36th International Physics Olympiad.

Salamanca (Espaa) 2005

R.S.E.F.

Th 2

ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENTS OF ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES

SOLUTION

r
r
1. After some time t, the normal to the coil plane makes an angle t with the magnetic field B0 = B0 i . Then, the

magnetic flux through the coil is

r r
= N B0 S
r
r
r
r
where the vector surface S is given by S = a 2 cos t i + sin t j

Therefore

= N a 2 B0 cos t

The induced electromotive force is

d
dt

= N a 2 B0 sin t

The instantaneous power is P = 2 /R , therefore

2
(
N a 2 B0 )
=

2R

where we used < sin 2 t >=

1 T 2
1
sin t dt =
2
T 0

2. The total field at the center the coil at the instant t is

r
r
r
B t = B 0 + Bi
r
r
r
r
where Bi is the magnetic field due to the induced current Bi = Bi cos t i + sin t j

with

Bi =

Therefore

Bi =

0 N I

I=/R

and

2a

0 N 2 a B0
2R

sin t

The mean values of its components are

Bix =
Biy =

0 N 2 a B0
2R

0 N 2 a B0
2R

sin t cos t = 0
sin 2 t =

0 N 2 a B0
4R

And the mean value of the total magnetic field is

r
r N 2 a B0 r
j
Bt = B0 i + 0
4R

The needle orients along the mean field, therefore

tan =

0 N 2 a
4R

Solution Th 2 Page 1 of 4

36th International Physics Olympiad. Salamanca (Espaa) 2005

R.S.E.F.

Finally, the resistance of the coil measured by this procedure, in terms of , is

R=

0 N 2 a
4 tan

3. The force on a unit positive charge in a disk is radial and its modulus is
r r
v B = vB =rB
where B is the magnetic field at the center of the coil

I
B=N 0
2a
Then, the electromotive force (e.m.f.) induced on each disk by the magnetic field B is

D = D ' = B

r dr =

1
B b 2
2

Finally, the induced e.m.f. between 1 and 4 is = D +

=N

D'

0 b 2 I
2a

4. When the reading of G vanishes, I G = 0 and Kirchoff laws give an immediate answer. Then we have

=IR

R=N

0 b 2
2a

5. The force per unit length f between two indefinite parallel straight wires separated by a distance h is.
f =

0 I1 I 2
2

for I 1 = I 2 = I and length 2 a , the force F induced on C2 by the neighbor coils C1 is

F=

0 a
h

I2

6. In equilibrium
m g x = 4F d

Then
mg x =

4 0 a d 2
I
h

(1)

so that
mghx

I =

4 0 a d

1/ 2

Solution Th 2 Page 2 of 4

36th International Physics Olympiad. Salamanca (Espaa) 2005

R.S.E.F.

7. The balance comes back towards the equilibrium position for a little angular deviation if the gravity torques with
respect to the fulcrum O are greater than the magnetic torques.
1
1
d cos
+
Mg l sin + m g x cos > 2 0 a I 2
h z h + z

d
O

mg

l
G

h - z
h + z

h + z

Mg

h - z

Therefore, using the suggested approximation

Mg l sin + m g x cos >

4 0 a d I 2
h

z2
1 +

h2

cos

Taking into account the equilibrium condition (1), one obtains

M g l sin > m g x

Finally, for tan sin =

z<

M l h2
m xd

z2
h2

cos

z
d

z max =

M lh2
m xd

Solution Th 2 Page 3 of 4

36th International Physics Olympiad. Salamanca (Espaa) 2005

R.S.E.F.

Th 2
Question

Basic formulas and ideas used

= N B0 S
d

=
P=

Analytical results

Marking
guideline

ANSWER SHEET

dt

= N a 2 B0 sin t
P

2
(
N a 2 B0 )
=

2R

0.5
1.0

r r
r
B = B 0 + Bi

Bi =

0 N
2a

tan =

By

2.0

Bx

r r r
E = vB
v =r
3

N 2 a
R= 0
4tan

I
B=N 0
2a
br r
= E dr

=N

0 b 2 I

2.0

2a

= RI

f =

0 I I
2 h

b
R=N 0
2a
2

F=

0 a
h

0,5

I2

mg x = 4F d

mghx

I =

4 0 a d

grav > mag

z max =

1.0

1/ 2

M l h2
m xd

1.0

2.0

Solution Th 2 Page 4 of 4