PEP 2020 Phase 2 Selection Test 6

Date: 27 February 2021

Time: 09:00 – 12:00
Full Mark: 90
Speed of light 𝑐 3 × 10! m/s
Planck constant ℎ 6.63 × 10"#$ J/s
Vacuum Permittivity 𝜖% 8.85 × 10"&' F/m
Electron charge 𝑒 −1.6 × 10"&( C
Electron mass 𝑚) 9.1 × 10"#& kg
Gravitational constant 𝐺 6.674 × 10"&& m# ⋅ kg "& ⋅ s "'
Gas constant 𝑅 8.31 mol-1 ⋅K -1
Gravitational acceleration 𝑔 9.81 𝑚 ⋅ 𝑠 "'
Physics Olympiad: Final Round 06.06.20

1. (30 points) Doppler spectroscopy

Problem 3.1: Doppler spectroscopy We consider that the exoplanet moves on a ci
(16 points) of radius r, seen under an angle ◊ from the Ea
Half of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to the Swiss astrophysicists Michel Mayor and Didier
Half of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics was around the center of mass that it shares with
Queloz for the first discovery, in 1995, of an exoplanet (orbiting around a star in the main sequence).
awarded to the Swiss astrophysicists Michel Mayor star. We take M for the mass of the star and
and Didier Queloz for the first discovery, in 1995, for the mass of the planet.
of an exoplanet (orbiting around a star in the main
The method used is called Doppler spectroscopy, or radial velocity method, and consists of observing the
sequence). i. (5 pt.) Determine the period T of the osc
star’s movements caused by its satellite planet. By observing fluctuations in the spectrum of the star, the
The method used is called Doppler spectroscopy, tion of the star’s spectrum according to the gi
Doppler effect allows us to deduce the fluctuations in the star’s velocity along the observation axis.
or radial velocity method, and consists of observ-parameters.
ing the star’s movements caused by its satellite
planet. By observing fluctuations in the spectrum ii.frec(3 pt.) Determine the maximum rela
We consider that the exoplanet moves on a circle of radius 𝑟, seen under an angle 𝜃 from the Earth, around
variation in the oscillation of the star’s sp
the center of mass that it shares with the star. We take 𝑀 for the mass of the star and 𝑚 for the mass of the
of the star, the Doppler effect allows us to deduce fem
planet. the fluctuations in the star’s velocity along the ob- trum as a function of the given parameters.
servation axis.
iii. (4 pt.) Discuss the practicality of
Earth method depending on the possible values of
parameters.

iv. (4 pt.) In the case of 51 Pegasi b, the fi

planet discovered, the T period is approxima
four days and ffem rec
¥ 3.74 ◊ 10≠7 . The mas
r
its star has been estimated at M ¥ 2.23 ◊ 1030
What can we say about the mass of the pla
which is assumed to be much smaller than
◊
mass of the star?

i. (10 pt.) Determine the period 𝑇 of the oscillation of the star’s spectrum. Express the answer in terms of
𝑀, 𝑚, 𝑟, 𝜃 and other physical constants.

% %
ii. (8 pt.) Let 𝑓!" be the frequency of the light emitted by the star (in its rest frame) and 𝑓"#$ , 𝑓"&' be
maximum and minimum frequency of the light emitted by the star measured by the Earth. Determine the
!
() ! !
)#$% *)#&'
relative variation ) ≡ )"#
in the oscillation of the star’s spectrum. Express the answer in terms of
"#
𝑀, 𝑚, 𝑟, 𝜃 and other physical constants.

iii. (4 pt.) Discuss the practicality of this method depending on the possible values of the parameters.
iv. (8 pt.) In the case of 51 Pegasi b, the first planet discovered, the 𝑇 period is approximately 4 Earth days
() !
and ≈ 3.74 × 10*, . The mass of its star has been estimated at 𝑀 ≈ 2.23 × 1030 kg. Estimate the lower
)"#
bound of the mass of the planet, which is assumed to be much smaller than the mass of the star.

Solution:

(i) The gravitational force 𝐹, on the planet is equal to the centripetal force acting on the planet.

𝐺𝑀𝑚 '
𝐺𝑀
= 𝑚𝜔 𝑟 ⇒ 𝜔 = H
(𝑅 + 𝑟)' (𝑟 + 𝑅)' 𝑟

where 𝜔 is the angular velocity with which the planet orbits around the center of mass. The period of
'-
the planet is related to the angular velocity by 𝑇 = . :

(𝑟 + 𝑅)' 𝑟
𝑇 = 2𝜋H
𝐺𝑀

To eliminate 𝑅, notice that 𝑀𝑅 = 𝑚𝑟

𝑟# 𝑚
⇒ 𝑇 = 2𝜋H N1 + O
𝐺𝑀 𝑀

'-/
ii. The orbital speed of the star is 𝑉 = 0
,

𝐺𝑀 𝑀 𝐺𝑀 𝑚
𝑉 = 𝑅H #
Q R=H N O
𝑟 𝑀+𝑚 𝑟 𝑀+𝑚

The extrema of the velocity projected onto the line of sight from the point of the earth are 𝑉)1 =
±𝑉 cos 𝜃.

The Doppler effect of a static receiver is

𝑐 + 𝑉)1
𝑓2 = H 𝑓
𝑐 − 𝑉)1 )1

𝐺𝑀 𝑚
Δ𝑓 2 𝑐 + |𝑉)1 | 𝑐 − |𝑉)1 | 2𝑉)1 2Z 𝑟 N𝑚 + 𝑀O cos 𝜃
⇒ =H −H = =
𝑓)1 𝑐 − |𝑉)1 | 𝑐 + |𝑉)1 | Y𝑐 ' − 𝑉)1
' '
Z𝑐 ' − 𝐺𝑀 N 𝑚 O cos ' 𝜃
𝑟 𝑚+𝑀

If 𝑀 ≫ 𝑚,

Δ𝑓 2 2𝑚 𝐺
= H cos 𝜃
𝑓)1 𝑐 𝑟𝑀
 34 !
(iii) For an observable 4 ,
"#

1
- 5 should be large

- 𝑟 should be small

- 𝜃 → 0∘

So, this method performs better for massive planets close to their star (so-called “hot-Jupiters”) with a
small enough inclination 𝜃.

34 !
(iv) Since 𝑚 ≪ 𝑀, the ratio 4 ≪ 1 and
"#

Δ𝑓 2 𝑉)1
≈2 ⇒ 𝑉)1 ≈ 56.1 𝑚 ⋅ 𝑠 "&
𝑓)1 𝑐

(it justifies the use of non-relativistic Doppler effect)

Using 𝑉𝑇 = 2𝜋𝑅, 𝑀𝑅 = 𝑚𝑟 and 𝑚 ≪ 𝑀, we find

𝐺𝑚 𝑚 𝐺𝑚 𝑚
𝑉 = H2𝜋 ≈ H2𝜋
𝑉𝑇 𝑚 + 𝑀 𝑉𝑇 𝑀

#
𝐺 𝑚'
⇒ 𝑉 #/' = H2𝜋 _ `
𝑇 𝑀

& &
𝑉)1 ' 𝑇 # ' 𝑇 #
⇒𝑚= 𝑀# Q R ≥ 𝑉)1 𝑀# Q R ≈ 8.97 × 10'8 𝑘𝑔
cos 𝜃 2𝜋𝐺 2𝜋𝐺

2. (30 points) Detection of alpha particles

We are constantly being exposed to radiation, either natural or artificial. With the advance of nuclear
power reactors and utilization of radioisotopes in agriculture, industry, biology and medicine, the number
of artificial radioactive sources is also increasing every year. One type of the radiation emitted by
radioactive materials is alpha 𝛼 particles (doubly ionized helium atom having two units of positive charge
and four units of nuclear mass).

The detection of 𝛼 particles by electrical means is based on their ability to produce ionization when
passing through gas and other substance. For 𝛼 particle in air at normal (atmospheric) pressure, there is an
empirical relation between the mean range 𝑅9 and its energy 𝐸,

𝑅9 = 0.318 𝐸 #/' [1]

where 𝑅9 is measured in cm and 𝐸 in MeV.

detector that operates on the principle of separation of positive and negative charges
created during the ionization of gas atoms by the α particle. The collection of charges
yields aForpulse that 𝛼can
monitoring be detected,
radiation, one can useamplified and
an ionization then which
chamber, recorded. The voltage
is a gas-filled difference
detector that operates
between on the principle of separation of positive and negative charges created during the ionization of gasamount
anode and cathode is kept sufficiently high so that there is a negligible atoms
of recombination of charges during their passage to the anodes.
by the 𝛼 particle. The collection of charges yields a pulse that can be detected, amplified and then
recorded. The voltage difference between anode and cathode is kept sufficiently high so that there is a
negligible amount of recombination of charges during their passage to the anodes.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of ionization chamber circuit

Figure
(a) (6 pt) An 1 : chamber
ionization Schematic diagram
electrometer of ionization
system chamber
with a capacitance circuit.
of 45 pf (1pF = 10"&' F) is used
to detect 𝛼 particles having a range 𝑅9 of 5.50 cm. Assume the energy required to produce an ion-pair
(consisting of a light negative electron and a heavier positive ion, each carrying one electronic charges of
magnitude 𝑒 = 1.60 × 10"&( C ) in air is 35 eV. What will be the magnitude of the voltage produced by
each 𝛼 particle?

(b) (8 pt) The voltage pulses due to the 𝛼 particle of the above problem occur across a resistance 𝑅. The
smallest detectable saturation current (a condition where the current is approximately constant, indicating
3 it is being produced by the incident 𝛼 particle) with
that the charge is collected at the same rate at which
"&'
this instrument is 10 A. Calculate the lowest activity 𝐴 (number of disintegration per second of the
emitter radioisotope) of the 𝛼 source that could be detected by this instrument if the range 𝑅9 is 5.50 cm
assuming a 10% efficiency for the detector.

(c) (4 pt) The above ionization chamber is to be used for pulse counting with a time constant 𝜏 = 10"# s.
Calculate the resistance and also the necessary voltage pulse amplification required to produce 0.25 V
signal.

(d) (12 pt) Ionization chamber has geometry such as cylindrical counter, the central metal wire (anode)
and outer thin metal sheet (cathode) have diameter 𝑑 and 𝐷, respectively. Derive the expression for the
: ;
electric field 𝐸(𝑟) and potential 𝑉(𝑟) at a radial distance 𝑟 ( with ' ≤ 𝑟 ≤ ' ) from the central axis when
the wire carries a charge per unit length 𝜆. Then deduce the capacitance per unit length of the tube. The
breakdown field strength of air 𝐸< is 3 × 108 V m-1 (breakdown field strengths greater than E b ,
maximum electric field in the substance ). If 𝑑 = 1 mm and 𝐷 = 1 cm , calculate the potential
difference between wire and sheet at which breakdown occurs.

Mathematical identity may be useful:

𝑑𝑟
n = ln 𝑟 + 𝐶
𝑟

Solution:
(a) From the given range-energy relation and the data supplied we get
'
𝑅9 #
𝐸=Q R 𝑀𝑒𝑉 = 6.69 𝑀𝑒𝑉
0.318

Since 𝑊=>?"@A=2 = 35 eV, then

6.69 × 108
𝑁=>?"@A=2 = = 1.9 × 10B
35

Size of voltage pulse:

Δ𝑄 𝑁A=2"@A=2 𝑒
Δ𝑉 = = = 0.68 𝑚𝑉
𝐶 𝐶

(b) Electrons from the ions-pairs produced by 𝛼 particles from a radioactive sources of activity 𝐴 ( =
number of 𝛼 particles emitted by the sources per second) which enter the detector with detection
efficiency 0.1, will produce a collected current,

𝑄
𝐼= = 0.1 × 𝐴𝑁=>?"@A=2 𝑒
𝑡

with 𝐼1=? = 10"&' 𝐴, then

𝐴1=? = 330 disintegration/second

(c) The time constant

𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 10"# 𝑠

⇒ 𝑅 = 22.22 × 108 Ω

The necessary gain of the voltage pulse amplifier should be

250
𝐺= = 368
0.68

(d) By symmetry, the electric field is directed radially and depends only on distance from the axis and can
be obtained by the Gauss’ theorem.

We construct a cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius 𝑟 and length 𝑙, the charge contained within the
surface is 𝜆𝑙.

The surface integral gives

𝜆𝑙
n 𝐸𝑑𝑆 = 2𝜋𝑟𝑙𝐸 =
𝜖%
 𝜆
⇒ 𝐸(𝑟) =
2𝜋𝜖% 𝑟

The potential difference between the inner wire and the outer sheet is
;
' 𝜆 𝜆 𝐷
𝑉 = −n 𝑑𝑟 = − ln
: 2𝜋𝜖% 𝑟 2𝜋𝜖% 𝑑
'

The capacitance per unit length is

𝐶 𝑄 1 2𝜋𝜖%
=Q R =
𝑙 𝑉 𝑙 𝐷
ln
𝑑
:
The maximum electric field occurs at minimum 𝑟, i.e. 𝑟 = ' .

𝑑 𝜆
𝐸Q R = = 𝐸<
2 𝜋𝜖% 𝑑

⇒ 𝜆 = 𝜋𝜖% 𝑑𝐸<

The potential difference where the breakdown occurs is

𝜆 𝐷 𝜋𝜖% 𝑑𝐸< 𝐷 1 𝐷
𝑉= ln = ln = 𝑑𝐸< ln = 3454 𝑒𝑉
2𝜋𝜖% 𝑑 2𝜋𝜖% 𝑑 2 𝑑

3. (30 points)
A cylindrical tube of radius 𝑟 with a side wall made of glass of thickness 𝑑 (thermal conductivity 𝑘) is
sealed with a frictionless sliding piston of mass 𝑚. The system is under the influence of gravity. The top
and bottom are perfect thermal insulators. There are 𝑛 moles of an ideal, monatomic gas in the enclosed
volume. A wire of resistance 𝑅C , which is connected to a supply voltage 𝑈, is inside the tube. The
environment is always at room temperature 𝑇/ and under the atmospheric pressure 𝑃AD1 .
 !

Let ℎ∗ be the distance between the bottom and the piston in equilibrium. The goal of this task is to
determine ℎ∗ .

(a) (1 pt) Determine the heat dissipated by the resistor.

(b) (2 pt) Find the expression for the heat flow [J/s] of the system exchanges through the walls with the
environment. Express the answer in terms of 𝑘, 𝑟, ℎ, 𝑑, 𝑇 and 𝑇/ .

(c) (3 pt) Determine the temperature inside the cylinder as a function of the 𝑃AD1 , 𝑚, 𝑟, 𝑛 and ℎ.

(d) (2 pt) What is the equilibrium condition (i.e. all physical quantities constant over time)?

(e) (7 pt) Determine ℎ∗ .

(f) (2 pt) Find the numerical solution for ℎ∗ . Given that 𝑃AD1 = 10B Pa, 𝑇/ = 20∘ 𝐶, 𝑛 = 1.0 mol, 𝑚 =
1.5 kg, 𝑑 = 5.0 mm, 𝑟 = 10 cm, 𝑈 = 10 V, 𝑅C = 1.0 Ω, 𝑘 = 1.0 W⋅K -1 ⋅m-1 .

Let us now assume that the system is in the stationary state. At the time 𝑡 = 0, the experimenter
completely wraps a heat-insulating foil around the cylinder and also ensures that the piston remains at the
height ℎ∗ by exerting the external force on the piston.

(g) (5 pt) The experimenter wants to hold the piston at the height ℎ∗ for 3.0s. What is the maximum value
of the external force needed?

(h) (4 pt) At 𝑡 = 3.0 s the experimenter releases the piston and switches off the power supple at the same
time. What is the (new) equilibrium position (height) will the piston oscillate?

(i) (4 pt) Determine the speed of the piston when passing the equilibrium position.

Solution:
(a)
𝑈'
𝑃F = 𝑈𝐼 =
𝑅C
(b)
 𝑇 − 𝑇/ 𝑇 − 𝑇/
𝐼F = 𝑘𝐴 Q R = 𝑘(2𝜋𝑟ℎ) Q R
𝑑 𝑑
(c)
The pressure inside the container is
𝑚𝑔
𝑃∗ = 𝑃AD1 +
𝜋𝑟 '
Ideal gas law gives
𝑃∗ 𝑉
𝑇=
𝑛𝑅
1 𝑚𝑔
⇒𝑇= N𝑃AD1 + ' O (𝜋𝑟 ' ℎ)
𝑛𝑅 𝜋𝑟
(d) The equilibrium condition is
𝑃F = 𝐼F
'
𝑈 𝑇 − 𝑇/
⇒ = (2𝜋𝑟ℎ𝑘) Q R
𝑅C 𝑑
(e)
𝑈' 𝑇 − 𝑇/ 2𝜋𝑟ℎ∗ 𝑘 1
= (2𝜋𝑟ℎ𝑘) Q R=Q R Q 𝑃∗ (𝜋𝑟 ' ℎ∗ ) − 𝑇/ R
𝑅C 𝑑 𝑑 𝑛𝑅
𝑃∗ 𝜋𝑟 ' ∗ ' 𝑈 '
𝑑
ℎ − 𝑇/ ℎ∗ − =0
𝑛𝑅 𝑅C 2𝜋𝑟𝑘
𝑛𝑅 𝑃∗ 𝜋𝑟 ' 𝑈 ' 𝑑
⇒ ℎ∗ = Q ∗ ' R 𝑇/ _1 + H1 + 4 „ ' …„ …Q R`
2𝑃 𝜋𝑟 𝑛𝑅𝑇/ 𝑅C 2𝜋𝑟𝑘

∗
𝑛𝑅𝑇/ 𝑃∗ 𝑈 ' 𝑟𝑑
⇒ ℎ = Q ∗ ' R _1 + H1 + 2 „ …`
2𝑃 𝜋𝑟 𝑛𝑘𝑅𝑅C 𝑇/'
(f)
ℎ∗ = 77.489 𝑐𝑚

(g) As the position of the piston is fixed, the volume of the gas doesn’t change. The energy absorbed by
the gas at time 𝑡 is
𝑈'
Δ𝑈 = 𝑡 = 𝑛𝐶G 𝑅Δ𝑇
𝑅C
#
where 𝐶G = ' 𝑅 is the molar heat capacity at constant volume.
𝑈'
⇒ Δ𝑇 = 𝑡
𝑛𝐶G 𝑅𝑅C
Next, we consider the ideal gas law,
𝑃∗ 𝑉 ∗ = 𝑛𝑅𝑇 ∗
𝑃& 𝑉 ∗ = 𝑛𝑅𝑇&
𝑛𝑅 𝑛𝑅 𝑈'
⇒ 𝑃& − 𝑃 = ∗ (𝑇& − 𝑇 ∗ ) = ∗ Δ𝑇 = ∗ 𝑡
𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝐶G 𝑅C
The external force needed is
𝜋𝑟 ' 𝑈 '
𝐹 = Δ𝑃𝜋𝑟 ' = ∗ 𝑡
𝑉 𝐶G 𝑅C
The maximum force is at 𝑡 = 3s and the value is,
𝐹 = 258.1 𝑁

(h) As the power supply and the external force are gone, the gas will expand adiabatically until the gas
pressure becomes 𝑃∗ again,
𝑃& 𝑉 ∗ H = 𝑃∗ 𝑉 IH
B
Here 𝛾 = # for monatomic gas.
 &
𝑃& H
⇒ 𝜋𝑟 ' ℎI = Q ∗ R 𝜋𝑟 ' ℎ∗
𝑃
' &/H
I
𝑡𝑈
⇒ ℎ = „1 + ∗ … ℎ∗ = 81.2 𝑐𝑚
𝑉 𝐶G 𝑅C 𝑃∗

(i) The change of height during the expansion is

Δℎ = ℎI − ℎ∗ = 3.742 𝑐𝑚

The find the speed of the piston when it is at ℎ′, we use the energy-work theorem, namely,

Change of mechanical energy of the piston = work done by ideal gas + work done by atomsphere

The change of energy of piston is

1
Δ𝐸' = 𝑚𝑣 ' + 𝑚𝑔Δℎ
2

The work done by the gas during the adiabatically expansion is

3
Δ𝑊JAK = −Δ𝑈 = −𝑛𝐶G 𝑅Δ𝑇 = 𝑅(𝑃∗ 𝑉 I − 𝑃& 𝑉 ∗ ) = −123 J
2
The work done by the atmosphere during the process is
Δ𝑊)? = 𝑃AD1 (𝑉 ∗ − 𝑉 I ) = −𝑃AD1 𝜋𝑟 ' Δℎ

Work-energy theorem gives

1
𝑚𝑣 ' + 𝑚𝑔Δℎ = Δ𝑊JAK + Δ𝑊)? = −123𝐽 − 𝑃AD1 𝜋𝑟 ' Δℎ
2
1
⇒ 𝑚𝑣 ' = −123𝐽 − (𝑚𝑔 + 𝑃AD1 𝜋𝑟 ' )Δℎ
2
⇒ 𝑣 = 2.5 𝑚/𝑠