Answers to exam-style questions

Topic 6
Where appropriate, 1 ✓ = 1 mark

  1 A
  2 C
  3 B
  4 C
  5 C
  6 B
  7 D
  8 D
  9 C
10 A
11 a Velocity arrow. ✓
Acceleration arrow. ✓
velocity

acceleration

2π
b The angular speed is ω = = 4.488 ≈ 4.5 rad s −1. ✓
1.40
The linear speed is v = ω r = 4.488 × 0.22 = 0.987 ≈ 0.99 m s −1. ✓
c At maximum distance the frictional force will be the largest possible, i.e. f max = µs N = µsmg( = 0.434 N) . ✓
v2 ω 2r 2 µg
µsmg = m = m , hence r = s 2 ✓
r r ω
0.82 × 9.8
r= = 0.399 ≈ 0.40 m ✓
4.488 2
µg µs g
d i Using r = s 2 we find ω = ✓
ω r
0.82 × 9.8
ω= = 6.0 rad s −1 ✓
0.22
ii The static frictional force can no longer supply the larger centripetal force required. ✓
The body will then slide and the static frictional force is now replaced by the even smaller sliding frictional
force; hence the disc will slide off the rotating platform. ✓

physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 6 1
 1
12 a From energy conservation: mv 2 = mgL so v = 2 gL , ✓
2
v = 2 × 9.8 × 2.0 = 6.26 ≈ 6.3 m s −1. ✓

v 2 6.26 2
b a = = = 19.6 ≈ 20 m s −2. ✓
L 2.0
c Weight vertically downwards. ✓
Larger arrow for tension upwards. ✓
d i A particle is in equilibrium if it moves with constant velocity. ✓
This particle moves on a circle and so cannot be in equilibrium. ✓
mv 2
ii T − mg = ✓
L
mv 2 5.0 × 6.26 2
T = + mg = + 5.0 × 9.8 = 147 ≈ 150 N ✓
L 2.0
mv 2 m × 2 gL
(or better: T = + mg = + mg = 3mg = 3 × 5.0 × 9.8 = 147 ≈ 150 N)
L L
13 a Correct arrows for tension. ✓
Correct arrow for weight. ✓

tension

mg

b A particle is in equilibrium if it moves with constant velocity. ✓
This particle moves on a circle and so cannot be in equilibrium. ✓
mg
c i The vertical component of the tension equals the weight and so T cos θ = mg , i.e. T = .✓
cos θ
v2 v2
The horizontal component of the tension is T sin θ and T sin θ = m =m ✓
r L sin θ
gL sin 2 θ
Combining gives the answer v = .
cos θ
ii The angular and linear speeds are related by v = ω r = ω L sin θ . ✓
gL sin 2 θ
So ω = cos θ . ✓
L sin θ
g
Which is the answer ω = .
L cos θ
9.8 × 0.45 × sin 2 60°
d i v = = 2.57 ≈ 2.6 m s −1 ✓
cos 60°
9.8
ii θ = = 6.5997 ≈ 6.6 rad s −1 ✓
0.45 × cos 60°
e i The air resistance force will reduce the speed of the ball. ✓
sin 2 θ
ii A graph of shows that because the speed decreases, the angle will also decrease. ✓
cos θ

2 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 6 physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015
 iii The cosine of the angle will increase and hence the angular speed will decrease. ✓
(Note: These questions are best answered by considering the total energy of the ball:
1 2 1 gL sin 2 θ 1  sin 2 θ + 2 cos θ − 2 cos 2 θ 
E= mv + mgh = m + mgL (1 − cos θ ) = mgL  
2 2 cos θ 2  cos θ

The air resistance will reduce the total energy; graphing the total energy as a function of angle θ shows that
for the energy to decrease the angle must decrease.)
14 a Measuring distances from the top of the sphere and using energy conservation shows that:
1
0 = mv 2 − mgh where h is the vertical distance the marble falls. ✓
2
From trigonometry: h = R(1 − cos θ ). ✓ (see diagram that follows in b)
1
And so 0 = mv 2 − mgR(1 − cos θ ). ✓
2
Manipulating gives v = 2 gR(1 − cos θ ).
b The forces on the marble are the weight mg and the normal reaction force N:

R N

Rcos θ

θ
mg

mv 2
Taking components of the weight gives mg cos θ − N = .✓
R
mv 2
Hence N = mg cos θ − .✓
R
Substituting the expression for the speed from above gives N = mg cos θ − 2mgR(1 − cos θ ) . ✓
And the result N = mg(3cos θ − 2) follows.
2
c The marble will lose contact when N → 0 , i.e. when cos θ = or θ ≈ 48°. ✓
3
15 a Calling this distance x we have that:
G16M GM
2 = 2
✓
x ( d − x )
2 2
16(d − x ) = x or 4(d − x ) = ± x ✓
4d
Only the plus sign gives a positive distance and so x = .✓
5
b Correct sign. ✓
Correct intersection. ✓
(The negative of this graph is also acceptable)

physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 6 3
 g

x/d
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

c i The force is zero. ✓
ii The force from the larger mass will be larger because the particle will be closer to it. ✓
Hence the net force will be directed towards the large mass. ✓
d It will move to the left. ✓
With increasing speed and increasing acceleration. ✓
16 a i Velocity arrow. ✓
Acceleration arrow. ✓

velocity

acceleration

ii Acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity vector. ✓
Here the velocity vector is changing because its direction is so we have acceleration. ✓
GMm v2 GM
b The force on the satellite is 2 =m i.e. = v 2. ✓
r r r
Using v = ω r , ✓
GM
gives = ω 2r 2. ✓
r
From which the result ω 2r 3 = GM follows.
c i Since r decreases, from ω 2r 3 = GM the angular speed will increase. ✓
GM
ii From = v 2 , as r decrease v increases. ✓
r
ω 2r 3
d i Using ω 2r 3 = GM we find M = ✓
G
(5.31 × 10 −5 )2 × (2.38 × 108 )3
And so M = −11 = 5.70 × 10 26 kg . ✓
6.67 × 10
ii Again using ω 2r 3 = GM we find ω T2rT3 = ω E2rE3 . ✓
3
rE3 −5  2.38 × 108  −6 −1
Hence ω T = ω E = 5.31 × 10 ×  1.22 × 109  = 4.58 × 10 rad s ✓
rT3
2π 2π 6 1.37 × 106
Hence T = = = 1.37 × 10 s = d = 15.856 ≈ 15.9 d ✓
ω T 4.58 × 10 −6 24 × 3600

4 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 6 physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015