PHYS 101 Final Exam

1. A flat railroad car of mass 𝑀 = 2000 kg and length 𝐿 = 10 m is at rest on horizontal frictionless rails. A
motorbike rider, who is initially at rest with respect to the car at one end, starts accelerating towards the other end
with constant acceleration 𝑎 = 5 m⁄s 2 with respect to the car. The combined mass of the motorbike plus the
rider is 𝑚 = 200 kg. Treat the motorbike and the rider as a point object.

(a) (13 Pts.) What will be the velocity of the rider

with respect to the ground when the rider jumps off 𝐿
the car after covering the distance 𝐿? 𝑚
𝑀 ሬԦ
𝒂
(b) (12 Pts.) What distance will the car move until
the rider jumps off?

Solution:

(a) Starting from rest, the speed of the rider with respect to the car when a distance L is covered is
2
𝑣rc = 2𝑎𝐿 → 𝑣rc = √2𝑎𝐿 = √2(5 m⁄s 2 )(10 m) = 10 m⁄s.

Since the momentum of the system is conserved, as the rider accelerates towards the other end, the car will
accelerate in the opposite direction. Hence, if 𝑉𝑐𝑒 is the speed of the car with respect to the earth, and 𝑣re is the
speed of the rider with respect to the earth, we have

𝑚𝑣rc (200 kg)(10 m⁄s) 10

𝑚(𝑣rc − 𝑉𝑐𝑒 ) = 𝑀𝑉𝑐𝑒 → 𝑉𝑐𝑒 = = = m⁄s ≈ 0.91 m⁄s .
𝑚+𝑀 2200 kg 11

The speed of the rider with respect to the ground at this moment will be

𝑣re = 𝑣rc − 𝑉𝑐𝑒 = (10 m⁄s) − (0.91 m⁄s) ≈ 9.1 m⁄s .

(b) Time taken for the rider to reach the other end of the car is

1 2𝐿 2(10 m)
𝐿 = 𝑎𝑡 2 → 𝑡 = √ = √ =2s.
2 𝑎 5 m⁄s 2

During this time, the car will accelerate to the right with acceleration

𝑚𝑎rc (200 kg)(5 m⁄s 2 ) 10

𝐴𝑐𝑒 = = = m⁄s 2 ≈ 0.45 m⁄s 2 .
𝑚+𝑀 2200 kg 11

Hence, the distance covered by the car will be

1 1
𝑑 = 𝐴𝑐𝑒 𝑡 2 = (0.45 m⁄s 2 )(2 s)2 ≈ 0.9 m .
2 2
2. Two blocks, one with mass 𝑚 and the other with mass 3𝑚, are connected by a spring with stiffness constant 𝑘,
and are at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. As illustrated in the figure, a third block of mass 2𝑚 moving
with speed 𝑣0 collides with the block of mass 𝑚 and sticks to it instantly.

(a) (5 Pts.) Find the velocity of the center of mass of the

system after the collision. 2𝑚 𝑚 3𝑚
ሬԦ0
𝒗 𝑘
(b) (10 Pts.) Find the maximum compression of the spring
during the subsequent motion after the collison.

(c) (10 Pts.) Find the period of the oscillation around the center of mass.

Solution:

(a) The total momentum of the system is conserved during the collision. This means
1
𝑝𝑖 = 𝑝𝑓 → 2𝑚𝑣0 = 6𝑚𝑉𝐶𝑀 → 𝑉𝐶𝑀 = 𝑣0 .
3

(b) Immediately after the collison velocity of the two blocks that got stuck can be found using conservation of
momentum as
2
𝑝𝑖 = 𝑝𝑓 → 2𝑚𝑣0 = 3𝑚𝑣′ → 𝑣′ = 𝑣0 .
3
So, total energy immediately after the collison (before the spring is compressed)
2
1 1 2 2
𝐸𝑎 = (3𝑚)𝑣′2 = (3𝑚) ( 𝑣0 ) = 𝑚𝑣02 ,
2 2 3 3
and this will be constant throughout the motion. We can separate this into two parts as kinetic energy of the center
of mass after the collison, and total energy of the motion with respect to the center of mass. At maximum
compression of the spring (𝑥max ), all of the energy relative to the center of mass will be the potential energy
stored in the spring. Therefore, we can write

2
1 2
1 2 2 2
1 1 1 2 2𝑚
𝐸𝑎 = (6𝑚)𝑉𝐶𝑀 + 𝑘𝑥max → 𝑚𝑣0 = (6𝑚) ( 𝑣0 ) + 𝑘𝑥max → 𝑥max = √ 𝑣 .
2 2 3 2 3 2 3𝑘 0

(c) Because of symmetry, center of mass of the system is in the middle, and the two blocks oscillate
symmetrically with respect to the center of mass. Therefore if we denote the magnitude of the displacement of the
blocks from equilibrium position by 𝑥, the amount the spring is displaced from its equilibrium will be 2𝑥, and
hence, the retarding force on one of the blocks will be 𝐹ret = −2𝑘𝑥. Newton’s second law is written as

𝑑2 𝑥 𝑑2 𝑥 2𝑘
3𝑚 = −2𝑘𝑥 → + ( )𝑥 = 0 .
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 2 3𝑚
Hence, we identify

2𝑘 3𝑚
𝜔=√ → 𝑇 = 2𝜋√ .
3𝑚 2𝑘
3. (25 Pts.) Consider a satellite in an elliptical orbit around the earth
whose closest and farthest distances to the center of the earth are 𝑟𝑝 ሬԦ𝑎
𝒗
(perihelion) and 𝑟𝑎 (aphelion), respectively. Using the fact that a
satellite moving along the elliptical orbit has to satisfy two
conservation laws, find the speeds 𝑣𝑝 and 𝑣𝑎 of the satellite at the
closest and farthest points in terms of the mass of the earth 𝑀𝑒 , 𝑟𝑝 , 𝑟𝑎
and the gravitational constant 𝐺.

Solution: ሬԦ𝑝
𝒗
A satellite moving along the elliptical orbit has to satisfy two conservation laws, namely, total energy and
angular momentum. Total energy of the satellite is conserved because the gravitational force is conservative, and
the angular momentum of the satellite is conserved because the gravitational force is in the radial direction, hence
resulting in zero net torque. This means the total energy and the angular momentum of the satellite at perigee and
apogee must be equal.
1 𝑀𝑒 𝑚 1 𝑀𝑒 𝑚
𝐸𝑝 = 𝐸𝑎 → 𝑚𝑣𝑝2 − 𝐺 = 𝑚𝑣𝑎2 − 𝐺 ,
2 𝑟𝑝 2 𝑟𝑎

meaning that

1 1
𝑣𝑝2 − 𝑣𝑎2 = 2𝐺𝑀𝑒 ( − ).
𝑟𝑝 𝑟𝑎

𝑟𝑎
𝐿𝑝 = 𝐿𝑎 → 𝑚𝑟𝑝 𝑣𝑝 = 𝑚𝑟𝑎 𝑣𝑎 → 𝑣𝑝 = 𝑣 .
𝑟𝑝 𝑎

Using this result, we get

𝑟𝑎2 2
1 1 2
𝑟𝑎 − 𝑟𝑝 𝑟𝑝2 2𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑟𝑝
( 2 − 1) 𝑣𝑎 = 2𝐺𝑀𝑒 ( − ) → 𝑣𝑎 = 2𝐺𝑀𝑒 ( )( 2 ) = .
𝑟𝑝 𝑟𝑝 𝑟𝑎 𝑟𝑎 𝑟𝑝 𝑟𝑎 − 𝑟𝑝2 𝑟𝑎 (𝑟𝑎 + 𝑟𝑝 )

So,

2𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑟𝑝
𝑣𝑎 = √ .
𝑟𝑎 (𝑟𝑎 + 𝑟𝑝 )

Similarly,

2𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑟𝑎
𝑣𝑝 = √ .
𝑟𝑝 (𝑟𝑎 + 𝑟𝑝 )
4. (25 Pts.) A toy is built by connecting the
symmetry axes of a sphere and a cylinder with
two wires as shown in the figure. Both objects 𝐼1
rotate around their axes without friction. The
radius of the sphere and the cylinder are equal
𝐼2
to 𝑅, and the height of the cylinder is 2𝑅. They
have the same mass 𝑀 so that the moments of θ
2⁄ 2⁄
inertia are 𝐼1 = 𝑀𝑅 2 and 𝐼2 = 2𝑀𝑅 5.
This toy car rolls down an inclined plane
making an angle θ with the horizontal, and the gravitational acceleration is g. If the toy is moving so that both the
cylinder and the sphere are rolling without slipping:

(a) (13 Pts.) What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the system?

(b) (12 Pts.) What is the tension in one of the wires connecting the sphere to the cylinder?

Solution: ሬԦ1
𝒏
𝑦 𝐼1
Free body diagrams for the two objects are as shown. ሬԦ2
𝒏 ሬԦ
𝑻
ሬԦ
𝑻
Because they are connected, both objects have the same ሬԦ
𝒇1
𝑥
ሬԦ down the inclined plane. Also, since their
acceleration 𝒂 𝐼2
radii are equal, angular accelerations are equal. Rolling ሬԦ
𝒇2 ሬሬԦ
𝑀𝒈
condition is 𝛼 = 𝑎⁄𝑅. ሬԦ
𝒂
ሬሬԦ
𝑀𝒈
𝑛1 = 𝑛2 = 𝑀𝑔 cos 𝜃 , 𝜃
𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑓2 − 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 , 𝑅𝑓2 = 𝐼2 𝛼

𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑓1 + 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 , 𝑅𝑓1 = 𝐼1 𝛼

𝑎 2 𝑎 2
𝑅𝑓2 = 𝐼2 𝛼 → 𝑅𝑓2 = 𝐼2 → 𝑓2 = 𝑀𝑅 2 2 → 𝑓2 = 𝑀𝑎
𝑅 5 𝑅 5
𝑎 1 𝑎 1
𝑅𝑓1 = 𝐼1 𝛼 → 𝑅𝑓1 = 𝐼1 → 𝑓1 = 𝑀𝑅 2 2 → 𝑓1 = 𝑀𝑎
𝑅 2 𝑅 2

2 7
𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑓2 − 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 → 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 + 𝑀𝑎 → 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎
5 5
1 3
𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑓1 + 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 → 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 + 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 + 𝑀𝑎 → 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 + 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎
2 2

Solving two final equations for the two unknowns 𝑎 and 𝑇, we obtain

7 3 29 20
2𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 = 𝑀𝑎 + 𝑀𝑎 → 2𝑔 sin 𝜃 = 𝑎 → 𝑎= 𝑔 sin 𝜃 .
5 2 10 29
3 3 20 1
𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 + 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 → 𝑇 = 𝑀 𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 → 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 .
2 2 29 29

Since this tension force is divided equally into two wires, the answer is half the above result.
1 1
𝑇1 = 𝑇2 = 𝑇 = 𝑀𝑔 sin 𝜃 .
2 58