National University of Science & Technology

DEPARTMENT of APPLIED PHYSICS & RADIOGRAPHY

SPH 1101 – MECHANICS AND RELATIVITY

B.Sc. HONOURS PART I: DECEMBER 2011 DURATION: 3 HOURS

ANSWER ALL PARTS OF QUESTION 1 IN SECTION A AND ANY THREE

FROM SECTION B. SECTION A CARRIES 40 MARKS AND SECTION B
CARRIES 60 MARKS.

Physical Constants Where necessary, assume the following:

Symbol Name of Symbol Value

G Newton’s universal constant of gravitation 6.67 × 10−11 kg−1 m3 s−2

c Speed of light in vacuum 3.00 × 108 ms−1
g Gravitational field strength on the Earth’s surface 9.80 ms−2

SECTION A (40 MARKS)

Question 1
(a) (i) State Newton’s three laws of motion. [3]
(ii) Demonstrate the fact that Newton’s first law of motion is a consequence of
the second law. [2]
(iii) Define an inertial reference system. [2]
(b) (i) State Newton’s law of universal gravitation. [2]
(ii) Explain why the constant G in Newton’s law of gravitation is termed the
“universal constant of gravitation”? [2]
(c) (i) State Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion. [3]
(ii) Using Newton’s law of gravitation and Kepler’s law of periods, show that
the period of revolution (T ) for a test body orbiting at a radial distance r
around a massive object of mass M is:
( )
2 4π 2
T = r3 .
GM
[4]

1
 (iii) What is the mass M of a planet that has a satellite of mass m = 2.40 ×
1022 kg which describes a nearly circular orbit of radius 3.50 × 108 m with
period 2.40 × 106 s around the planet? [3]

(d) (i) State the law of conversation of energy and momentum for a one dimensional
elastic collision of two particles of mass m1 and m2 . [4]
(ii) If u1 , u2 , v1 , and v2 are the initial and final velocities of the particles
mentioned above respectively, show that:
( ) ( ) ( )
m1 − m2 2m1 m1 − m2
v1 = u1 and v2 = u1 + u2 .
m1 + m2 m1 + m2 m1 + m2

[6]

(e) (i) State the two Postulates of Special Relativity. [2]

(ii) Write down the Lorentz transformations and explain all the symbols that
you have used. [4]
(iii) In relativity, what do you understand by the term “proper time interval ”
or “proper length”? [3]

SECTION B (60 MARKS)

Question 2

On the surface of the Earth, along the usual x and y-axis, a projectile is launched at
the origin (0, 0) at an angle θ with a speed V . This projectile flies until it comes back
to Earth and falls on the same horizontal plane along y = 0.

(a) Show that the path of the projectile is described by the equation:
( )
1 g
y = x tan θ − 2 2
x2
2 V cos θ
[10]

(b) What is the maximum height achieved by the projectile? [5]

(c) Show that the range R of the projectile is:

V 2 sin 2θ
R= .
g

[5]

2
Question 3

(a) Write down Bernoulli’s equation for a non-viscous fluid in a steady state flow.
Define clearly all the terms that you have used. [3]

(b) An important application of the Bernoulli’s equation is in aviation. With the aid
of a well labelled cross-sectional diagram of an aeroplane’s wing, use Bernoulli’s
equation to demonstrate how flight by aeroplanes is achieved. [5]

(c) (i) State Archimedes’s principle. [2]

(ii) Using Archimedes’s principle, prove that in order for an object of density
ϱobj to float in a fluid of density ϱ0 , we must have:

ϱobj < ϱ0 .

[10]

Question 4

(a) A wooden block of mass m slides down a plane which is inclined at and angle θ
with the horizontal. If the co-efficient of kinetic friction between the block and
the plane is µ, derive an expression for the mechanical energy being done on
the block per unit length of path. [10]

(b) A 20 kg block is pushed up a wooden plank which is inclined at an angle of 25o

to the horizontal. If the velocity given to the block at the bottom of the plank
is 8.00 ms−1 and the co-efficient of kinetic friction between the block and the
plank is 0.20, how far up the plank will the block travel? [6]

(c) In (b) above, how much mechanical energy is lost by the block when it has
travelled this distance. [4]

Question 5

(a) Write down Newton’s law applicable in the interior of massive gravitating bod-
ies. [3]

(b) Assuming that the density of the Earth is constant, and that, we where to drill
a straight tunnel from the north to the south pole of the Earth that passes
through the centre of the Earth, show that any mass dropped radially into the
tunnel from either of the poles, it would execute simple harmonic motion with
a period T given by:
( )1/2
3
R⊕
T = 2π ,
GM⊕

where R⊕ and M⊕ are the radius and mass of the Earth. [14]

3
 (c) Given the mass and radius of the Earth to be M⊕ = 5.92 × 1024 kg and M⊕ =
6.40 × 103 km respectively, and that a tunnel such as the one described in (b)
were to be realised for planet Earth for use in delivering parcels from the north
to the south pole and vice-versa. How long will this delivery take? [3]

Question 6

Alpha-Centauri is a nearby star in our Galaxy. As measured by an Earth bound

observer, it is 4.30 light-years away. A cylindrical rocket leaves for Alpha-Centauri at
a constant relativistic speed of 0.97c relative to the Earth. Assuming that the Earth
and Alpha-Centauri are stationary with respect to one another, answer the following
questions:

(a) In units of km, what is the distance to Alpha-Centauri as measured by Earth

observers? [2]

(b) The distance calculated in (a) above, is it the “proper distance” or the “rela-
tivistic distance”? Justify. [3]

(c) According to the astronauts, how much did they age (in years) during their
journey. [5]

(d) According to the astronauts, how far (in km) did they travel? [5]

(e) Using a meter stick, one of the astronauts measures the length and diameter of
the cylindrical spacecraft to be 100 and 20 m, respectively. Assuming that the
spacecraft is oriented with its long cylindrical axis in the direction of motion,
what are the dimensions of the spacecraft, as measured by an observer on earth?
Explain your answer. [5]

THE END.
(: GOOD LUCK :)