Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Solution of 2 nd Online Physics Brawl

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem FoL.1 . . . curtain

Imagine a thin rigid homogeneous rod with mass m = 1 kg and length l = 2 m, which is attached
to a horizontal rail by a small massless ring at its end, so that it can slide without friction. As
the ring accelerates at a constant rate a = 5 m·s−2 , the rod makes a constant angle φ to the
vertical. Find this angle given that the whole situation takes place on the Earth’s surface, thus
in the presence of the vertical acceleration due to gravity g = 10 m·s−2 , neglecting the effects of
air resistance. State your answer in radians. Náry, looking at the mechanics of curtain.

Fig. 1: To the problem 1

Let us describe the system in the frame of reference comoving with the ring. In this frame, the
rod has only one degree of freedom, namely the angle φ, which was said to be constant. Hence
the rod can be considered at rest with respect to this frame and we are left with determining
the conditions for equilibrium. Apart from the force due to gravity, there is a ficticious force
acting on every element of the rod, which is due to the accelerating frame of reference. Resolving
the forces acting on the rod in the direction perpendicular to it (the parallel components are
compensated for by the tension in the rod) and equating the corresponding moments, we find
the following condition for the rod to be at equilibrium
a
tg φ = .
g
.
Substituting the numerical values for a and g, we obtain φ = 0.46 rad.
Jiří Nárožný
[email protected]

Problem FoL.2 . . . hangmen

There are two balls of mass m and electric charge q (with the same sign) hanging from two slings
of length l fixed in the same point. These balls are placed in air with density ϱa = 1.2 kg·m−3 .
Due to the electric repulsion of the balls, the slings are forming an angle α. If we put the same
aparate in the olive oil with relative permitivity εr = 3 and density ϱo = 900 kg·m3 , the angle
will remain the same. Consider the permitivity of the air to be same as permitivity od vacuum.
What is the density of the balls?
f(Aleš) was reading about little balls and decided to recompute the problem for nicer situation.

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

There are two forces affecting the balls, one electric and the other one gravitational. Electric
force can be computed from Coulomb’s law and the gravitational which can be computed from
law of gravity, hence
1 q2
Fe = ( ) ,
4πε0 εr 4 sin2 α2 l2
Fg = V (ϱb − ϱe ) g ,
where ϱe is the density of the environment.
Those two forces are perpendicular to each other. Gravitational force is vertical while the
electric force is horizontal.
From geometry ( )
Fe α
= tg .
Fg 2
Let’s mark the forces after inserting the aparate to the olive oil with primes. Condition for
the constant angle gives us
Fe F′
= e′ ,
Fg Fg
from here
1 1
= ,
ϱb − ϱa (ϱb − ϱo ) εr
where we assumed that the permitivity of the air is the same as of vacuum.
Then
ϱo εr − ϱa
ϱb = .
εr − 1
.
Plugging in numbers, ϱb = 1349, 4 kg·m−3 .
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem FoL.3 . . . blue rock

Center of mass of a mountaineer climbing on a rock is h = 24 m above ground. The last belay
(place where the climber’s rope runs through a metallic circle attached to the rock) is at a height
h0 = 20 m. The climber slips and falls. How closest to the ground does he get during his fall?
Young’s modulus of the rope is E = 100 MPa, its radius r = 0.5 cm and mass of the climber
m = 70 kg. Neglect mass of the rope and all friction. Assume that the rope is attached to the
climber in his center of mass. All distances are given with respect to a securing device which is
attached to the ground and does not move during the fall. The local gravitational acceleration
is g = 9.81 m·s−2 . Honza thought carefully before climbing.
Let’s denote l the increase in the length of the rope during the fall. From the conservation of
energy we have
1 Eπr2 2
mg (2 (h − h0 ) + l) = l .
2 h
Solving the quadratic equation we find l. The height hf in which the climber stops falling is
.
then hf = h − 2(h − h0 ) − l = 7.7 m.
Jan Humplík
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem FoL.4 . . . gas block

There is a movable divider in a closed cylindrical vessel, separating it into two chambers. One
of the chambers contains 25 mg of N2 while the second one contains 40 mg of He. Assume that
the equilibrium state was attained. What is the ratio of the lenghts of the chambers in the
equilibrium state? Assume ideal-gas behaviour. Your answer should be less than 1.
Janapka was going through her old exercise books.
The pressure in both chambers is the same, since we are in equilibrium state. Let us compute
the amount of substance in both chambers. We need to look up molar masses M in the tables.
For nitrogen, it is 28 g·mol−1 while for helium, we have 4 g·mol−1 . We will plug in the numbers
into the formula for the amount of substance, where n = m/M and m is the mass of the gas in
the chamber. Let us denote the area of the base of the bottle by S and the lenghts by L. Then,
taking into account the ideal gas law, we can write
n1 RT n2 RT
p= = ,
SL1 SL2
.
whence L1 /L2 = n1 /n2 = 0.089.
Jana Poledniková
[email protected]

Problem FoL.5 . . . marble play

We want to galvanise (in copper sulphate solution) an iron sphere of mass mFe = 8 kg and
density ϱFe = 8 g·cm−3 . We aim for a layer of copper ∆r = 2 mm thick. The density of copper
is ϱCu = 9 g·cm−3 , molar mass is MCu = 63.5 kg·mol−1 and we apply constant current I =
= 0.5 A. How long does the process take? State your answer in days, ceiled (i.e. 3.238 days
are 4 days). Kiki was remembering the chemistry olympiad.
Essential for the solution is finding out how much copper mCu is deposited onto the surface of
the sphere during the electrolysis. We know the density of the sphere and its mass, hence we can
compute its volume, which is VFe = mFe /ϱFe . The volume can also be expressed as V = 4πr3 /3,
so we can infer the radius of the sphere r, which will grow to R = r + ∆r, where ∆r = 0.002 m.
The volume of the resulting sphere will be V = 4πR3 /3. Copper and iron do not mix in the
process, so we can deduce the volume of the copper layer, which is VCu = V − VFe . The mass
of the layer can be computed as mCu = VCu ϱCu . We can input the known quantities to obtain

mCu = VCu ϱCu ,

mCu = (V − VFe ) ϱCu ,
( )
4 3 mFe
mCu = πR − ϱCu ,
3 ϱFe
( (√ )3 )
4 3mFe mFe
mCu = π 3
+ ∆r − ϱCu .
3 4πϱFe ϱFe

We will use Faraday’s laws of electrolysis to infer the time needed to produce such amount
of copper. We write m = AIt, where A is the corresponding electrochemical equivalent A =
= MCu /(F z), MCu = 0.0635 kg·mol−1 is the molar mass of copper, F = 96 485 C·mol−1 is the

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Faraday’s constant and z = 2 is the number of electrons released during the reaction when
a copper cation with oxidation number II changes into a copper atom with oxidation number
0. The time elapsed can be computed as
mC u
t= ,
AI
mC uF z
t= .
IMC u
.
Plugging in the numbers, we get t = 5 462 ks, which is equivalent to 62 days after ceiling.
Kristína Nešporová
[email protected]

Problem FoL.6 . . . springy one

We happen to have forgotten a spring with natural length l = 0.5 m and a spring constant
of k = 5 N·m−1 in the outer space. There is a mass m1 = 1 kg attached to one end of the spring
while at the other end, there is a mass m2 = 3 kg. Compute the period of small oscillations of
the spring. Paťo was going through his old exercise book.
The centre of mass of an isolated system considered with respect to an inertial frame of reference
cannot accelerate. Hence, in the centre of mass reference frame, the periods of oscillations of
both masses must be the same. The centre of mass is at the distance
m2
x=l
m1 + m2
from m1 . Let us regard the spring as consisting of two springs connected in series at the centre
of mass. The spring constants of these springs are inversely proportional to their respective
lengths (the shorter spring is more rigid than the longer one), hence for the spring connected
to m1 we have
l m1 + m2
k1 = k = k .
x m2
The period of oscillations of the whole system is equal to the period of oscillations of this part
of it, so √ √
m1 m1 m2
T = 2π = 2π .
k1 k(m1 + m2 )
.
Plugging in the numbers, we get T = 2.43 s.
Patrik Švančara
[email protected]

Problem FoL.7 . . . expandable balloon

A closed helium balloon is taking off from the Earth’s surface, where the temperature and
pressure are 300 K and 101 kPa respectively. Eventually, it will reach the point where the
temperature and pressure are 258 K and 78 kPa respectively. Assuming that the balloon is of
spherical shape initially with radius 10 m, find the factor by which its radius will increase. The
balloon is in thermodynamic equilibrium with its environment. Do not take into account the
surface tension of the balloon. Tomáš was dreaming about flying in a hot air balloon.

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

We can use the ideal gas law to write

p1 V 1 p2 V2
= .
T1 T2
Hence the ratio V2 /V1 can be expressed as
p1 T2 .
= 1.114 .
p2 T1

The initial volume of the balloon is V1 = 4πr13 /3. We will express the new volume as
p1 T2 4π 3 4π 3 p1 T2
V2 = V1 = r2 = r1 · .
p2 T1 3 3 p2 T1
Hence the resulting ratio is √
3 p1 T2 .
= 1.037 .
p2 T1

Tomáš Bárta
[email protected]

Problem FoL.8 . . . resistant prism

The edges of a square pyramid are made out of wires which are conductively connected at all
vertices. Compute the resistance across the opposite vertices on a diagonal of the base√ square,
given that the resistance of one metre of the wire is 1 Ω, the height of the pyramid is 7 m and
the base length is 2 m. Pikoš, while marking solutions.
We want to find the resistance across the opposite vertices of the base of a square pyramid.
By symmetry of the problem, we note that all the remaining vertices are at the same poten-
tial, including the top of the pyramid. Hence there is no current through the wires mutually
connecting these vertices and we can discard them. We are left with three pairs of resistors
connected in parallel, each pair containing identical resistors. As for the two pairs defining the
base, the resistors have resistance 2 Ω while in the case of the third pair, the resistance of the
constituent resistors is (by Pythagoras’ theorem)
√ (√ )2
(√ )2 22 + 2 2
7 + Ω = 3Ω.
2

Thus the sought-after resistance is 1.5 Ω.

Tomáš Pikálek
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem FoL.9 . . . satellite

Consider a planet and its natural satellite orbiting about their common centre of mass, where
the motion takes place in a plane. The magnitude of the tangent velocity of the satellite, defined
with respect to the centre of mass of the system, is 2.5 km·s−1 . Find the ratio of the mass of the
planet to the mass of the satellite in order for the centre of mass of the system to be located
at the planet’s surface, given that the orbits are circular. The mass of the planet is Mp =
= 7.6 · 1024 kg, it has a radius of Rp = 7 436 km and the radius of the satellite is Rm = 1 943 km
Nicola was thinking about the two-body problem.
Since we know the speed of the moon in its orbit, we can derive the distance h of the moon’s
center from the planet’s surface. We know that FG = Fd , where FG is the magnitude of the
force due to gravity on the moon and Fd is the magnitude of the centripetal force making the
moon follow the circular orbit. Hence we have
Mp Mm Mm v 2
κ 2
= ,
(Rp + h) h
where κ is the gravitational constant. Solving the above equation for h, we have
( )
κMp
0 = h2 + 2Rp − h + Rp2 . (1)
v2
Denoting x = h/Rp , we obtain
( )
κMp
0=x + 2
2− 2 x + 1.
v Rp

We need the centre of mass at the surface of the planet. By definition of the centre of mass, we
write
(h + Rp )Mm
Rp = .
Mm + Mp
Thus, multiplying through by Mm + Mp and dividing by Mm Rp , we get
Mp Mp
+1=x+1 ⇒ x= .
Mm Mm
.
By solving the equation (1), we get x = Mp /Mm = 8.79.
Lukáš Ledvina
[email protected]

Problem FoL.10 . . . a loop

Consider an electron-emitting source with an emitting speed of v = 1.5·107 m·s−1 . At a point P,
the electrons enter a homogeneous magnetic field with a magnitude of B = 1 · 10−3 T. The
vector of electrons’ velocity at P makes an angle φ = 15◦ to the magnetic field vector. Find the
distance of P from the point where the electrons again (for the first time) cross the field line
going through P. Zdeněk has teleported inside a monitor.

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

We need to resolve the velocity vector v into two components. One component is perpendicular
to the field lines, vx = v sin φ, while the other one is parallel to them, vy = v cos φ. The Lorentz
force is acting as a centripetal force, so
mvx2
Qvx B = ,
r
whence we can express r as
mvx
r= .
QB
Then the period of the orbital motion can be obtained as
2πr 2πm
T = = .
vx QB
This is basically the time the electron needs to cross the field line once more. In the meantime,
it will travel through a distance s in the direction parallel to the field lines
2πm
s = vy .
QB
.
Substituting for the charge and the mass of the electron, we get s = 0.52 m.
Zdeněk Jakub
[email protected]

Problem FoL.11 . . . ecologically passive

A passionate tree hugger (weighing only m = 50 kg) learned that the city council decided to
chop down his favourite tree. He climbed onto the top of his homogeneous green friend believing
that he would keep the tree killers away. However, the lumberjacks came and cut down the h =
= 10 m tall tree weighing M = 1 t. What was the speed with which the tree hugger, initially
resting at the tree top, hit the ground? The acceleration due to gravity is g = 9.81 m·s−2 .
Terka, while climbing a tree.
The crucial one is the law of conservation of energy here. The potential energy of the tree
hugger and the tree is ( )
h
Ep = g mh + M .
2
The kinetic energy is given by the moment of inertia I of the system as
1 2
I= Iω ,
2
where ω is the angular speed of the tree hitting the ground. The moment of inertia can be
computed with aid of the parallel axis theorem as
( )2
1 h
Ek = M h2 + M + mh2 .
12 2
Conserving the total energy, we have
( )
1
hg (2m + M ) = M + m h2 ω 2 .
3

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Whence we obtain ω as well as v = ωh:

√
3M + 6m
v= gh .
M + 3m
.
Plugging in the numbers, we get v = 16.8 m·s−1 .
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem FoL.12 . . . nucleus on a diet

Imagine we have a nucleus with nucleon number A = 36, proton number Z = 17 and the mass
of mk = 5.99965 · 10−26 kg What would be the sum of bonding energies in nucleus in one mole
of nuclei of this element? Provide your answer in TJ.
Kiki was bored during the lecture on anorganic chemistry.
The element contains Z = 17 protons and N = A − Z = 19 neutrons. Mass of proton as
a standalone particle is mp = 1.6725 · 10−27 kg, mass of neutron is mn = 1.6749 · 10−27 kg. Just
adding these two, the nucleus should weigth mt = 17mp + 19mn . The real mass of the nucleus
is smaller. The difference is directly proportional to bonding energy
δm = mt − mk
according to E = δm c . We are interested in energy of one mole of the nuclei, Em = NA ·E, whe-
2
.
re NA = 6.022·1023 mol−1 is Avogadro number. Plugging in the numbers, we get Em = 1.40·1013 J =
= 14.0 TJ.
Kristína Nešporová
[email protected]

Problem FoL.13 . . . music of the locomotives

Two locomotives A and B are moving with velocities vA = 15 m·s−1 in the right direction
and vB = 30 m·s−1 in the left direction, facing each other on the paralel railways. Locomotive
A whistles on a frequence 200 Hz. The speed of the sound is 340 m·s−1 . Let’s assume that
some of the sonic waves will be reflected from the locomotive B back to locomotive A. Which
frequency will be heard by the engineer in the locomotive A? Assume that rightwards direction
is positive and the environment is not moving. Janapka was playing with trains.
The problem makes use of Doppler effect. First, let’s compute the frequency which will be heard
by engineer in locomotive B. Locomotive A is moving to the right, in the positive direction, so
locomotive B will have velocity −|vB |. Environment is not moving. The velocity of the source
is equal to the velocity of locomotive A, moving in the positive direction. The speed of sound
is denoted as v. Frequency which is heard by engineer in locomotive B is
c + |vB | .
fB = f0 = 228 Hz .
c − |vA |
This is the frequency sent from locomotive B to locomotive A. So let’s apply Doppler’s law
once more to get the final frequency
c + |vA | .
fA = fB = 261 Hz .
c − |vB |

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Jana Poledniková
[email protected]

Problem FoL.14 . . . capacitors in the circuit

Voltage in the circuit on the attached image is 10 V and each capacitor has capacity 10 μF.
Compute the charge (in μC) on the capacitor C1 . Dominika on a branch.
We use the numbering of capacitors as in the image. Let’s recall the rules for computing the
final capacity if the capacitors are in series (Cs ) or parallel (Cp )
1 1 1
= + , Cp = Ca + Cb .
Cs Ca Cb
Using this formula, we replace the capacitors 1, 2, 3 with equivalent C123 and capacitors 1, 2, 3, 4
with equivalent C1234
3 3
C123 = C, C1234 = C.
2 5
Charge in the right branch of circuit (with capacitors C1...4 ) is Q1234 = U · C1234 , which is
the same as the charge of capacitor C4 and also C1...3 : Q1234 = Q3 = Q123 . Voltage on C1...3
is U123 = Q123 /C123 . Capacitors C1 and C2 will have the same charge, Q1 = Q2 = U123 · C12 =
= U123 · C2 . Generally
1 1 C1234 1
Q1 = U123 C = CU = CU .
2 2 C123 5
Plugging the numbers in, we get Q1 = 20 μC.
Dominika Kalasová
[email protected]

Problem FoL.15 . . . glasses or contact lenses

Pepa needs glasses with focal length fb = 50 cm to clearly see his favourite crossword at
a distance D = 25 cm from his eye lens. The glasses are at d = 2 cm from his eye lens which
itself has focal length fo = 2 cm. What focal distance (in cetimetres) must Pepa’s contact lenses
– which are in direct contact with the eye – have so that Pepa still could see the crossword
clearly without any change in the focal length of the eye lens? Treat all lenses as thin.
Lukáš stared into crosswords.
First we calculate distance from the eye lens in which the image of the crossword is produced.
Crossword is at a distance db = D − d from the glasses. This is less than fb which means the
image will be on the same side of the lens as the crossword. Image position with respect to the
glasses is obtained from the lensmaker’s equation
1
−sb = .
1
fb
− D−d
1

The image is then at a distance so = sb + d from the eye lens. From this directly follows final
position of the image x:
1 1 1204
x= = fb −D+d
= cm .
1
fo
− 1
so
1
fo
− d(fb −D+d)+fb (D−d)
575

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Focal distance fc of the contact lens must fulfill

1 1 1 1
+ = + ,
fc fo x D
which leads to
1 .
fc = fb −D+d
= 56.9 cm
1
D
− d(fb −D+d)+fb (D−d)

Dávid Hvizdoš
[email protected]

Problem FoL.16 . . . superluminal electron

Assume the Bohr model of an ionized atom with fixed nucleus (with proton number Z) and only
one electron. Which would be the lowest possible proton number of the atom in order to obtain
superluminal velocity of the orbiting electron? Assume that the electron is in a ground state.
Speed of light is c = 299.8 · 106 m·s−1 , charge of the electron is e = −1.6022 · 10−19 C, Coulomb’s
constant is ke = 8.987 · 109 N·m2 ·C−2 and the reduced Planck constant is ℏ = 1.0546 · 10−34 J·s.
Use classical, not relativistic, physics. Jakub wanted to destroy the world.
Velocity of the electron in the ground state can be obtained directly from the Bohr model
Ze2 ke
ve = .
ℏ
We want this velocity to be superluminal, hence
Ze2 ke
ve = > c.
ℏ
Playing around with this algebracic expression, we get condition for Z
cℏ .
Z> = 137.05 .
e 2 ke
Number of protons is an integer, so the velocity of the electron crossed the superluminal barrier
for Z = 138.
Jakub Kocák
[email protected]

Problem FoL.17 . . . ecocar

Find the mass of a compressed gas which is equivalent to one litre of petrol with a heating
value of L = 30 MJ·l−1 , given that we use air as our working gas with an initial pressure of
p0 = 200pa , where patm = 105 hPa is the atmospheric pressure. Further assume that the density
of air under atmospheric pressure is ϱatm = 1.3 kg·m−3 , that it exhibits ideal-gas behaviour and
that the expansion process is carried out isothermally without any loss of energy.
Lukáš came up with this on the trip in the mountains.
Let us write the ideal gas law for the original, intermediate and atmospheric pressure
p0 V0 = nRT , pV = nRT patm Vatm = nRT .

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The temperature and the amount of substance are constant. The work done by gas during the
expansion process is
∫ Vatm ∫ Vatm
Vatm p0
W = pdV = p0 V0 /V dV = p0 V0 ln = p0 V0 ln .
V0 V0
V0 patm

The density of air is ϱ = m/Vatm , for which we can write

ϱatm
patm = RT ,
Mm
where Mm is molecular mass of the air. By the ideal gas law for the initial state, we can express
p0 V0 as.
m patm
p0 V0 = RT = m .
Mm ϱatm
The work has already been computed before, so let us assume that it is equal to the heating
value of one litre of petrol
p0 patm p0
LVB = W = p0 V0 ln =m ln ,
patm ϱatm patm
whence
LVB ϱatm .
m= p0 = 73.6 kg .
patm ln patm

Ján Pulmann
[email protected]

Problem FoL.18 . . . swinging barrel

A cylindrical object with a radius of r = 0.5 m, height l = 3 m and mass of two tonnes is floating
on the water of density ϱ so that the axis of the cylinder remains vertical. Let us displace the
cylinder from its equilibrium position vertically by ∆x = 1 mm. Find the period of oscillations
of the cylinder (in seconds). The acceleration due to gravity is g = 9.81 m·s−2 .
Pikoš’s problem from the school days.
There is a force due to gravity FG = mg acting on the cylinder, where m is the mass and g is
the acceleration due to gravity. The other force acting on the cylinder is the buoyant force

Fv = V ϱg ,

where V is the volume of the submerged part of the cylinder and ϱ is the density of the liquid
(water). At the equilibrium position, the resultant force acting on the cylinder is zero. Let
us denote the height of the submerged part as x0 (at the equilibrium position). Then mg =
= πr2 x0 ϱg. If we displace the cylinder from the equilibrium position by x upwards, then the
height of the submerged part will be x0 − x and the magnitude of the resultant force will be
equal to
F = mg − πr2 (x − x0 )ϱg .
Substituting for x from the previous equation we obtain

F = −πr2 xϱg ,

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

thus the force acting on the cylinder is proportional to the displacement, hence we can see
that it is a simple harmonic oscilator with the effective spring constant πr2 ϱg. Therefore, the
sought-after period of oscillations is
√ .
T = 2π m/(πr2 ϱg) = 3.2 s .

Tomáš Pikálek
[email protected]

Problem FoL.19 . . . capacitor duo

Find the charge in Coulombs on the capacitor C2 if you know the following: At the beginning,
the switch S0 was off and the switch S1 was on, as displayed on the picture. There was zero
voltage on both capacitors. Then we switched S0 on and waited until the current stopped
flowing. Subsequently, we switched S1 off and again waited for the circuit to come into a steady
state. At the end, we measured the charge on the capacitor C2 . The voltage across the ideal
voltage source (DC) is U = 17 V and both capacitors have the same capacitance C = 1 μF.

S0

U C2 S1

C1

Fig. 2: To the problem 19

Náry felt like doing some electrotechnics.

This experiment represents a process in which we add an extra capacitor into a capacitor circuit
in a steady state. This new element acts as a simple conductor because it is added at a moment
when all differences in the electric potential are balanced. There is a zero voltage on the added
capacitor and thus also a zero accumulated charge.
Validity of this statement can be seen from the second Kirchhoff’s circuit law and the
conservation of the electric charge.
Q+q q
+ =U, (2)
C C
where Q is the original charge on the positively charged plate of the capacitor C1 and q is an
extra charge on this plate after switching off S1 . This is then the charge lost by the plate of C2
which is connected with the positively charged plate of C1 .
From the first phase of the process we know
Q
=U, (3)
C
which, combined with (2) gives q = 0 C.

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Charge on the capacitor C2 will be 0 C.

Jiří Nárožný
[email protected]

Problem FoL.20 . . . heureka

Consider a cube with edge length a = 1 m and density ϱ0 = 1 000 kg·m−3 and a container with
a liquid of density (at its level) ϱ0 . The density of the liquid increases linearly with depth,
so ϱ(h) = ϱ0 + αh, where α = 25 kg·m−4 . How deep does the cube sink, given that the height of
the level of the liquid does not change having immersed the cube in the liquid? The acceleration
due to gravity is g = 9.81 m·s−2 . State your answer in centimetres.
Terka was bathing in strange liquids.
Let us use the Archimedes’ principle: a thin slab of the cube with a height of dx submerged at
a depth of x is acted on by a force corresponding to the weight ga2 (ϱ0 + αx)dx of the liquid of
the same volume as the slab. The total mass of the water replaced by the cube’s body must be
equal to the total mass of the cube, so
∫ H
(ϱ0 + αx)dx = a3 ϱ0 ,
0

which leads to a quadratic equation. This can be solved as

0 = αH 2 + 2ϱ0 H − 2a3 ϱ0 ,
√
ϱ20 + 2αa3 ϱ0 − ϱ0
H= .
α
.
Plugging in the numbers, we get H = 98.8 cm.
Tereza Steinhartová
[email protected]

Problem FoL.21 . . . ecology above all

Find the efficiency (energy returned on energy invested - ERoEI) of storing the energy in the
form of compressed air. If there is surplus of electrical energy produced in solar power plants,
we start to compress the air adiabatically so that we eventually achieve a compression ratio of
k = 10. If we need the energy back, we let the air expand adiabatically to the original pressure.
However, before we commenced the expansion process the air cooled down to the temperature
before the compression took place. Assume that the air is a diatomic gas exhibiting ideal-gas
properties. State your answer in terms of percentage.
Lukáš was listening to a programme about the cars running on compressed air.
Quantities indexed by 1 describe the initial state while the ones indexed by 2 describe the state
after the adiabatic compression, 3 stands for the state before the adiabatic expansion and 4 is
for the state after the expansion.
Let us derive the energy supplied to the gas during the adiabatic compression first (energy
invested). We can write
( )κ−1
V1
T2 = T1 = T1 kκ−1 .
V2

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Then the energy invested is ( )

Ein = RnT1 k κ−1 − 1 .
For determining the parameters describing the state 3, the ideal gas law needs to be employed.
We know that T3 = T1 , hence
p3 = kp1 .
We should note that p4 = p1 . Then we can write for the adiabatic expansion
( )1−κ
p3 1−κ
T4κ = T3κ = T1κ k1−κ ⇒ T4 = T1 k κ .
p1

The energy returned in this process is

( 1−κ
)
Eout = RnT1 1 − k κ .

At this point, we can compute the efficiency as

1−κ
Eout 1−k κ
η= = κ−1 .
Ein k −1
.
Let us recall that for a diatomic gas we have κ = 1.4, so the answer is η = 31.9 %.
Lukáš Ledvina
[email protected]

Problem FoL.22 . . . resistor blackbox

Consider a box containing three resistors with unknown resistances. These resistors are con-
nected through ideal conductors. There are four output terminals leading outside the box. We
measure the resistance across different pairs of terminals for all possible combinations of ter-
minals. Five such measurements yield 9 Ω, 12 Ω, 8 Ω, 3 Ω and 14 Ω. Let us now connect the
ohmmeter across the last unmeasured pair of terminals. What resistance do we find?
Náry is tragic.
Unless we want to measure zero resistance, there should not be any loop in the wiring, hence
the resistors must be connected either in a star configuration or in series. Equipped with this
condition we can uniquely determine both the precise way of wiring as well as the individual
values of resistances of the resistors and hence the resistance across the last choice of terminals.
Let us denote the resistances by R1 , R2 and R3 . Based on how these resistors may be con-
nected we infer that the resistances measured across the terminals can either be a combination
of sums of R1 , R2 and R3 or directly R1 , R2 or R3 . There are exactly 7 such cases. Since we
obtained our measurements for 5 possible combinations of terminals out of 6, we must have
necessarily measured at least two values which correspond directly to some of R1 , R2 and R3 .
This implies that the least resistance measured across a pair of terminals must be one of R1 ,
R2 or R3 , since assuming the opposite we come to a quick contradiction. Denoting the least
resistance R1 , we observe that R1 = 3 Ω.
In the next step we subtract R1 from all of the remaining measured resistances. There exist
exactly 3 pairs of resistors, which we potentially could have measured and which satisfy the
following: when we subtract R1 from the resistance of the first one we get the resistance of the

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

second one. Since we conducted 5 measurements, there must be at least one such a pair in the
list of measured resistances. Indeed, the values 12 Ω and 9 Ω differ exactly by 3 Ω. Since this is
the only such pair and simultaneously 12 Ω is not the highest value measured, we must have
that 9 Ω is the resistance of the second resistor, denoted by R2 (think this carefully through!).
Since 8 Ω is less than R2 , it must be equal either to R3 or R1 + R3 . However, it would
be impossible to place the terminals in a star or serial wiring in such a way so as to obtain
a resistance of 14 Ω, if we had R3 = 8 Ω. Hence R3 = R2 − R1 = 5 Ω.
Based on the above derived results we easily conclude that the resistors are connected in
a star and that the resistance across the last choice of terminals is R3 = 5 Ω.
Jiří Nárožný
[email protected]

Problem FoL.23 . . . orbiters

Determine the magnitude of a magnetic field which is present at the centre of mass of the
system of two planets charged with equal charges of Q = 100 TC and with equal masses of
M = 5 · 1024 kg orbiting each other at a distance of d = 500 000 km apart. In your calculations,
regard the two planets as point charges and assume that their orbits are circular. State your
answer in terms of nT. Lukáš wanted to create an unconventional problem no matter what.
The planets exert an attractive force on each other, which is of magnitude
( )
1 Q2
F = 2 GM − 2
.
d 4πε0

In order to balance the centrifugal with the attractive force (from the point of view of the frame
of reference rotating with the planets), we have to satisfy
√
dF
v= .
2M
This means that the current flowing around the centre of mass will be
2Qv
I=
πd
which allows us to compute the magnitude of the magnetic field at the centre of mass as
√ dF
I 2Qv 2Q 2M .
B = µ0 = µ0 = µ0 = 57.23 nT .
πd (πd)2 (πd)2

Tomáš Bárta
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem FoL.24 . . . mercujet

Consider a flask filled with a potion of density ϱ = 13 600 kg·m−3 . The flask is sealed at
the top, with a small capillary inserted in the seal. The potion is heated to the temperature
corresponding to its boiling point under the atmospheric pressure pa = 101 325 Pa. By how
much will the level of the potion in the capillary rise? Neglect both the change in the surface
tension with the temperature as well as the thermal expansion of both the potion and the flask.
The acceleration due to gravity is g = 9.81 m·s−2 . The flask is placed in vacuum. Assume that
at the beginning of the process, the partial pressure of the potion vapor is zero.
Lukáš was playing with a PET bottle.
If we heat the potion up to temperature corresponding to its boiling point under the atmospheric
pressure, the partial pressure of its vapor is the same as the atmospheric pressure, hence the
potion will rise to a height of
pa .
h= = 759 mm ,
ϱg
because the pressure above the level of the potion in the flask is pa and there is zero pressure
above the level of the potion in the capillary.

Fig. 3: english label 24

Lukáš Ledvina
[email protected]

Problem FoL.25 . . . dimensionless hydrogen

Consider the ground state energy of the hydrogen atom (a system consisting of a proton and
an electron) in the non-relativistic model with the proton fixed at a point. If the electron is

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

in the infinite distance from the proton, the energy of the configuration is defined to be zero.
Find the ground state energy in terms of dimensionless units defined by putting the mass of
the electron me = 1, reduced Planck constant ℏ = 1 and ke e2 = 1, where ke is the Coulomb’s
constant and e denotes the electron’s charge. Jakub was forced to think
Considering the Bohr’s model of atom, the energy of the ground state of hydrogen is
me e4 ke2
E0 = − .
2ℏ2
We simply substitute 1 for the quantities mentioned in the task to obtain the energy in di-
mensionless units ( 2 )2
1 (me ) ke e 1
E0 = − =− .
2 (ℏ)2 2

Jakub Kocák
[email protected]

Problem FoL.26 . . . jumping dog

Imagine a marble placed in a height of h = 1 m above the ground. At some point, we release
the marble and simultaneously start to push the ground towards the marble with a speed of
V = 1.2 m·s−1 with respect to the initial rest frame of the system. Given that the coefficient of
restitution between the marble and the ground is e = 0.3, find the time needed for the marble
to steady on the moving ground. We define the coefficient of restitution as the ratio of speeds
of the marble with respect to the ground before and after each collision.
Kuba played with a marble.
Let us look at the situation from the inertial frame of reference connected with the moving
ground. The initial speed of the marble in this frame is V . The marble will hit the surface at
the time √ ( )2
h V
t1 = 2 + − V /g
g g
having a speed of √
v1 = V + gt1 = 2gh + V 2 .
Let us take into account the coefficient of restitution e. After the collision the marble will have
a speed of v2 = ev1 and with this one, it will hit the surface again at the time
v2 v1
t2 = 2 = 2e ,
g g
subsequently hitting the surface again with a speed of v3 = ev2 etc. By induction, write
v1
∀n ∈ N\{1} : tn = 2e(n−1) ,
g
∑
where t1 is given above. If e < 1 the series tn converges. Let T be the time we are looking
for. Then
∑∞
v1 ∑ (n−1)
∞
v1 ∑ n
∞

T = tn = t1 + 2 e = t1 + 2 e ,
g g
n=1 n=2 n=1

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

giving √
v1 e 2gh + V 2 1 + e
T = t1 + 2 = − V /g .
g 1−e g 1−e
.
Plugging in the numbers, we get T = 0.74 s.
Kuba Vošmera
[email protected]

Problem FoL.27 . . . P5
What is the average number of photons arriving from Pluto’s spherical moon P5 onto the mirror
of the Hubble Space Telescope every second? Assume the following: the moon has a diameter
of D = 20 km, its distance from the Sun is L = 32 AU and it has an albedo of a = 0.3. The
Hubble Space Telescope is equipped with a mirror of diameter d = 2 m. You can regard the
Sun as being a monochromatic light source, emitting at a wavelength of λ = 550 nm with the
solar constant being PS = 1 400 W·m−2 . Further assume that the Hubble Space Telescope is
also located at a distance of L from P5. Do not consider the absorption in the interplanetary
medium, assume the isotropic scattering of photons by P5 and do not take into account the
photons absorbed and subsequently radiated back by P5.
Lukáš read some stuff about exoplanets.
Let us compute the power that the moon receives from the Sun

1 AU2 π 2
Pm = PS · D .
L2 4
This power (reduced by the albedo) is uniformly scattered by the moon onto a sphere with
a radius of L and an area of 4πL2 . However, we detect only that part corresponding to the area
of the telescope’s mirror being Sd = πd2 /4. Hence the power detected is

πd2 /4 1 AU2 π 2 πd2 /4 π 1 AU2 D2 d2 .

Po = aPm 2
= PS a 2
· D 2
= PS a = 1.398 · 10−18 W .
4πL L 4 4πL 64 L4
Further we have to determine the energy of one photon of given wavelength. It is true that
E = hc/λ = 3.638 · 10−19 J. Hence, for the number of photons detected every second we have
Po /E = 3.842 Bq, where Bq is a unit with the same dimension as Hz. Though this one is used
for random processes, while the latter is for periodic ones. The telescope will receive 3.8 photons
per second on average.
Lukáš Ledvina
[email protected]

Problem FoL.28 . . . weird gravity

Imagine that you are standing on the inner side of the wall of a huge open-ended cylinder with
a base radius of R = 1000 m, The cylinder is rotating about its axis with a constant angular
speed so that the centrifugal acceleration you can feel is the same as the acceleration due to
gravity on the Earth’s surface g = 9.81 m·s−2 . The cylinder itself is virtually massless and
it is placed in vacuum, outside the influence of gravitating bodies. Imagine you throw a ball
straight up from the surface you are standing on, giving it an initial speed of v = 10 m·s−1 in

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

a direction perpendicular to the surface. Compute how far from you the ball lands. The distance
is measured along the surface, in the frame of reference connected with the rotating cylinder.
State your answer in metres. Kuba whirling around.
If there √
is to be a normal acceleration of g on the inner side of the wall, the angular speed must
be ω = g/R. We need to remember that there are no forces acting on the flying ball in the
non-rotating reference frame which is thus inertial, so in this frame the ball is either at rest or
it moves in a straight line with constant speed. In fact, in such frame the ball’s trajectory will
be a straight line which makes an angle α with the direction normal to the surface, where
√
gR
tg α = .
v
The speed of the ball in this frame is
√
v′ = v 2 + gR,

so the straight trajectory of the ball hits the wall of the cylinder at time
2R cos α 2Rv
t= √ = 2 .
v 2 + gR v + gR

But during this time, the cylinder rotates through an angle of ωt, so the distance to the point
of landing measured along the surface is
( √ √ )
gR 2Rv g
d = R(π − 2α − ωt) = R π − 2 arctg − 2 .
v v + gR R
.
Plugging in the numbers, d = 1.36 m.
Kuba Vošmera
[email protected]

Problem FoL.29 . . . gramme of hexagram

Consider a fractal which resulted from infinite plunging of hexagrams into each other (see the
figure). Only the coloured parts have mass and their total mass is exactly one gramme. The
massive parts are made of homogeneous material and the radius of the fractal is one centimetre
(the radius is measured from the centre to the furthermost vertex of the fractal). What is the
moment of inertia with respect to the axis perpendicular to the plane of the fractal and going
through the centre of the fractal? The result should be stated in terms of g·cm2 . The moment
of inertia of an equilateral triangle with a side lenght of at and mass mt with respect to the
axis perpendicular to the plane of the triangle and going through its centre of mass is
1
It = ma2t .
12
Karel was thinking about moments of inertia.
Let the radius of the fractal be r. By looking at the geometry of the√problem, we note that the
ratio of the dimensions of every inner and outer triangle is q = 1/ 3. Let us denote the area
of the coloured part depicted on the first diagram by S1 , the area of the coloured part which

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Fig. 4: To the problem 29

was added in the the second diagram will be denoted by S2 etc. The area is proportional to the
square of the linear dimensions of a tringle, so

Sn+1 = q 2 Sn .

The total area is then

∑
∞
1 3
S= Sn = S1 = S1 .
1 − q2 2
n=1
√
The lengths of the edges of the equilateral triangles in the first diagram are a1 = r/ 3, so the
area of the whole fractal is
√ √
3 3 3 23 3
S = S1 = · 6a1 2
=r .
2 2 4 4
Hence the surface density is
m 4 m
ϱ= = √ 2.
S 3 3r
The moment of inertia of the shape depicted on the first diagram, I1 , is six times the moment
of inertia of an equilateral triangle with respect to the axis going through the centre of the
fractal. To compute this moment of inertia, we need to employ the parallel axis theorem
I1
= It1 + mt1 · lt1
2
,
6
where It1 is the moment of inertia of the triangle with respect to the axis going through its
centre of mass, mt1 is its mass and lt1 is the distance between the centre of mass of the triangle
and the centre of the fractal. We know the dimensions of the triangles as well as their surface
density and lt1 = 32 r. From the geometry of the problem, we can write
( ) 17
I1 = 6 It1 + mt1 · lt1
2
= mr2 .
54
If the surface density is constant, the moment of inertia is proportional to the fourth power of
the dimension (I ∝ mr2 and m ∝ r2 ), so for the plunged stars

In+1 = q 4 In .

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Summing the resulting geometrical progression, we get a finite moment of inertia

∑
∞
1 9 17
I= In = I1 = I1 = mr2 .
1 − q4 8 48
n=1

Substituting the numerical values, we get I = 0.354 g·cm2 .

Dávid Hvizdoš
[email protected]

Problem FoL.30 . . . crystal mirror

Consider an aquarium suspended in the air. We can assume that it is infinitely big, so no matter
from which direction the rays are coming, they always hit a wall (see the figure). The walls
are made of glass with a refractive index of n1 > 1. The aquarium is filled with an unknown
transparent liquid with a refractive index of n2 > 1. The refractive index of air is n = 1. There
is a sheet of paper placed under the aquarium with the solution to this problem written down
on it. Find the smallest refractive index of the liquid so that we would not be able to see the
paper from aside of the aquarium (see the figure).

n1
n2
n

42

Fig. 5: To the problem 30

f(Aleš) brought up a problem during the brainstorming.

The light is passing through several layers with different refractive indices. For such a situation,
we write
n1 sin φ1 = n2 sin φ2 = · · · = nN sin φN . (4)
Hence when passing through the aquarium wall for the first time, the rays refract independently
on the refractive index of the glass and the direction in which they are deflected is affected by
the refractive index of the liquid only. Since we have n1 > n, the rays always pass into the
aquarium.
The rays can hit the bottom of the aquarium under a range of angles of (0, π/2). We see
from the equation (4) that should the total internal reflection occur, it will certainly happen no
later than at the last two interfaces. In other words, if there is to be a total internal reflection
on the interfaces liquid–glass or glass-air, it would occur on the interface liquid–air as well.
Hence, it is true that
π
n sin = n2 sin φ2 ,
2
whence
1
n2 = ,
sin φ2

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

where φ2 is the angle of incidence of the rays passing through the liquid onto the glass. From
the symmetry of the problem, by considering the rays travelling in the opposite direction, we
can write φ2 = π/4. Hence we end up with a condition
√
n2 ≥ 2 ,
√
thus n2 = 2, which is approximately 1.41.
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem FoL.31 . . . running mirror

Consider a system containing a converging lens with a focal lenght of f = 20 cm and a movable
convex mirror with a radius of curvature of 3f (see the figure). At t = 0, when the mirror
and the lens are in contact, we start to move the mirror with a speed of v = 1 m·s−1 away
from the lens. What should be the position of the object as a function of time, in order for its
image to stay at a distance of 2f leftwards from the lens? Assume that you can write x(t) =
= f · (v 2 t2 + vf t − 3f 2 )/(v 2 t2 − A) for the position of the object. Determine the constant A.
Assume that the speed of light is infinite and that you can use the paraxial approximation.

object
x x=0
x(t) F F′ F̃

image

Fig. 6: To the problem 31

Lukáš, sitting on an optical bench.

Let us denote the position of the object by x, the position of the image produced by the lens
by xc , the position of the image after imaging by the mirror by xcz and the position after the
final imaging by the lens by xczc . Further denote by d the distance of the mirror from the lens.
Then we can write
1 1 1
+ = , (5)
x xc f
1 1 2
+ = , (6)
d − xc d − xcz r
1 1 1
+ = , (7)
xcz xczc f
Further we have to substitute xczc = 2f and r = −3f due to the standard sign convention.
Without these two assumptions, we can write the position of the object as a function of the

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012
v

object
x x=0
x(t) F F′ F̃

image

Fig. 7: To the problem 31

position of its final image and the distance of the mirror from the lense, which yields somewhat
complicated expression. We then have

d2 f + df 2 − 3f 3
x= ,
d2 − 52 f 2

whence, substituting d = vt
v 2 t2 + vf t − 3f 2
x(t) = f · .
v 2 t2 − 52 f 2
We observe that A = 5f 2 /2 = 0.1 m2 .
This approach to the problem is somewhat technical and we need not have followed this
path on our way to the final solution, since it is sufficient to determine the position of the mirror
for one particular position of the object.
For this purpose we choose x = f . Then, by (5), we have xc = ∞. Forther we know that
xczc = 2f and by (7) we get xcz = 2f , hence for d by (6) we have
1 1 2 1 2 1
+ =− ⇒ =− ⇒ d= f.
d−∞ d+f 3f d − 2f 3f 2
This situation occurs at t = d/v = f /(2v). We substituted in to the ansatz given in the task
and having divided by f , we obtain

v 2 t2 + vf t − 3f 2 5 2
1= ⇒ v 2 t2 − A = v 2 t2 + vf t − 3f 2 ⇒ A= f = 0.1 m2 .
v 2 t2 − A 2
The numerical value of the sought-after constant A je 0.1 m2 .
Lukáš Ledvina
[email protected]

Problem FoL.32 . . . charged robber

A robber weighing m = 50 kg was running away from the policemen. He decided to save himself
by jumping from a cliff. Luckily enough, he stole a charge of q = 10 C. There is a homogeneous
magnetic field below the cliff, reaching the height a = 10 m. The field is perpendicular to the
vertical and its magnitude is B = 10 T. What is the maximum height of the cliff h (in metres)

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

from which the robber can jump without reaching the surface? Do not take into account the
air resistance. The acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m·s−2 and the velocity of the robber at
the moment of entering the magnetic field has a vertical component only. Assume that the
magnetic field is pointing in the right direction so the robber does not hit the cliff.
From the head of Tomáš B.
Let us assume that the cliff is on the right hand side, so we chose a right-handed cartesian
coordinates system so that the x axis points to the left and y axis is points down. Let the
y = 0 plane be the boundary of the region with the magnetic field pointing in the direction of
z. Employing the Lorentz force, the equations of motion can be written as

mẍ = qB ẏ ,
mÿ = −qB ẋ + mg .

Let us start to measure the time at the moment when the robber enters the magnetic field.
At this moment we have ẋ(0) = 0 and y(0) = 0. After integrating the first equation and
substituting into the second one, we get
( )2
qB
ÿ = − y+g.
m
The vertical motion of the robber can apparently be described by the equation of simple har-
monic oscilator, so
1 1 q2 B 2 2 1 q2 B 2
mẏ 2 (0) + δ = (a − δ)2
2 2 m 2 m
whence we can obtain
q 2 B 2 a2 .
h= = 20.4 m .
2gm2

Jan Humplík
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem M.1 . . . drive safely!

Two cars with different types of tyres are decelerating in summer on a straight dry road from
a velocity v0 = 100 km·h−1 . Initially, they are riding next to each other and start braking at
the same time. When the car with summer tyres comes to the rest the other one, with winter
tyres, is still moving with a velocity v1 = 37 km·h−1 and stops after 6 more meters. What is the
fraction of the horizontal deceleration of the car with winter tyres to the horizontal deceleration
of the other car? Michal heard this on radio.
Let us denote decelerations of the cars with winter and summer tyres aw and as respectively.
It obviously holds
v0 − aw (v0 /as ) = v1 .
Thus
(1 − aw /as ) = v1 /v0 ,
.
which allows us to obtain the desired fraction aw /as = 0.63.
Michal Koutný
[email protected]

Problem M.2 . . . wheelspokes

Consider an eight-spoked wheel with radius r = 30 cm rotating with angular speed ω =
= 2.5π rad·s−1 about a fixed axle through its centre. There are some boys shooting a bow
in the direction of the wheel, trying to make the arrows pass freely through the gaps between
the spokes. The length of one arrow is l = 23 cm. Assuming that the spokes and the arrows are
negligibly thin, find the minimal speed of the arrows so that the boys would succeed in their
objective. State your answer in metres per second. Zdeněk and his head spinning all around.
Let us write the frequency in terms of the angular angular speed
ω
f= .
2π
For the arrow not to be hit by a moving spoke, it must pass through the wheel in less than one
eigth of the period T , where
T 1
= .
8 8f
This must be equal to the time which it takes the arrow to travel through the distance equal
to its length, thus
.
v = 8f l = 2.3 m·s−1 .
Note that the information about the radius is completely redundant, unless we consider the
spokes and arrows to be of finite thickness.
Zdeněk Jakub
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem M.3 . . . spleen on a bridge

Bored person is standing on a bridge with the height h = 15 m and is dropping pebbles on cars
passing along a straight road beneath him. In a distance he spots an approaching motorcyclist
and decides to hit him. He estimates the motorcyclists’s instantaneous velocity to be v =
= 72 km·h−1 and his horizontal distance d = 500 m. He calculates when he should drop the
pebble and he indeed drops it at the calculated moment. However, when the pebble hits the
ground the motorcyclist is already x = 50 m behind the intended point of collision. What is
the difference, in kilometers per hour, between the estimate of the motorcyclist’s velocity and
his actual velocity if we assume that the initial horizontal distance is guessed precisely and the
velocity was constant throughout the motion? Kiki, during a stroll in Brno.
Legthy instructions are compensated by an easy and quick solution. The time t when the pebble
hits the ground is given by t = d/v. If the motorcyclist already drove a distance s = d + x at
that time, then his actual velocity was va = s/t. Therefore it holds

(d + x)
va = .
d/v
After plugging in numbers in appropriate units we substract the estimated velocity and evaluate
their difference ∆v = va − v which is numerically 7.2 km·h−1 .
Kristína Nešporová
[email protected]

Problem M.4 . . . broken altimeter

A curious sky observer notices an airplane which is approaching in a way that it eventually
passes exactly above his head. At one point, when the airplane is still approaching, the observer
measures that it is α1 = 1.3 rad above the horizon. However, a noise from its engines is coming
from a direction α2 = 0.5 rad above the horizon. The observer measures an angular velocity of
the airplane at the moment when it is passing above his head ω = 0.125 rad·s−1 . Based on these
inputs calculate the height h of the airplane, assuming it is constant throughout the motion.
The speed of sound is c = 340 m·s−1 and unvarying with the altitude. Neglect the finite speed
of light. Kuba was crossing half of the globe.
We assume that the airplane is travelling parallelly with the surface of Earth. At the moment
when the airplane is passing above the observer we can write

v = ω · h,

where v is a velocity of the airplane.

Sound which the observer hears under the angle α2 is coming from the distance
h
d= .
sin α2
And the distance between point which the observer sees under the angle α1 and the point from
which he hears the sound is ( )
1 1
s=h − .
tg α2 tg α1

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

The airplane travelled the distance s in the same time as the sound covered the distance d.
Therefore it holds ( )
d s 1 1 1
= = − .
c v ω tg α2 tg α1
Substituion for d from the equation above finally yields
( )
c sin α2 1 1
h= − .
ω tg α2 tg α1
.
And after numerical evaluation we get h = 2 025 m.
Dávid Hvizdoš
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem E.1 . . . a different one

Filip, who is colour blind and equipped with a red He–Ne laser (providing light with wavelen-
gth λ1 = 633 nm), decided to measure the refractive index of his little glass made of borosilicate
glass (designated as BSC7) for the wavelength of his laser (corresponding to red colour). The
method used was to measure the critical angle of refraction of the laser beam incident on glass-
vacuum interface and to infer the refractive index thereof. However, because of well-sustained
mess in the container where he stores his lasers, he used a green laser (wavelength λ2 = 555 nm)
instead of the red one, by mistake. Find the fractional error of his result in terms of permille
(parts per thousand) assuming that the measurement was not subject to other errors of any
kind. For the BSC7 glass we have the respective refractive indices for the wavelengths λ1 =
= 633 nm and λ2 = 555 nm equal to n1 = 1.51508 and n2 = 1.51827.
Honza stumbled upon while in optics lab.
It does not take one too long to find out that based on the measurement strategy described in
the task, it is possible to find the refractive index for given wavelength directly, since sin αc = n1 ,
where αc is the critical angle and n is the sought-after refractive index. Hence, in order to find
the answer we only need to know the refractive indices for given wavelengths in given material.
The answer then reads
n2 − n1 .
p= = 2.1 h .
n1

Jan Česal

Problem E.2 . . . firefly

A neon lamp is connected through a resistor to a rigid source of alternating voltage of a root
mean squre voltage 230 V and frequency 50 Hz. Its ignition voltage (the striking voltage) is 120 V
and the maintaining voltage is 80 V. How long it will stay lit during one half-period? Assume
that all resistors in the circuit are such that you do not have to take drop in the current into
consideration. Please provide the result in ms.
f(Aleš) wanted to read in the evening but he didn’t have any lamp.
Time dependence of √
a voltage is given by u(t) = U sin(ωt). The root mean square voltage is
defined by Urms = U 2. Therefore we can write for the ignition voltage
√
UI = 2Urms sin(ωt1 ) ,

where t1 is the time when the lamp lits, if we start measuring time when the voltage is zero. If
we express the time t1 ( )
UI
arcsin √2U
rms
t1 = .
ω
Following the same procedure we get time t2 when the neon lamp goes out
( )
U
arcsin √ M
2Urms
t2 = ,
ω
where UM is the maintaining voltage. We also put into use a familiar expression ω = 2πf .

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

For both times we get two results. In the case of the time t1 we are interested in the lesser
one and in the case of the time t2 in the bigger one in order to determine whole time when the
neon lamp stays lit. Desired answer is then t = t2 − t1 . Numerically we get
.
t1 = 1.20 ms ,
.
t2 = 9.21 ms ,

and thus
.
t = 8.01 ms .
Finally we round the answer to 8 ms.
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem E.3 . . . shut it down!

A square elevator with mass m = 1000 kg and a side length of a = 3 m is moving in a very long
square shaft of a side length b = 4 m with a speed of v = 2 m·s−1 . Since this is the experimental
physics building the elevator has a point charge q = 1 C embedded in the middle of its floor. The
most problematic lab just created a strong homogenous electric field with potential difference
between the walls of the shaft U = 1000 V. The electric field is perpendicular to the motion of
the elevator and also perpendicular to the walls of the shaft. The suspension of the elevator is
so long that you can assumme that it moves along a straight line. What is the maximal time
for which the electric field can last so the elevator still does not hit the wall of the shaft during
the field’s action?
f(Aleš) had an afternoon filled with thoughts about elevators and electricity kept meddling into it.
The elevator is subject to the electric force Fe = qE with electric intensity given by E = U/b.
The acceleration in the perpendicular direction is
qU
a= .
mb
The elevator cannot move in the perpendicular direction further than s = (b − a)/2 which will
take time v (
u b − a)
√ u2 √
2s t 2
mb (b − a) mb
t= = = .
a qU qU
√
Numerically, we get t = 4 s = 2 s.
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem E.4 . . . anullator

Consider two long parallel conductors {a}{a} metres apart, where {a} denotes the numerical
value of a physical quantity a, so a = {a}[a], where we write [a] for the unit of a. Both conductors
are placed in vacuum and the currents through them flow in the directions opposite to one
another. Assume that a current of I1 = 1 A flows through the conductor nr. 1. Find the current

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

flowing through the conductor nr. 2 given that the magnetic field is zero at a perpendicular
distance of {b}{b} from the conductor nr. 1 (that one which is further from the conductor nr.
2). Further assume that the distance a is 30 277 604 100 m longer than one astronomical unit,
that the light travels through the distance b in 10 minutes and that the astronomical unit is
precisely 149 597 870 700 m. f(Aleš) wrote a sweet dot.
The magnitude of a magnetic field B at a distance of r from a conductor can be written as
µ I
B= .
2π r
We need to have B1 + B2 = 0, so
( )
µ I1 I2
− = 0,
2π r1 r2
whence  
 r2 
|I2 | = I1 .
r1
{a}
Now, let us remember that r2 = {a} m + {b} m and r1 = {b}{b} m. Further, the speed of
{b}
−1
light is precisely 299 792 458 m·s .
Being realistic, you cannot really do power of those huge numbers, so let us rather notice
that both the same, hence
k+k
I2 = 1 A · = 2A.
k

Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem X.1 . . . in the subway

There are two escalators, one is leading out of the subway station, the other one into it. They
move in the opposite dirrections with velocities 0.5 c, where c is speed of light in vacuum. Bob
is in a hurry to get to the platform and he’s running with velocity 0.6 c with respect to the
escalator. Bobek, on the other hand, is trying to get out of the subway with velocity 0.4 c,
related to escalator. We are the observers standing on the platform. What is the velocity of
their mutual movement according to our measurement?
Dominika took a subway for the first time in her life.
The velocities are high enough so we have to think in relativistic terms (since we don’t want to
violate the laws of physics by moving faster than light). We use a following formula
u + vi
.
1 + uvi /c2
u is the velocity of the escalator while vi is velocity of Bob (Bobek) with respect to the escalator.
We obtain two velocities
.
vBob = 0.85 c ,
.
vBobek = 0.75 c .

Adding these two will give us velocity we are looking for

u + v1 u + v2 .
v = |vBob + vBobek | = + = 1.596 c .
1 + uv1 /c2 1 + uv2 /c2
Rounding this number we get 1.60 c.
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem X.2 . . . crash

A proton with invariant mass of 938 272.0 keV and kinetic enegry of 1 MeV hits a nucleus of the
isotope 73 Li with mass of 7.016003 mu and induces a decay to two non-excited α particles with
invariant mass of 3.727379 GeV · c−2 . What will be the total kinetic energy in MeV of these two
particles? Consider mu = 931.2720 MeV · c−2 and c = 299 792 458 m·s−1 .
Even f(Aleš) used to play marbles.
We use the energy conservation law which states that

T = Tp + (mLi + mp − 2mα ) c2 ,

where T is the wanted kinetic energy, Tp is the kinetic energy of the proton, mLi is the mass of
the lithium nucleus, mp is the proton mass and mα is the mass of the α particle.
.
We convert everything to electronvolts and after evaluating the equation we get T = 18 MeV.
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

Problem X.3 . . . blip

A particle has a mass increased sevenfold from its invariant mass due to its movement. You
can follow the particle on a path l = 1 m long with a measuring device. How fast must the
device be to register the particle, i. e., what is the shortest time interval it has to distinguish
in order to register the particle? The speed of light is c = 299 792 458 m·s−1 . State the result
in ns. f(Aleš) writing when healthy, writing when sick.
The energy of the particle is
m0 c2
E= √ = nm0 c2 .
v2
1 − c2
From that follows that
1
v2
= n2 ,
1− c2
so that √ ( )
1 c√ 2
v= c2 1 − = n − 1.
n2 n
The particle flies through the distance l in time τ given by
l
τ=
v
l
τ= √ .
c
n
n2 − 1
. .
Evaluation gives v = 3.37021 · 10−9 s which is v = 3.4 ns.
Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

Problem X.4 . . . cracking right now

An unknown sample of rock contains 2 % of thorium, which contains 0.05 % of the 232 90 Th
radionuclide. The weight of the sample is 100 g. What is the activity of this sample if the
half-life of thorium is 1.4 · 1010 years? Assume that nothing else decays except the mentioned
thorium. f(Aleš) recalled the loading of equipment for a camp.
.
Let a = 0.2 %, b = 0.05 % and m = 0.1 kg. The atomic mass of thorium is Ar = 232. The
activity is given by
A(t) = λN (t) ,
where λ is the decay constant defined as λ = ln 2/T and N is the number of decaying nuclei.
These are the nuclei of the radioactive thorium 232
90 Th, whose number can be find from the ratio
of the weight of the radionuclide in the sample to the mass of one atom of 232
90 Th.

abm
N= ,
Ar mu
where Ar is the atomic mass of thorium and mu is the atomic mass unit, explicitly
0.020.05 · 10−2 · 0.1 .
N= = 2.60 · 1018 .
232 · 1.66 · 10−27

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

If we consider that a year has 3.16 · 10 s, we get

7

ln 2 0.02 · 5 · 10−4 · 0.1 .

A= · = 4.07 Bq
1.4 · 1010· 3.16 · 10 s 232 · 1.66 · 10−27
7

So the activity is about 4.1 Bq.

Aleš Flandera
[email protected]

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Online Physics Brawl December 6, 2012

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