1

HKPhO 2009 Solutions

G G
MC1 (d) 70 x0 + 10 y0 MC2 (b) 1.2 MC3 (b) 9.5
mgL sin
MC4 (e) 1.0 10-2 mm MC5 (a) 4 times MC6 (c)
4
2 + 10 Mg
MC7 (a) mgl MC8 (c) 40 mC MC9 (b) inward,
4 Qv cos
1 6g
MC10 (c) T > T1 > T2 MC11 (a) MC12 (a) 4V
2 H
2h mg
MC13 (e) 1.5 MC14 (a) MC15 (b) MC16 (e) 1,4,3,2
3 2
MC17 (c) r, -v, a MC18 (d) /2 MC19 (e) not move
2 1 1
MC20 (c) u2 + GM 1.1 1.1
1.1 b a

Q1
Let R be the resistance of each resistor in the ladder and let Req be the
equivalent resistance of the infinite ladder. If the resistance is finite and
non-zero, then adding one or more stages to the ladder will not change
the resistance of the network. We can apply the rules for resistance
combination to the diagram shown to the right to obtain a quadratic
equation in Req that we can solve for the equivalent resistance between
points a and b.

The equivalent resistance of the series combination RReq

of R and (R || Req) is Req, so: Req = R + R Req = R +
R + Req
Simplify to obtain: R RReq R = 0
2
eq
2

Solve for Req to obtain: 1 + 5

Req = R

2

For R = 1: 1+ 5
Req = (1 ) = 1.62
2

Alternative:
Do it the brute force way.

1 2 R1
R1 = = 0.667 .
1+1

1 (1 + R1 ) 1 (1 + 0.667)
R2 = = = 0.625 R2 R1
1 + (1 + R1 ) 1 + (1 + 0.667)

1 (1 + R2 ) 1 (1 + 0.625)
R3 = = = 0.619 R3 R2 R1
1 + (1 + R2 ) 1 + (1 + 0.625)
 2

1 (1 + R3 ) 1 (1 + 0.619)
R4 = = = 0.618
1 + (1 + R3 ) 1 + (1 + 0.619) R4 R3 R2 R1

1 (1 + R4 ) 1 (1 + 0.618)
R5 = = = 0.618
1 + (1 + R4 ) 1 + (1 + 0.618)
R5 R4 R3 R2 R1

The total resistance is R = (1 + 0.618) = 1.618

Q2
N G
(a) The total momentum of the system is mi vc . By momentum conservation,
i =2
G G
N G G G m1v1 m1v1 N
i cm v + m v
1 1 = 0 . So vc = N
= , where mc mi .
i =2
mi mc i =2
i =2
1 N G G 1 N 1 N N G G
(b) The kinetic energy KE = mi (vc + vi ) 2 = mi vc2 + mi vi2 + mi vc vi . Note
2 i =2 2 i=2 2 i =2 i=2
N

i= 2
G N G G G N G
( ) 1 1 N
that mi vi = 0 . So mi vc vi = vc mi vi = 0 . So KE = mc vc2 + mi vi2 .
i =2 i =2 2 2 i=2
(c) Since vc is dictated by momentum conservation, for minimum kinetic energy of
the 2nd to the Nth fragments, the condition should be vi = 0, i = 2, 3, , N. Then,
1 1
using the result in (a) and energy conservation E = mc vc2 + m1v12 , we get
2 2
1 mc
Max. KE = m1v12 = E.
2 m1 + mc

Q3
Mg
(a) Force balance Mg + p0 ( A1 A2 ) = p ( A1 A2 ) , so p = p0 +
A1 A2
Ideal gas law: p ( LA2 + ( H L ) A1 ) = NRT
Combine the two equations, we get
NRT Mg
= p0 +
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 A1 A2
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 A1 A2
=
NRT p0 ( A1 A2 ) + Mg
A1 A2
L ( A1 A2 ) = HA1 NRT
p0 ( A1 A2 ) + Mg
HA1 NRT
L= .
A1 A2 p0 ( A1 A2 ) + Mg

(b) Take downward as positive in displacement, we have

F = Mg + p0 ( A1 A2 ) p ( A1 A2 )
And p ( ( L + x ) A2 + ( H L x ) A1 ) = NRT .
 3

NRT ( A1 A2 )
So F = Mg + p0 ( A1 A2 )
( L + x ) A2 + ( H L x ) A1
Tidy up the equation,
NRT ( A1 A2 )
F = Mg + p0 ( A1 A2 )
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 x ( A1 A2 )
NRT ( A1 A2 ) 1
F = Mg + p0 ( A1 A2 )
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 1 A1 A2
x
LA2 + ( H L ) A1
NRT ( A1 A2 ) A1 A2
F = Mg + p0 ( A1 A2 ) 1 + x
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 LA2 + ( H L ) A1
Using the answer in (a), we get
NRT ( A1 A2 )
2
A1 A2 A1 A2
F = x = NRT x = kx
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 LA2 + ( H L ) A1 LA2 + ( H L ) A1
p ( A A2 ) + Mg
2
A1 A2 NRT A1 A2
k = NRT , = = 0 1
LA2 + ( H L ) A1 M LA2 + ( H L ) A1 MNRT

Q4
M
(a) g =G 2
, so M = gR 2 / G = 9.8 (6378 103 ) 2 / (6.67 1011 ) = 5.98 1024 kg
R
2
2
M
(b) G = 2r = r , so
T
2
r
1/3 1/3 1/3
MT 2 gR 2T 2 9.8 (6378 103 ) 2 (24 3600) 2
r = G 2
= 2
= = 4.23 107 m
4 4 39.48
(c)
y
Let the latitude be .
GM
sin = f sin ( + ) f
r2

2 r cos = GM cos f cos ( + )
r2
HK
Eliminate f from the above equations:

2r 3
cot ( + ) = 1
x
cot .
GM
From the first equation,
2
GM GM 2r 3
f = 2 sin csc ( + ) = 2 sin 1 + 1 cot
2

r r GM
 4

Hence f is minimum when

1 + 8 (1 + tan 2 ) 1
1/3
1/3
1 + 8sec2 1 GM 1/3 GM
1/3

r= = 2 1.034 2 .
2 2 / GM
2
So the orbit radius of the satellite is about 3.4 % larger than a truly geostationary satellite
above the Equator.

Q5
The phase difference for the matter waves to take the two paths is = ABD ACD ,
ACD = AC + CD , and ABD = AB + BD
Note that AC = BD ,
The momentum on path AB is p AB = 2mE0 , and the
C D
momentum on path CD is pCD = 2m( E0 mgL sin ) .
2 L
So = AB CD =
h
(
2mE0 2m( E0 mgL sin )
Maximum reading of neutron number occurs when A B
2 L
2n =
h
( )
2m( E0 mgL sin n ) 2mE0 , n = 0, 1,

So the number of maximum reading is N =

L
h
(
2m( E0 mgL) 2mE0 . )