B.Sc.

ITEA – Physics-1 2023

Midterm exam – October 2023
Answer Sheet

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Instructions

ˆ Provide your answers in this answer sheet. Exercises left unanswered will not be graded.
Use the provided page for each exercise to present your derivations. Do not use pencil.
ˆ Each correct answer adds one point to the score. Incorrect answers do not subtract points. A
correct answer without proper justification subtracts 0.5 points. The min possible score is 0.
ˆ In multichoice questions there is only one correct answer. Draw a clearly visible circle around
the selected option. “NOPE” stands for “None of the Other Provided answErs is correct”.
ˆ Unless stated otherwise, data with no decimal point are assumed to have 3 significant digits.
ˆ The language of this test is English. The allotted time is 75 min.

1. a b c d e

2. a b c d e

3. Provide a detailed derivation.

4. a b c d e

5. a b c d e
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Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 2

Exercise 1
⇀
A force F = 91ı̂ + 221ȷ̂ acts on a particle of mass 13. At t = 0 the particle is located at
⇀
the origin of a 2D inertial reference frame and moves with velocity v0 = 7ı̂. (All units
arbitrary.) Calculate the radius of curvature at t = 0.

(a) 12.2
(b) 2.88
(c) 1.44
(d) 5.87
(e) NOPE

Answer:
2.88
Sol:
The particle acceleration is ⇀
F ⇀
a= = 7ı̂ + 17ȷ̂
m
which implies a motion with uniform acceleration. Its velocity is
⇀ ⇀ ⇀
v = v0 + a t = (7 + 7t)ı̂ + 17tȷ̂

with modulus

p √
v= (7 + 7t)2 + (17t)2 = 338t2 + 98t + 49 ,
which, obviously, for t = 0 yields the initial velocity, i.e., 7. The unit tangent vector is
⇀
v
v̂ = .
v
The radius of curvature involves the derivative of this vector wrt time, which can be
⇀
computed more efficiently by considering it as the product of 1/v and v,
⇀
dv̂ d(1/v) ⇀ 1 dv −dv/dt ⇀ 1 ⇀
= v+ = v+ a.
dt dt v dt v2 v
Performing the derivative dv/dt and substituting for t = 0 yields
dv̂ 17
= ȷ̂
dt t=0 7
which has a modulus equal to 17/7. Following the definition of radius of curvature,
v 7 72
Rc = = = = 2.8824 .
|dv̂/dt| 17/7 17

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 3

It is interesting to remark that the same result can be obtained more quickly by noticing
⇀
that the tangent vector at t = 0 is v̂(t = 0) = v0 /v0 = ı̂. Therefore the tangent
acceleration at that instant, that is, the component of the acceleration in the direction
of the tangent is simply
⇀
at (t = 0) = 7ı̂
and the normal acceleration is
⇀ ⇀ ⇀
an (t = 0) = a − at (t = 0) = 17ȷ̂ .

This implies that, at t = 0,

v02 72
Rc = = .
an 17

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 4

Exercise 2
A point-like object with mass 2 kg is tethered with a massless and inextensible string of
length L = 1.6 m as shown in the figure. The particle is set into motion in a way such
that, under the effect of gravity and the string tension, it follows a circular trajectory
with constant speed and with the string forming an angle of θ = 40◦ with the vertical
(conic pendulum). Calculate v.

Note: The standard acceleration of gravity is g = 9.80665 m/s2 .

(a) 1.4 m/s

(b) 0.66 m/s

(c) 5.9 m/s

(d) 2.9 m/s

(e) NOPE

Answer:
2.9 m/s
Sol:
Let us consider a stationary ref frame with the origin momentarily coinciding with the
position of the particle at an arbitrary instant of time. The x axis is defined pointing
towards the center of the circle described
⇀
by the trajectory and the vertical y axis is
⇀
defined pointing upwards. The tension, T , and the weight, mg, can be decomposed into
these axes,
Fx = T sin θ
Fy = T cos θ − mg .
Newton’s second law implies

Fx = T sin θ = man
Fy = T cos θ − mg = 0

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 5

where
v2 v2
an = =
r L sin θ
is the normal acceleration, with r = L sin θ the radius of the circular particle trajectory.
Considering the y component of Newton’s law,
mg
T =
cos θ
which, inserted in the eq. for the x component and using the expression for an yields
r
Lg sin2 θ
v= = 2.909 .
cos θ
Note that this velocity does not depen on the mass.

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 6

Exercise 3
A 2D force field acting on a particle is given by the Cartesian components (arbitrary
units) 
2x
Fx = − 2


x + y2
2y
Fy = − 2


x + y2
for (x2 + y 2 ) ̸= 0. Calculate the work done by this field when the particle moves from
the point of coordinates A = (1, 8) to B = (11, 17) following the straight path that
connects the two points.
Provide a detailed derivation.
Answer:
−1.84
Sol:
The force field is conservative. Indeed,
4xy
∂y Fx = ∂x Fy = −
(x2 + y 2 )2
and, since the two partial derivatives coincide, the statement is proven. Alternatively,
it can be noticed that the force can be recast as
⇀
⇀ 2r −2
F =− 2 = r̂
r r
⇀
with r = (x, y) the position vector and, consequently, the field is central with circular
symmetry (i.e., of the form F (r) r̂ with F (r) = −2/r), which implies conservativeness.
By trial and error one can infer that
U (x, y) = log(x2 + y 2 )
is the associated potential energy function, because

2x
−∂x U = − 2 = Fx


x + y2
2y
−∂y U = − 2 = Fy


x + y2
as required. Alternatively, following the prescription given in the theory lectures, a
central force has a potential energy given by
Z Z  
2
U (r) = − dr F (r) = − dr − = log r2 = log(x2 + y 2 ) .
r

Since the field is conservative, the actual path used for the integration between the
points A and B is irrelevant and, instead, one can use the relation
WA→B = −(U (B) − U (A)) = −(6.0162 − 4.1744) = −1.8418 .

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 7

Exercise 4
The planet Vulcan, home of Mr. Spock from the Star Trek TV shows, revolves around a
massive star due to their mutual gravitational attraction. As it is well known, the orbit
is elliptic with the star located in one of the foci of the ellipse (see figure). The speed of
Vulcan at its perihelion (point closest to the star) is vp = 34.5 km/s and at its aphelion
(farthest point from the star) is va = 28.2 km/s. The length of the semi-major axis of
the ellipse is a = 14.3 AU (see note below). Calculate the mass of the star.
Note: 1 AU≈ 1.4960 × 1011 m is the astronomical unit, used frequently to express
astronomical distances. It equals the average Sun-Earth distance.
Note: Newton’s universal constant of gravitation is G = 6.67430 × 10−11 m3 kg−1 s−2 .

Hints:
The force is central, which implies some conservation laws.
The velocity is, both in the aphelion and in the perihelion, perpendicular to the position
vector with origin at the star.

(a) 4.86 × 1033 kg

(b) 3.97 × 1032 kg

(c) 3.12 × 1031 kg

(d) 2.47 × 1030 kg

(e) NOPE

Answer:
3.12 × 1031 kg
Sol:
We shall make use of the fact that a central force field, like gravity, conserves both the
angular momentum and the mechanical energy. If m is Vulcan mass, rp is the distance
Star-Vulcan at the perihelion and ra that at the aphelion, then conservation of angular
momentum L implies that
L = mra va = mrp vp ,

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 8

that is,
ra va = rp vp ,
where use has been made of the perpendicularity between the position vector and the
velocity, thus making the modulus of their vector product (whence the angular momen-
tum is obtained) equal to the product of moduli. Furthermore, as shown in the figure,
the distances star-aphelion ra and star-perihelion rp satisfy

ra + rp = 2a .

This furnishes a second relation for the two unknowns ra and rp , which can be therefore
be solved yielding
vp
ra = 2a = 15.737 AU
va + vp
va
rp = 2a = 12.863 AU .
va + vp

As a side note, it is interesting to point out that the fact that the distance r attains its
max and min at ra and rp , respectively, imples that the velocity is perpendicular to the
⇀
position vector r, as stated in the note provided with the exercise. Indeed,
⇀
⇀ dr d(rr̂) dr dr̂ dr̂
v= = = r̂ + r =r
dt dt dt dt dt
where it has been used that dr/dt = 0 at the considered points because r is max or
min. In addition, given that by definition |r̂| = 1, its derivative is perpendicular to the
⇀
vector itself, r̂ · (dr̂/dt) = 0, as shown in one of the exercises done in class. Thus, v is
also perpendicular to r̂.
Now, given the fact that gravitation is a conservative force, the planet’s mechanical
energy is constant. This implies
1 2 Mm 1 Mm
mva − G = mvp2 − G ,
2 ra 2 rp
that is,  
1 2 1 1
(v − vp2 ) = GM − .
2 a ra rp
Introducing the results found before for ra and rp ,
1 1 1
− = (v 2 − vp2 )
ra rp 2ava vp a
so that energy conservation becomes
1 2 GM
(va − vp2 ) = (va2 − vp2 )
2 2ava vp
from where the mass of the star can be obtained as
ava vp
M= = 3.12 × 1031 kg .
G

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 9

This is approximately equivalent to 16. times the solar mass.
It is perhaps interesting to notice that Kepler’s second law (Ȧ = L/2m = rp vp /2),
√
combined with the formula for the area of the elliptical orbit (A = 2πa2 vp va /(vp +va )),
allow also the determination of the period of revolution, that is, the duration of one
Vulcan year. It is

a
T = 2π √ = 14. terrestrial years.
va vp
We can only speculate whether the long Vulcan years have any connection with the size
of Mr. Spock’s ears.

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 10

Exercise 5

Consider the homogeneous 2D

plate shown (not to scale) in the
figure with the dimensions AB =
EF = AF = BE = 8.30, CG =
DH = 5.97, CD = GH = 1.98 (all
units arbitrary). The inner rectan-
gle is centered, that is, BC = DE.
Considering the ref frame shown
with the origin at point A, calcu-

Source: X Jaén et al., UPC (2023)

late the ratio ycm /xcm between the
y and x coordinates of the center of
mass.

(a) 1.21
(b) 0.942
(c) 0.831
(d) 1.04
(e) NOPE

Answer:
0.942
Sol:
Let s = 8.30 be the side of the square ABEF , b = 1.98 be the base of GCDH and
h = 5.97 its height. Let σ be the (constant) surface density. The plate can be considered
as the square ABEF with the rectangle GCDH removed, i.e., the mass of GCDH is
negative. Their masses are
mABEF = σa2 = 68.890 σ
mGCDH = −σbh = −11.821 σ
The mass of the entire plate is then

M = mABEF + mGCDH = 57.069 σ .

By symmetry, the CM of each figure is located at its center,

⇀
rABEF = (a/2, a/2) = (4.1500, 4.1500)
⇀
rGCDH = (a/2, a − h/2) = (4.1500, 5.3150) .

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 11

Hence, the CM of the entire plate is at the coordinates
1
xcm = [mABEF xABEF + mGCDH xGCDH ] = 4.1500
M
1
ycm = [mABEF yABEF + mGCDH yGCDH ] = 3.9087
M
and ycm /xcm = 0.94185 .

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 12

END OF EXAM — Use this sheet as an extra page if necessary.

Physics-1 2023 — Midterm exam 13