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Question Papers

7
Category A, B, C th
BANGLADESH
Physics Olympiad
2017
 Compiled By
Science Olympiad Blog
scienceolympiadsbd.blogspot.com

Question Papers

7
Category A th
Class 7-8 BANGLADESH
Physics Olympiad
2017
1. In the figure below there are 3 blocks with masses respectively 3, and . They
are connected via a rigid rope on a frictionless surface. If the acceleration of mass
is , what are the accelerations of the other masses? Also explain the
reason of your answer with proper calculation.
3,

, ?

2. Consider a cylinder which is divided into two compartments by a movable piston.

Initially the volume and pressure of oxygen gas in the first compartment are and
respectively. And the volume and pressure of oxygen gas in the second
compartment are and respectively. When the system reaches equilibrium, what
will be the pressure and volume of the two compartments?
Assume that heat can be exchanged through the wall of the cylinder and the piston.

;
,
? ,
-
3. A plane mirror rotates about a vertical axis in its plane at revolutions per second,
and, reflects a narrow beam of light to stationary mirror away. This mirror
reflects the light normally so that it is again reflected from the rotating mirror. The
light makes an angle of minutes with the path it would travel if both mirrors were

stationary. Calculate the velocity of light. Clarification: minute = degree.




,

minutes : minute = degree

4. Let us consider a situation where you want to measure some quantity which is a
function of some other quantities and . For example if was velocity, you would
determine it by measuring quantities = (length) and = (time);

= (, ) = .

Let us denote the absolute error of by and similarly for . We can now
evaluate the largest and smallest possible values for by calculating
( , ) and choosing the signs in such a way that we get the
largest/smallest possible result. In this way we get and , and the error
estimation for is
= { , }
The efficiency of an electric motor which lifts a mass to an altitude in time is

= where and are the voltage and the current that the motor uses,

respectively. Let us suppose that, , and are measured in % accuracy, in %
accuracy and only in % accuracy. Compute the error estimation of the efficiency.

,
= ( ) = ()


= (, ) =

absolute error
absolute error
(
, ) , /
absolute error +

,
= { , }
, =

, , % , % %.

5. In this problem, we are going to learn about a technique in Circuit analysis called
Source Transformation. Two circuits are called equivalent if they develop the
same voltage and current if connected to the same load. Consider the two circuits
below.
(Source transformation)
(Load)

Circuit-1 Circuit-2
The first one is a voltage source (i.e., a battery) in series with a resistor , and the
second one is a current source in parallel with a resistor . (A current-source can
supply a constant amount of current. The direction of arrow indicates the direction of
flow of current.)
( )
(
)
(a) If a resistance is connected across terminals 1 and 2 of circuit-1, what will be
the voltage and current across ? 1 2
, ?
(b) If the same resistance is connected across terminals 1 and 2 of circuit-2, what
will be the voltage and current across ?
,
?

(c) Find the relation between and , and, and if the two circuits are
equivalent. (Hint: The relations need to hold for any value of . Particularly,
consider an extreme case like = .) So, if the relations here are followed, then,
circuit-1 can be replaced by circuit-2 and vice-versa. This replacing of one type of
source by another is called source-transformation. ,
, , (:
=
,


Science Olympiad Blog
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Question Paper

7
Category B th
Class 9-10 BANGLADESH
Physics Olympiad
2017
 Battle of Marineford
A long time ago, in a world different form us, World Government and Whitebeard
pirate were engaged in a fierce battle named Battle of Marineford. The pirate army
launched a massive attack from the sea to breach the protecting wall of Shiganshina
district - Wall Maria. Wall Maria was erect straight up along the sea shore and
its height was about 50m from the sea level. The pirates had a cannon which could
fire a bomb shell at a speed of 50m/s. [Neglect air resistance and the curvature of
the earth. The acceleration due to gravity, g = 10m/s2]
World Government
Whitebeard pirate Battle of Marineford
Pirate of Shiganshina district
Wall Maria
50m Pirate
50m/s [ , g =
10m/s2]
a) From these given information what was vertical firing range of the pirate
cannon?
?
b) If the cannon were fired at 600 angle, what would be the distance from the
cannon to the fired location?
600
?
c) Find the maximum horizontal firing range of the cannon.

d) What is the maximum distance from the Wall Maria that would be enough
for the pirate cannon to shoot over the wall and what would be firing angle?
Wall Maria
?
 Helium 3 Refrigerator
In this problem we shall explore the mechanism of a special kind of refrigerator
named Helium-3 Refrigerator. It is a tool that allows to reach temperatures between
0.2 K and 5 K. A schematic of the device is shown in the figure. Helium-3 is an
isotope of Helium-4, its properties are somewhat different from those of the Helium-
4. Container 1 contains liquid Helium-4 whose liquefaction temperature is about
4.3K at atmospheric pressure. We can control the amount of liquid Helium-4 and
the pressure inside container 1 using a pump. Container 2 contains Helium-3 whose
liquidation temperature is about 3.2K at atmospheric pressure and Container 2 is a
closed container. Helium-3 and Helium-4 constitute two separate systems and the
parts of container 2 (indicated in bold lines) are made of good conductor e.g. silver.
The system is thermally isolated from the environment.
Helium-3
0.2 K 5 K
Helium-3, Helium-4
Helium-4 1 Helium-4
4.3K 1
Helium-4


2 Helium-
3

3.2K
Helium-3
Helium-4
2

( )
( )


(a) Lets assume that we have switched on the pump to lower the pressure in
container 1 from atmospheric pressure. How will the temperature of liquid Helium-
4 will change? Explain qualitatively.
1
Helium-4 ?
(b) If we somehow cool the liquid Helium-4 to 1.5K, what will happen to gaseous
Helium-3? If we assume that it will cool down, then,
Helium-4 1.5K Helium-3
? ,
(i) In what region of the container 2 will cooling begin?
2 ?
(ii) What will be final phase of Helium-3 inside container 2?
2 Helium-3 ?
(iii) Draw a rough sketch of temperature vs. time curve of Helium-3 assuming
that at t=0 Helium-4 is cooled to 1.5K.
Helium-3 , t=0 Helium-4
1.5K
(iv) If we want to sample the temperature of the system, from which place in the
system we should sample the temperature?

?
 The Nernst Bridge
Part A:
In this problem, we shall examine the performance of capacitors in circuit. At first
lets considers a capacitor formed by two circular plates separated by a vacuum
where radius r = 1 m, distance between the plates d = 10 cm, d << r. The capacitor
is initially charged to a voltage source U0 = 100V and then separated from this
source. The distance d between the plates is now increased by = . .
,
r = 1 m
d = 10 cm, d << r. U0 =
100V
= .

(i) How does the voltage at the condenser terminals change? Express the result as a
function of Q, U0, and .
Condenser terminal ? Q, U0, .

Due to the change in distance between the plates, the energy of the capacitor has
moderated.
(ii) Calculate the change in energy a function of Q, U0, and .
Q, U0,

(iii) Find the numerical value of change in energy. ?

Part B:
Lets get introduced to electrical reactance. In electrical and electronic
systems, reactance is the opposition of a circuit element to a
change in current or voltage, due to that element's inductance or capacitance. A built-
up electric field resists the change of voltage on the element, while a magnetic
field resists the change of current. The notion of reactance is similar to electrical
resistance, but it differs in several respects. In AC analysis, reactance is used to
compute amplitude and phase changes of sinusoidal alternating current going
through a circuit element. An ideal resistor has zero reactance, whereas
ideal inductors and capacitors have zero resistance that is, respond to current only
by reactance. Capacitive reactance is an opposition to the change of voltage across
an element. Capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the
signal frequency and the capacitance. We can write, capacitive reactance =
/ where, = , is the capacitance of the capacitor and = . For
example, in the following circuit we can write current, = / , here is a
sinusoidal source.
Electrical reactance
Reactance
,
Reactance AC analysis , sinusoidal
current element amplitude phase
Reactance - ,
Current respond Capacitive reactance
Capacitive reactance,

, Capacitive reactance = / ,
= , C
= . ,
, , = / .

Now consider the following circuit. It is called Nernst Bridge. Here U is a sinusoidal
source with peak value 10V.
Nernst
Bridge U
10V.
(i) Using the idea of reactance, express C4
in terms of C1, C2, C3 as a condition for
current I to be 0. Show proper calculation.
Reactance , C4
C1, C2, C3 I=0
, calculation
(ii) If we replace C1, C2, C3, C4 each by a capacitor that we discussed in part A of
this problem and replace U by a DC source of 100V, what will be the charge in the
capacitors?
Part A ,
, U 100V DC Source ,
?
 The Brachistochrone Problem
I, Johann Bernoulli, address the most brilliant mathematicians in the world. Nothing
is more attractive to intelligent people than an honest, challenging problem, whose
possible solution will bestow fame and remain as a lasting monument. Following the
example set by Pascal, Fermat, etc., I hope to gain the gratitude of the whole
scientific community by placing before the finest mathematicians of our time a
problem which will test their methods and the strength of their intellect. If someone
communicates to me the solution of the proposed problem, I shall publicly declare
him worthy of praise.
-Johann Bernoulli
This prestigious problem is known as the brachistochrone (meaning "shortest time")
problem. The problem statement is as follows:
Given two points A and lower point B in a vertical plane , where B is not directly
below A , what is the curve on which a point mass slides frictionlessly under the
influence of a uniform gravitational field to from A point to B point in the shortest
time.
problem The brachistochrone problem. Problem
A B B A A B
point mass
, A B point mass
?

The curved path shown in the

picture 1 from A to B is the solution
of the problem, which is also known
as brachistochrone curve. In this
problem we are going to find the
curve which satisfies the shortest
time condition.
, A B
Brachistochrone curve.

Problem ,

Part A
a) In the figure 2, a person is standing on the sea shore at point A and trying to reach
the point B. The plane above the x axis is dry land and below is water. The person
can run on the sea shore at a speed of 2m/s and swim in the water at a speed about
1.3m/s. He first move from point A to point C on the x axis and then move to the
point B. You need to find the coordinate C so that the time to travel from point A to
B should be minimum.
Hint: Use Fermat's principle or the principle of least time, which states that the path
taken between two points by a ray of light is the path that can be traversed in the
least time.
2 , A B
, x
2m/s 1.3m/s A
x C , B C ,
A B
(Hint: Fermats Principle Fermats Principle: The path taken between
two points by a ray of light is the path that can be traversed in the least time.)
Part B
b) Now imagine a medium A and medium B for light to propagate. Medium A has
a fixed refractive index and the velocity of light in medium B varies proportionally
to the square root of its depth. Now from the figure 3 light is propagating through
the medium B, then the tangent RS at any point P on the path creates an angle with
the vertical line. The depth of the point P is d.
, A B B
,
B P RS
P P.

i) Show that, =


, =

ii) Show that the same velocity-depth relationship also holds for an object that
slides frictionlessly following any curve under the influence of a uniform
gravitational field.
, -
,
Part C
c) Now here goes the main solution. The solution of the brachistochrone problem is
an inverted cycloid. A cycloid is the curve traced by a point on the rim of a circular
wheel as the wheel rolls along a straight line without slippage. An Inverted cycloid
is the vertically flipped version of cycloid as shown in figure 4. Now let the tangent
at any point P on the cycloid which creates an angle with the vertical line. The
depth of the point P is d. Prove that,

=

Also find the value of constant in terms of R, the radius of the circle.
The Brachistochron Problem
inverted cycloid.
cycloid inverted cycloid
cycloid flipped version ( ) , cycloid
P P
d. ,

=

, constant R

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Question Paper

7
Category C th
Class 11-12 BANGLADESH
Physics Olympiad
2017
1 Mossbauer Spotted: Marks 10
The Mossbauer Effect is a process, discovered by the German physicist Rudolf L.
Mossbauer in 1958, where a nucleus emits or absorbs gamma rays without loss of
energy to a nuclear recoil. It has proved to be remarkably useful for basic research in
physics and chemistry, for instance, in precise measurement of small energy changes
in nuclei, atoms, and crystals induced by electrical, magnetic, or gravitational fields.
Consider a Free nucleus of mass m with an initial energy Ei , which emits a
gamma-ray photon and ends up with the final energy Ef . Initially the nucleus is at
rest and after the decay let its speed be v. We assume the motion of the nucleus to
be non-relativistic.

a) Write the energy and momentum conservation laws for the decay process. [2]

b) After solving the above equations find the energy of the emitted gamma-ray
photon is terms of E0 Ei Ef and other quantities mentioned above. [1]

c) Does your answer match with the Bohrs expression for atomic transitions?
Write one or two sentences in support of your answer. ( Dont worry about the
quality of your English). [1]

Next consider the case where the nucleus is not treated as a free object but
rather bound inside the lattice. We make a model of this by treating the
lattice as another block of mass M which is bound to the nucleus with a spring
whose constant is k. It should be apparent that M >> m but nonetheless we
are not going to take it to be infinite at the moment.
We now allow the nuclear decay to take place as before. For the sake of simplicity
we assume the motion of the (nucleus + Block + spring) system to take place
along the same line as the momentum of the emitted gamma-ray.

d) What would be the energy and momentum conservation equations for the new
system? [2]
mM
e) Proceeding as in the earlier case, and introducing the reduced mass m+M
and the relative velocity between the masses find the energy of the emitted
gamma-ray. [3]

f) What is the difference with the freenucleus case? [1]

1
2 Stimulated by a LASER beam: Marks 8
LASER is an integral part of our modern day technology. It employs the concept
of Stimulated radiation, which was introduced by Einstein in his derivation of the
Planck formula. Following Einsteinsargument ,let us assume that we have a single
species of atoms immersed in a bath of radiation and to simplify the calculations let
us further assume that the system has two energy levels 1 and 2 with energies E1 and
E2 respectively with E1 > E2 . Let the number of atoms in levels 1 and 2 be N1 and
N2 respectively.
The radiation consists of photons which are absorbed as well as emitted by the
atoms. Atoms in level 1 can excite to level 2 by absorbing photons while atoms in
level 2 can decay to level 1 either by decaying (spontaneously). . Note that the 1
2 transition thus depends on the density of the photons. So the rate at which atoms
undergo the1 2 transition is given by
n12 = B(E)N1
while the spontaneous 2 1 decay will be given by
n021 = AN2
a) Assuming thermal equilibrium and the absence of any other process , find the
A
ratio B at a function of temperature.Assume that the atom themselves satisfy
the Boltzmann distribution. ( Hint: You need to use the Boltzmann distribution
E
n = ge kT , where n is the number of particles carrying energy E among a total
of g particles). [2]

To reproduce the Planck formula Einstein introduced the concept of stimulated

radiation where the atom decays from level 2 by emitting a photon II which is
an exact copy of the already present photon I ( see figure).
b) What would be the rate at which the stimulated decay will take place? [1]
c) What will be the new equilibrium condition after the introduction of this new
process? [2]
d) From the above using appropriate arguments deduce the Planck-Bose distribu-
tion for Photons. [3]

2
3 Where is all the Matter? : Marks 9
Vera Rubin is credited with the discovery of the galaxy rotation problem, which led
to the dark matter puzzle. We will retrace the steps involved in understanding the
problem and its possible resolution(s).
Let us begin with a disk shaped galaxy -the accompanying figure shows the side
view ( that is seen from the edge towards the center) of the galaxy. The galaxy
has a bulging center which is surrounded by a disk like structure. Such galaxies are
often seen to be rotating about their individual centers along the plane containing
the galaxy.

a) Consider a star belonging the disk of the galaxy which is rotating about the
center. Find the equation that gives its angular frequency of the rotation as a
function of the distance from the galaxy center and the mass of the galaxy that
is contained within the orbit of the star. [1]

b) Assume that the mass of the galaxy is all contained within a sphere of radius
R0 . Thus obtain the graph of the angular frequency (r) as a function of the
orbit radius r. Your plot must cover both r < R0 and r > R0 regions. [2]

c) Observation of the rotation rates of the galaxies by Vera Rubin and coworkers
produced a curve of the following form for a large number of galaxies.

Figure 1: Angular velocity vs radial distance for an observed galaxy

How could one explain this curve? [2]

3
 d) Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) provides another possible explanation
of this result. One claims that for very small accelerations, compared to a fixed
value a0 , the Newtons law assumes a different form.
a0
ma( ) = FN
a
where (x) is an interpolating function, which is linear for large values of x. FN
is the standard Newtonian gravitational force.

e) Show that this choice indeed is required for establishing the standard Newtons
law. [1]
1
f) A standard choice for the interpolating function is (x) = q 1
. How does
1+
x2

this choice produces the observed behavior of the rotation curves? [3]

4 Confused Experimentalist: Marks 3

a) An experimentalist intends to measure the volume of a box and thus measures
the three sides of the box with a meter stick whose smallest division is 1mm.
The sides are measured 11.4mm, 23.7mm and 7.3mm.

a) How would you write the measurement results for these three sides? [1]
b) What would be the result for your volume measurement and the error
incorporated in it? [2]