2 λ= h

p
(p = m0 v (nonrelativistic))
 
v±vr h h
fr = fs v∓vs ∆x∆px ≥ π
∆E∆t ≥ π

where v ≡ speed of sound = 340 m s−1 dN

dt
= −λN N = N0 e−λt

y = y1 + y2 R ≡ | dN
dt
| T1 = ln 2
λ
= 0.693
λ
2

y = [2a sin(kx)] cos(ωt) MATH:

√
−b± b2 −4ac
N :x= m( λ2 ) AN : x = (m + 1 λ
)( ) ax2 + bx + c = 0 → x = 2a
2 2
R
y dy/dx ydx
(m = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ....)
n 1
x nx(n−1) n+1
xn+1
y = [2a cos( ω1 −ω
2
2
)t] sin( ω1 +ω
2
2
)t ekx kekx 1 kx
k
e
sin(kx) k cos(kx) − k1 cos kx
fB = |f1 − f2 | cos(kx) −k sin(kx) 1
sin kx
k
y = [2a cos( k∆ )] sin(kx − ωt + k∆
) where k = constant
2 2
Sphere: A = 4πr2 V = 43 πr3
∆ = d sin θ
CONSTANTS:
M ax : ∆ = mλ M in : ∆ = (m + 21 )λ
g = acceleration due to gravity = 10 ms−2
I = I0 cos2 ( k∆
2
) 1 u = 1.660 × 10−27 kg = 931.50 MeV
1 eV = 1.602 × 10−19 J
E = hf c = fλ c = 3.00 × 108 ms−1
h = 6.626 × 10−34 Js
KEmax = eV0 = hf − φ
e ≡ electron charge = 1.602 × 10−19 C
L ≡ r × p = r × mv RH = 1.09737 × 107 m−1
a0 = Bohr radius = 0.0529 nm
h
L = rmv = n( 2π )
particle mass(u) mass(kg)
δE = hf = Ei − Ef e 5.485 799 031 × 10−4 9.109 390 × 10−31
2 p 1.007 276 470 1.672 623 × 10−27
rn = n2 ( 4π2hmke2 ) = n2 a0
n 1.008 664 904 1.674 928 × 10−27
ke 2
En = − 2a ( 12 ) = − 13.6
0 n n2
eV
1 ke2 1 1
λ
= (
2a0 n2f
− n2i
) = RH ( n12 − 1
n2i
)
f

1
(n = 1, 2, 3....) (k ≡ 4πε0
)

E 2 = p2 c2 + (m0 c2 )2

E = m 0 c2 E = pc
PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 4

Question 1 ( (4) + (3+2) + (1+2+2)= 14 marks):

Part (a):
The speed of sound in a gas, v, is expected to depend on the pressure p (SI unit: N/m2 )

and density ρ of the gas, as well as the wavelength λ of the sound wave.

Use dimensional analysis to determine the form of this dependence.

Part (b):

A string with linear mass density µ = 10 g/m is used to support a 5 kg mass as shown

below, where the pulley is frictionless.

y
x

5 kg

A transverse wave travels on the string in the +x direction with amplitude of 1 mm and

frequency 100 Hz.

(i) Write down a wave equation that describes this wave.

(ii) Calculate the power transmitted by the wave along the string
PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 5

Part (c):

The torque τ on an object around a pivot point A due to a force F acting at a point B
is:

τ = rAB × F

where rAB is the displacement vector between points A and B.

A wooden stick AB is placed along the diagonal of a rectangular box as shown below:

1.5 m

x
O

2m
A
2m
z

(i) Express the displacement vector rAB in terms of the unit vectors i, j and k.

(ii) A force F acts on the stick at point B. The magnitude of this force is 5 N and it
is in the same direction as the line OB. Express F in terms of the unit vectors i, j
and k.

(iii) Hence calculate the torque vector τ caused by F around the pivot A.
PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 6

Question 2 ( 4+4 = 8 marks):

On the planet Zarq, a popular sport involves kicking a ball over a ditch. During a

tournament of this exciting sport, a ball is kicked at a speed of 10 m/s at an angle

α = tan−1 (3/4) above the horizontal, as seen below. The ball just makes it across an

8 m wide ditch.

10 m/s

8m

(i) Calculate gZ , the acceleration due to gravity on Zarq.

(ii) What is the maximum height (above the starting position) reached by the ball?
PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 7

Question 3 ( 4+4+2+2 = 12 marks):

A light fitting is constructed using a uniform metal rod of length 3 m and mass 4 kg. The
rod is attached to a wall at one end, using a hinge H. A lamp of mass 2 kg is attached
to the other end A. A cable is connected from the wall to the rod at a point B, located
2 m from the hinge. as shown below:

30◦

60◦

(i) Draw a diagram clearly showing all of the forces acting on the metal rod.

(ii) Use the conditions for static equilibrium to write down THREE equations involving
these forces.

(iii) Use these equations to calculate the tension T in the cable.

(iv) Also calculate the components Rx and Ry of the reaction force of the wall acting on
the rod at the hinge H.
PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 8

Question 4 ( 10 marks):

A mass M rests on an inclined plane and is attached to an unstretched spring with spring
constant k, as shown below:

The mass is allowed to slide down the plane and momentarily comes to rest at a distance
d from the starting point:

The coefficient of friction between the block and the plane is µ. Use energy principles to
obtain an expression for the distance d in terms of M ,g,k,µ and θ.
PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 9

Question 5 ( 6 + 5 + 3 = 14 marks):

Three blocks, with masses 4m, 2m and m are connected by two massless strings, running

over massless and frictionless pulleys as shown. The coefficient of friction between blocks

m and 2m and the surfaces is µ = 0.25.

2m

µ
4m

θ = tan−1 (3/4)

(i) Draw THREE diagrams (i.e. one for each block), clearly indicating the direction of

motion and the forces acting on each block.

(ii) Apply Newton’s laws to each block to obtain FIVE equations of motion for the three

blocks.

(iii) Hence find an expression for the acceleration a of the 4m block.

PHYSICS: Semester One. February Main 2015 10

Question 6 ( 10+2 = 12 marks):

A mass m travels in the x direction at a speed of 4 m/s before colliding 1-dimensionally

with a mass of 3m, travelling at 1 m/s in the same direction. The collision between these
masses is elastic.

4 m/s 1 m/s

m 3m

(i) Calculate the speeds of the two masses after the collision. Be careful to explain the
physical principles you are using, as marks will be given for this.

(ii) Draw a diagram clearly showing the directions of the motions of the two masses after
the collision.

END OF EXAM