Physics Enhancement Programme Phase 2

Selection Test 5 (Total 100 points)

29 February 2020
1. (20 points) Work done by gas mixture
There are 𝑛" moles of an ideal gas 𝑋 and 𝑛$ moles of an ideal gas 𝑌 in a cylinder which temperature 𝑇 is
maintained constant. There are two semitransparent pistons inserted in the cylinder.
Only the molecules of gas 𝑋 can pass through the first piston and only the molecules of gas 𝑌 can pass through
the second one. Initially two pistons are in contact and the pure gases 𝑋 and 𝑌 occupy volume 𝑉"( and 𝑉$(
respectively (Fig. (a)). Then the pistons are slowly moved apart until the mixture of gases 𝑋 and 𝑌 occupies the
entire volume 𝑉"$ = 𝑉"( + 𝑉$( (Fig. (c)). What is the net work done by the gases in this process?

!"# !$# !" !"$ !$ !"$ = !"# + !$#

(a) (b) (c)

Solution:
- /0
The gas 𝑋 is uniformly distributed over the volume 𝑉+ = 𝑉" + 𝑉"$ with pressure 𝑃+ = . on the right piston.
12
-4 /0
Similarly, the gas 𝑌 is uniformly distributed over the volume 𝑉3 = 𝑉$ + 𝑉"$ with pressure 𝑃3 = on the left
15
piston.
A small separation of the pistons makes the gases do a work
𝛥𝑉+ 𝛥𝑉3
𝛥𝑊 = 𝑃+ 𝛥𝑉+ + 𝑃3 𝛥𝑉3 = 𝑛" 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑛$ 𝑅𝑇
𝑉+ 𝑉3
The total work done by the gases is given by
𝛥𝑉+ 𝛥𝑉3
𝑊= 𝛥𝑊 = 𝑛" 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑛$ 𝑅𝑇
𝑉+ 𝑉3
1. ;14 1. ;14
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑉
⇒ 𝑊 = 𝑛" 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑛$ 𝑅𝑇
1.< 𝑉 14< 𝑉
𝑉"( + 𝑉$( 𝑉"( + 𝑉$(
⇒ 𝑊 = 𝑛" 𝑅𝑇 ln + 𝑛$ 𝑅𝑇 ln
𝑉"( 𝑉$(

2. (20 points) A 𝜋 meson (rest mass 𝑚A ) with a momentum of 5𝑚A 𝑐 makes an elastic collision with a proton
(rest mass 𝑚D = 7𝑚A ) which is initially at rest in the laboratory frame.
!

! "

"

Now, we consider a moving frame 𝑆 G which is moving with velocity 𝑢 relative to the lab frame. The velocity 𝑢
is given by
 𝑝A + 𝑝D 3
𝑢= 𝑐
𝐸A + 𝐸D
where 𝑝A , 𝑝D are momentum of the 𝜋 meson and the proton measured in the lab frame, 𝐸A , 𝐸D are the
corresponding energy (sum of the rest mass energy and the kinetic energy) and 𝑐 is the speed of light.

(a) Find 𝑢.
(b) Calculate the momentum of the 𝜋 meson and the proton before the collision measured in the moving
frame 𝑆′. What is the total momentum of the system in 𝑆′?
(c) What is the total energy of the particles in the moving frame 𝑆 G ?

Solution:
(a) In the lab frame, we have
𝑝A = 5𝑚A 𝑐, 𝐸A = 𝑝A3 𝑐 3 + 𝑚A3 𝑐 M = 26𝑚A 𝑐 3
𝑝D = 0, 𝐸D = 𝑚D 𝑐 3 = 7𝑚A 𝑐 3
5𝑚A 𝑐 Q 5
𝑢= = 𝑐 = 0.4132566 𝑐
( 26 + 7)𝑚A 𝑐 3 26 + 7

(b)
Method 1:
In the lab frame the 4-vectors of the 𝜋 meson and the proton are
𝐸A
𝑃A = , 𝑝 = 26, 5 𝑚A 𝑐
𝑐 A
𝐸D
𝑃D = , 𝑝 = 7,0 𝑚A 𝑐
𝑐 D
In the moving frame S’, we have
𝑢
𝐸AG /𝑐 1 −
=𝛾 𝑐 26 𝑚 𝑐
𝑝AG 𝑢 5
A
− 1
𝑐
where
1
𝛾= = 1.0981594
1 − 0.4133

⇒ 𝑝AG = 1.098 − 26×0.413 + 5 𝑚A 𝑐 = 3.177𝑚A 𝑐
Similarly,
𝑢
𝐸DG /𝑐 1 −
=𝛾 𝑐 7 𝑚 𝑐
𝑝DG 𝑢 0 A
− 1
𝑐
⇒ 𝑝DG = −7𝛾𝑢𝑚A = −3.177𝑚A 𝑐
The total momentum in 𝑆′ is
G
𝑝_`_ = 𝑝AG + 𝑝DG = 0
i.e. 𝑆′ is the center-of-mass frame.

Method 2: (More tedious)
We first work for the proton here. The velocity of the proton in the moving frame 𝑆′ is
𝑣 G = −𝑢 = −0.4132566 𝑐
The momentum of the proton before the collision is:
𝑝DG = 𝛾 𝑣 G 𝑚D 𝑣 G = 7𝛾 𝑣 G 𝑣 G 𝑚A = −3.177𝑚A 𝑐

For the 𝜋 meson, the velocity in 𝑆′ is
𝑣−𝑢
𝑣G = 𝑢𝑣
1− 3
𝑐
where
𝑝A 𝑐 3 5
𝑣= = 𝑐 = 0.98058𝑐
𝐸A 26
⇒ 𝑣 G = 0.953855𝑐
And the momentum is
𝑝AG = 𝛾 𝑣 G 𝑚A 𝑣 G = 3.177𝑚A 𝑐

(c) The total energy can be computed easily using the invariant
𝐸 3 − 𝑝3 𝑐 3 = 𝐸 G3
In the CM frame, the total momentum is zero and
3
𝐸 G3 = 𝐸 3 − 𝑝3 𝑐 3 = 26𝑚A 𝑐 3 + 7𝑚A 𝑐 3 − 25𝑚A3 𝑐 M
3
⇒ 𝐸G = 26 + 7 − 25×𝑚A 𝑐 3 = 11.018𝑚A 𝑐 3

3. (20 points) A Journey to the Limits of the Universe

On January 19, 2006, the space probe "New Horizons" was sent on a long journey to Pluto, 4.77×10b km away.
The 478kg space probe is equipped with various measuring instruments for studying the planet and its
surroundings.

"Alice" is a Ultraviolet (UV) imaging spectrometer aboard the New Horizons, which is used to measure the
nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen content in Pluto's atmosphere. Basically, a UV spectrometer
consists of two parts, an optical grating and an image sensor. Depending on the wavelength, the grating reflects
the incoming light signal at different angles, and the sensor then intercepts the light rays. The image sensor
itself consists of many lattice-shaped photosensitive pixels that measure the number of photons striking it. Since
light of different wavelengths is imaged on different areas of the image sensor, the intensity of the input signal
can be measured as a function of the wavelength.

The wavelengths of interest to the scientists are all between 𝜆de- = 48nm and 𝜆dfg = 188nm. This places
certain requirements on the size of the sensor. A simplified scheme of the spectrometer can be found in Fig. (b).

"

! &' %
2

!
(a) The space probe "New Horizons" (b) The optical grating with width !
and the image sensor with width ".

(a) (2 pt) Given that the optical grating contains 𝑁 lines per meter, calculate the diffraction angles 𝜃de- and
𝜃dfg of the first-order maximum corresponding to the wavelengths 𝜆de- and 𝜆dfg .

(b) (2 pt) What is the optimal angle 𝜃j between the normal vector of the grating and the normal vector of the
sensor?
(c) (6 pt) We use 𝐷 to denote the distance between the sensor plane and the center of the optical grating. What
is the minimum length 𝑥 such that the entire wavelength range is displayed on the sensor? Your expression for
𝑥 must include the length 𝐿 of the optical grating, the angles 𝜃de- , 𝜃dfg , 𝜃j and the distance 𝐷.

(d) (3 pt) Point P in Fig. (b) is the intersection of the sensor plane with the line that intersects the center of the
grating and is perpendicular to the sensor plane. How far from P to the center of the image sensor?

(e) (7 pt) Now we assume the optical grating is very small and considered as a point. The distance 𝛥𝑥 between
two signals on the image sensor must be large enough such that they can be differentiated in the measurement.
"UV Alice" can distinguish signals of two different wavelengths 𝜆+ and 𝜆3 if 𝜆+ − 𝜆3 > 𝛥𝜆 where 𝛥𝜆 depends
on the number of lines per meter in the optical grating. What is the minimum value of 𝐷 required in terms of
𝛥𝑥, 𝛥𝜆, 𝑁, 𝜆de- and 𝜆dfg ? You can assume 𝑁𝜆dfg , 𝑁𝜆de- ≪ 1 in the calculation.

Solution:
+
(a) The first-order maximum occurs at 𝑑 sin 𝜃 = 𝜆 where 𝑑 = .
t

sin 𝜃de- = 𝑁𝜆de- 𝑎𝑛𝑑 sin 𝜃dfg = 𝑁𝜆dfg

+
(b) The optimal angle 𝜃j = (𝜃de- + 𝜃dfg )
3

(c)

+IJK
+%
+IMN

F
$G − $IJK

$IJK $IMN − $G
$G $G

;/2 ;/2

From the figure,

𝑥( = 𝐿 cos 𝜃j
𝐿
𝑥de- = 𝐷 + sin 𝜃j sin(𝜃j − 𝜃de- )
2
𝐿
𝑥dfg = 𝐷 − sin 𝜃j sin(𝜃dfg − 𝜃j )
2

The minimum 𝑥 = 𝑥( + 𝑥de- + 𝑥dfg .

(d)
 𝑥 𝑥( 𝑥dfg − 𝑥de-
− + 𝑥de- =
2 2 2
1 𝐿 𝐿
= 𝐷 − sin 𝜃j sin 𝜃dfg − 𝜃j − 𝐷 + sin 𝜃j sin 𝜃j − 𝜃de-
2 2 2
is the distance from P to the center of the sensor.

(e)

Δ&
Δ&#

Δ&$

!$

!#
'

!"

Two wavelengths can be resolved in an optical grating if
𝜆+ − 𝜆3 > 𝛥𝜆
𝛥𝑥 = 𝛥𝑥+ − 𝛥𝑥3
𝛥𝑥
tan 𝜃j − 𝜃+ − tan 𝜃j − 𝜃3 ≤
𝐷
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝜃+ ≈ 𝑁𝜆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜃3 = 𝜃+ + 𝛥𝜃 ≈ 𝑁(𝜆 + 𝛥𝜆)
and 𝛥𝜃 = 𝑁𝛥𝜆
𝛥𝑥 𝛥𝑥 𝛥𝑥
→𝐷≥ ≈ =
tan 𝜃j − 𝜃+ − tan 𝜃j − 𝜃3 𝜃3 − 𝜃+ 𝑁𝛥𝜆

4. (20 points) Tethered Puck
A round vertical cylinder of a radius 𝑅 is fixed on a horizontal plane. An inextensible thread of length 𝐿 is
attached at the cylinder side near the bottom. Initially the thread is tangent to the cylinder. A small puck (of
negligible size) is attached to the other end of the thread. The puck is given an initial velocity 𝑣( perpendicular
to the thread, so the puck starts sliding on the plane.

"#
$

(a) What is the total distance travelled by the puck before it collides with the cylinder?
(b) How long will the puck motion (winding the thread around the cylinder) last if there is no friction?
(c) How long will the puck motion last if there is a friction between the puck and the plane, where the coefficient
of friction is 𝜇?

Solution:
(a) Suppose the thread has turned by a small angle 𝑑𝜑. Then the puck has travelled a distance 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑙𝑑𝜑 while
„
the free part of the thread has shorten by 𝑑𝑙 = 𝑅𝑑𝜑. Therefore, 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑙 and the path travelled by the puck
/
before it collides with the cylinder is
…
𝑙 𝐿3
𝑆= 𝑑𝑙 =
( 𝑅 2𝑅

(b) Since there is no friction, kinetic energy of the puck and its velocity remains constant The required time is
𝑆 𝐿3
𝑡= =
𝑣( 2𝑅𝑣(

(c) If there is a friction, the puck goes along an arc with a tangential acceleration 𝑎 = −𝜇𝑔. A free puck moving
ˆ<5
at this acceleration would have travelled the distance 𝑆+ = .
‰Š
Hence, there are two possibilities:

‰Š
(i) 𝑆 > 𝑆+ or 𝑣( < 𝐿
/
In this case, the puck either does not reach the cylinder or just touches it; the travel time is
𝑣(
𝑡+ =
𝜇𝑔
‰Š
(ii) 𝑆 < 𝑆+ or 𝑣( > 𝐿
/
In this case, the puck travels the distance 𝑆 and collides with the cylinder. The travel time can be found as a time
of uniformly accelerated motion:
𝐿3 𝜇𝑔𝑡 3 𝑣( 𝐿3
𝑆= = 𝑣( 𝑡 − ⇒ 𝑡3 − 2 𝑡+ =0
2𝑅 2 𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔𝑅
𝑣( 𝑣( 3 𝐿3
⇒𝑡= ± −
𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔𝑅
The required time 𝑡3 must be less than 𝑡+ needed for the puck to come at full stop. Hence the solution should be
𝑣( 𝑣( 3 𝐿3
𝑡3 = − −
𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔𝑅

5. (20 points) A circuit consists of three squares made up by the wires of length 𝑎. The resistance of a wire of
length 𝑎 is 𝑟. A small-sized capacitor of capacitance 𝐶 is soldered into a wire segment. The entire circuit is placed
 ••
in a uniform and perpendicular magnetic field 𝐵. The magnetic field increases slowly at a constant rate = 𝑘,
•_
where 𝑘 > 0.
! ! !
"
$
!
% % %
#
In the steady state regime, determine:
(a) the magnitude and direction of the current in the segment 𝑋𝑌.
(b) the charge 𝑄 stored in the upper plate of the capacitor.
(c) the total power dissipation 𝑃 of the circuit.

Solution:
(a)
$ % #
!
#
)* )+ ),

"
( ' &
In the steady state, the capacitor will be charged and there will be no current passes through it.
By the Kirchhoff’s laws, we have
𝐼+ = 𝐼3 + 𝐼Q [1]
Loop XABEFY:
•
5𝐼+ 𝑟 + 𝐼3 𝑟 = 𝑉"•”$ = 2𝑎3 𝐵 = 2𝑘𝑎3 [2]
•_
Loop XABCDEFY:
•
5𝐼+ 𝑟 + 3𝐼Q 𝑟 = 𝑉"•j$ = 3𝑎3 𝐵 = 3𝑘𝑎3 [3]
•_
We have 3 unknowns and 3 equations. The solutions are:
[2]x3+[3],
15𝐼+ + 3 𝐼3 + 𝐼Q + 5𝐼+ = 9𝑘𝑎3
9 𝑘𝑎3
⇒ 𝐼+ =
23 𝑟
𝑘𝑎3 45 𝑘𝑎3 1 𝑘𝑎3
𝐼3 = 2 − =
𝑟 23 𝑟 23 𝑟
8 𝑘𝑎3
𝐼Q =
23 𝑟
Since 𝐼+ > 0, the current in the segment 𝑋𝑌 flows from 𝑌 to 𝑋.

(b) Consider XAFY,

𝑄 𝑑
3𝐼+ + = 𝑎3 𝐵 = 𝑘𝑎3
𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑄 27
⇒ = 1− 𝑘𝑎3
𝐶 23
4
⇒ 𝑄 = − (𝐶𝑘𝑎3 )
23
(c) The total heat dissipation is given by
 26 𝑘 3 𝑎M
𝑃 = 5𝐼+3 𝑟 + 𝐼33 𝑟 + 3𝐼Q3 𝑟 =
23 𝑟