17

MasteringPhysics: Assignment Print View
Cross Section for Asteroid Impact

In this problem, you will estimate the cross section for an earth-asteroid collision. In all that
follows, assume that the earth is fixed in space and that the radius of the asteroid is much
less than the radius of the earth. The mass of the earth is , and the mass of the
asteroid is . Use for the universal gravitational constant.
Part A
Far away from the earth, the asteroid is moving with speed and has impact parameter ,
as shown in the figure. In this large-separation limit, the distance from the asteroid to the
earth is taken to be infinite. Find the total initial energy of the asteroid.
Hint A.1 Gravitational potential energy

The gravitational potential energy is proportional to and approaches zero for large
values of .
Express your answer in terms of , , , , and .
ANSWER:
=
Answer
Requested
Part B
http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (1 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

For large earth-asteroid separation, what is the magnitude of the asteroid's total angular
momentum about the center of the earth?
Hint B.1 Definition of angular momentum

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
= Answer
Requested
Part C
The maximum impact parameter for which collision is guaranteed, , is obtained by
setting the minimum earth-asteroid separation equal to the radius of the earth. This is
the configuration shown in the figure. In this case, it is clear that the velocity of the asteroid
right before it hits the earth is tangent to the surface and therefore perpendicular to the
position vector that points from the center of the earth to the asteroid.
When , what is the total energy of the asteroid the instant before it
crashes into the earth? Assume that the speed of the asteroid at closest approach is .
Hint C.1 Potential energy

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
=
Answer
Requested
Part D

Again, suppose that . What is the angular momentum of the asteroid the
moment before it crashes into the earth's surface?
Hint D.1 Direction of velocity before impact

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
= Answer
Requested
Part E
Use conservation of energy and angular momentum to find an expression for .
Hint E.1 Find the final velocity

Hint not displayed
Express your answer as a function of , , , and .
ANSWER:
=
Answer
Requested
Part F
The collision cross section represents the effective target area "seen" by the asteroid
and is found by multiplying by . If the asteroid comes into this area, it is
guaranteed to collide with the earth.
A simple representation of the cross section is obtained when we write in terms of ,
the escape speed from the surface of the earth. First, find an expression for , and let
, where is a constant of proportionality. Then combine this with your result for
to write a simple-looking expression for in terms of and .
Hint F.1 Find the escape speed

Hint not displayed

Express the collision cross section in terms of and .
ANSWER:
=
Answer
Requested
Part G
The point of origin of a typical asteroid might lie at a radius of about (astronomical
units; ) from the sun, the approximate location of the asteroid belt.
Calculate the effective target cross section of the earth as seen by the asteroid. Assume
the asteroid's orbit is cicular.
Hint G.1 Useful constants

Hint not displayed
Hint G.2 Find the orbital speed of the asteroid

Hint not displayed
Hint G.3 Calculate a value for

Hint not displayed
Give your answer as a multiple of the area of the disk of the earth, .
ANSWER: 1.44
= Answer
Requested
Therefore, because of the gravitational attraction of the asteroid by the earth, the
effective target cross section seen by the asteroid is more than 40% larger then the
earth's geometric cross section of .
Energy of a Spacecraft

Very far from earth (at ), a spacecraft has run out of fuel and its kinetic energy is
zero. If only the gravitational force of the earth were to act on it (i.e., neglect the forces from
the sun and other solar system objects), the spacecraft would eventually crash into the
earth. The mass of the earth is and its radius is . Neglect air resistance throughout
this problem, since the spacecraft is primarily moving through the near vacuum of space.
Part A
Find the speed of the spacecraft when it crashes into the earth.
Hint A.1 How to approach the problem

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Total energy

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Potential energy

Hint not displayed
Express the speed in terms of , , and the universal gravitational

constant .
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Part B
Now find the spacecraft's speed when its distance from the center of the earth is
, where .
Hint B.1 General approach

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 First step in finding the speed

Hint not displayed
Express the speed in terms of and .

ANSWER:
=
All attempts used; correct answer
displayed
Gravitational Acceleration inside a Planet

Consider a spherical planet of uniform density . The distance from the planet's center to its
surface (i.e., the planet's radius) is . An object is located a distance from the center of
the planet, where . (The object is located inside of the planet.)
Part A
Find an expression for the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity, , inside the
planet.
Hint A.1 Force due to planet's mass outside radius

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the force on an object at distance

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Finding from
Hint not displayed
Express the acceleration due to gravity in terms of , , , and , the

universal gravitational constant.
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Part B

Rewrite your result for in terms of , the gravitational acceleration at the surface of
the planet, times a function of R.
Hint B.1 Acceleration at the surface

Hint not displayed
Express your answer in terms of , , and .
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Notice that increases linearly with , rather than being proportional to . This
assures that it is zero at the center of the planet, as required by symmetry.
Part C
Find a numerical value for , the average density of the earth in kilograms per cubic
meter. Use for the radius of the earth, , and a
value of at the surface of .
Hint C.1 How to approach the problem

Hint not displayed
Calculate your answer to four significant digits.
ANSWER:
= 5497
Correct
Kepler's 3rd Law

A planet moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun. The mass of the sun is . The
minimum and maximum distances of the planet from the sun are and , respectively.
Part A
Using Kepler's 3rd law and Newton's law of universal gravitation, find the period of
revolution of the planet as it moves around the sun. Assume that the mass of the planet
is much smaller than the mass of the sun.
Use for the gravitational constant.
Hint A.1 Kepler's 3rd law

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the semi-major axis

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the period of a circular orbit

Hint not displayed
Express the period in terms of , , , and .
ANSWER:
=
Correct
The Dyson Sphere

The Dyson sphere is an hypothetical spherical structure centered around a star. Inspired by
a science fiction story, physicist Freeman Dyson described such a structure for the first time
in a scientific paper in 1959. His basic idea consisted of an artificial spherical structure of
matter built around a star at a distance comparable to a planetary orbit, with the purpose of
capturing the energy radiated by the star and reusing it for industrial purposes. Assume the
mass of the sun to be 2.00×1030 .
Part A

Consider a solid, rigid spherical shell with a thickness of 100 and a density of 3900
. The sphere is centered around the sun so that its inner surface is at a distance
of 1.50×1011 from the center of the sun. What is the net force that the sun would exert
on such a Dyson sphere were it to get displaced off-center by some small amount?

Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically in newtons.
ANSWER: 0
Correct
Since there is no net attraction between a hollow sphere and a body inside, a Dyson
sphere of this kind would be gravitationally unstable. If the sphere were hit by a
meteor and were slightly shifted, the sun would exert no force on it to bring it back to
its original position. The sphere would simply drift off and eventually hit the sun.
Because of this gravitational instability, Dyson himself did not originally suggest a
solid spherical shell; rather, he proposed a series of individual plates independently
orbiting the sun.
Part B
What is the net gravitational force on a unit mass located on the outer surface of the
Dyson sphere described in Part A?
Hint B.1 How to approach the problem

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Find the gravitational force exerted by the Dyson sphere
Hint not displayed
Hint B.3 Find the gravitational force exerted by the sun

Hint not displayed
Express your answer in newtons.
ANSWER:
= 6.26×10−3
Correct
Part C

What is the net gravitational force on a unit mass located on the inner surface of the
Dyson sphere described in Part A?
Hint C.1 How to approach the problem

Recall that there is no net attraction between a spherical shell and a point mass inside it;
therefore, the only contribution to the net gravitational force exerted on a unit mass
located on the inner surface of the Dyson sphere comes from the sun.
ANSWER: 5.93×10−3
= Answer
Requested
The gravitational attraction of the sun would make the inner surface of the Dyson sphere
described in Part A uninhabitable, because everything on the inner surface would slowly
accelerate toward the sun. One way to solve this problem would be to create artificial
gravity through rotation. Assume that the Dyson sphere rotates at a constant angular
speed around an axis through its center so that earthlike gravity is re-created along the
inner equator of the Dyson sphere. Take the radius of the Earth to be 6.38×106 and the
mass of the Earth to be 5.97×1024 .
Part D
What is the linear speed of a unit mass located at the inner equator of such a sphere?
Hint D.1 How to approach the problem

Because of the constant rotation of the sphere, the mass at the inner equator moves
along a circular path with constant angular speed; thus it has only a centripetal
acceleration. There must be then a net force directed toward the center of the sphere.
The only forces acting on the mass are the gravitational force of the sun and the normal
force exerted by the surface of the sphere. To create the same gravitational conditions
as on earth, the normal force exerted on the mass at the inner equator must be equal to
the normal force exerted on a unit mass at earth's equator, since the normal force
corresponds to the acceleration felt by a person on the inner surface of the Dyson
sphere.
Hint D.2 Find the net force at the inner surface of a rotating hollow
sphere

Consider a spinning hollow sphere with a particle located at its center. Let be the
magnitude of the gravitational force that the particle exerts on a unit mass located on the
inner surface of the sphere and let be the magnitude of the normal force exerted by
the surface of the sphere on the unit mass. What is the magnitude of the net force
acting on the unit mass?
ANSWER:
Answer not displayed
Hint D.3 Find the normal force acting on a unit mass on earth's
surface
What is the magnitude of the normal force acting on a unit mass located on the
surface of the earth?
Hint D.3.1 Acceleration of gravity

Hint not displayed
ANSWER: = Answer not displayed
Hint D.4 Equation for centripetal acceleration

Recall that the equation relating the centripetal acceleration of an object spinning
about a point a distance away at a speed is given by
Express your answer in meters per second.
ANSWER: 1.21×106
= Answer
Requested
The stresses generated by such rotation would be so intense that no material would
be able to sustain them, another reason for which such a Dyson sphere would not be

physically feasible. Nevertheless, it remains popular among many science-fiction

authors!
Gravitational Force of Three Identical Masses

Three identical masses of 700 each are placed on the x axis. One mass is at = -130
, one is at the origin, and one is at = 390 .
Part A
What is the magnitude of the net gravitational force on the mass at the origin due to
the other two masses?
Take the gravitational constant to be = 6.67×10−11 .

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Calculate the gravitational force from the first mass
Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Determine the direction of the gravitational force from the
first mass
Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Calculate the gravitational force from the second mass
Hint not displayed
Hint A.5 Determine the direction of the gravitational force from the
second mass
Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
= 1.72×10−5
Correct
Part B

What is the direction of the net gravitational force on the mass at the origin due to the
other two masses?
ANSWER: +x direction
-x direction
Correct
The closer together two masses are, the stronger is the gravitational attraction
between them. Thus, the mass at the origin is more strongly attracted to the mass at
= -130 than it is to the mass at = 390 . Thus, the net force on the mass
at the origin is in the -x direction.
Weight on a Neutron Star

Neutron stars, such as the one at the center of the Crab Nebula, have about the same mass
as our sun but a much smaller diameter.
Part A
If you weigh 665 on the earth, what would be your weight on the surface of a neutron
star that has the same mass as our sun and a diameter of 17.0 ?
Take the mass of the sun to be = 1.99×1030 , the gravitational constant to be
= 6.67×10−11 , and the acceleration due to gravity at the earth's surface to
be = 9.810 .

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Law of universal gravitation

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Calculate your mass

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Calculate the distance between you and the star
Hint not displayed
Express your weight in newtons.

ANSWER: 1.25×1014
= All attempts used; correct answer
displayed
This is over times your weight on earth! You probably shouldn't venture there....
Matching Initial Position and Velocity of Oscillator

Learning Goal: Understand how to determine the constants in the general equation for
simple harmonic motion, in terms of given initial conditions.
A common problem in physics is to match the particular initial conditions - generally given as
an initial position and velocity at - once you have obtained the general solution.
You have dealt with this problem in kinematics, where the formula
1.
has two arbitrary constants (technically constants of integration that arise when finding the
position given that the acceleration is a constant). The constants in this case are the initial
position and velocity, so "fitting" the general solution to the initial conditions is very simple.
For simple harmonic motion, it is more difficult to fit the initial conditions, which we take to be
, the position of the oscillator at , and
, the velocity of the oscillator at .
There are two common forms for the general solution for the position of a harmonic
oscillator as a function of time :
2. and
3. ,
where , , , and are constants, is the oscillation frequency, and is time.
Although both expressions have two arbitrary constants--parameters that can be adjusted to
fit the solution to the initial conditions--Equation 3 is much easier to use to
accommodate and . (Equation 2 would be appropriate if the initial conditions were
specified as the total energy and the time of the first zero crossing, for example.)
Part A

Find and in terms of the initial position and velocity of the oscillator.
Hint A.1 The only good way to start

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Using kinematic relationships

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Initial position

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Initial velocity

Hint not displayed
Give your answers in terms of , , and . Separate your answers with a

comma.
ANSWER:
, =
Correct
A Pivoting Rod on a Spring

A slender, uniform metal rod of mass and length is pivoted without friction about an
axis through its midpoint and perpendicular to the rod. A horizontal spring, assumed
massless and with force constant , is attached to the lower end of the rod, with the other
end of the spring attached to a rigid support.

Part A
We start by analyzing the torques acting on the rod when it is deflected by a small angle
from the vertical. Consider first the torque due to gravity. Which of the following statements
most accurately describes the effect of gravity on the rod?
Choose the best answer.
ANSWER: Under the action of gravity alone the rod would move
to a horizontal position. But for small deflections from
the vertical the torque due to gravity is sufficiently
small to be ignored.
Under the action of gravity alone the rod would move
to a vertical position. But for small deflections from the
vertical the restoring force due to gravity is sufficiently
small to be ignored.
There is no torque due to gravity on the rod.
Correct
Assume that the spring is relaxed (exerts no torque on the rod) when the rod is vertical.
The rod is displaced by a small angle from the vertical.
Part B

Find the torque due to the spring. Assume that is small enough that the spring
remains effectively horizontal and you can approximate (and ).
Hint B.1 Find the change in spring length

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Find the moment arm

Hint not displayed
Express the torque as a function of and other parameters of the problem.
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Since the torque is opposed to the deflection and increases linearly with it, the
system will undergo angular simple harmonic motion.
Part C
What is the angular frequency of oscillations of the rod?
Hint C.1 How to find the oscillation frequency

Hint not displayed
Hint C.2 Solve the angular equation of motion

Hint not displayed
Hint C.3 Determine the moment of inertia of the rod

Hint not displayed
Express the angular frequency in terms of parameters given in the

introduction.
ANSWER:
=
Correct

Note that if the spring were simply attached to a mass , or if the mass of the rod
were concentrated at its ends, would be . The frequency is greater in this
case because mass near the pivot point doesn't move as much as the end of the
spring. What do you suppose the frequency of oscillation would be if the spring were
attached near the pivot point?
A Wobbling Bridge
On June 10, 2000, the Millennium Bridge, a new footbridge over the River Thames in
London, England, was opened to the public. However, after only two days, it had to be
closed to traffic for safety reasons. On the opening day, in fact, so many people were
crossing it at the same time that unexpected sideways oscillations of the bridge were
observed. Further investigations indicated that the oscillation was caused by lateral forces
produced by the synchronization of steps taken by the pedestrians. Although the origin of
this cadence synchronization was new to the engineers, its effect on the structure of the
bridge was very well known. The combined forces exerted by the pedestrians as they were
walking in synchronization had a frequency very close to the natural frequency of the bridge,
and so resonance occurred.
Consider an oscillating system of mass and natural angular frequency . When the
system is subjected to a periodic external (driving) force, whose maximum value is
and angular frequency is , the amplitude of the driven oscillations is
where is the force constant of the system and is the damping constant.
We will use this simple model to study the oscillations of the Millennium Bridge.
Part A

Assume that, when we walk, in addition to a fluctuating vertical force, we exert a periodic
lateral force of amplitude 25 at a frequency of about 1 . Given that the mass of the
bridge is about 2000 per linear meter, how many people were walking along the
144- -long central span of the bridge at one time, when an oscillation amplitude of 75
was observed in that section of the bridge? Take the damping constant to be such
that the amplitude of the undriven oscillations would decay to of its original value in a
time , where is the period of the undriven, undamped system.

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the maximum value of the driving force when resonance
occurs
Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the damping constant

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Find the total number of synchronized pedestrians

Hint not displayed
Hint A.5 Find the mass of the bridge

Hint not displayed
Hint A.6 Find the angular frequency

Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically to three significant figures.
ANSWER: 1810
number of people = Answer
Requested
Video footage of the crowd on the bridge taken on the opening day confirmed that up
to 2000 people were walking on the bridge at one time!
Note that the synchronization of the pedestrians' gait observed on the Millennium
Bridge is somewhat different from the organized marching of an army of soldiers,
even though they can both cause similar effects. The pedestrians in London did not
deliberately walk in step; rather, they subconsciously synchronized their pace to the
bridge's sideways, left-to-right swaying motions. The more the bridge shook, the more

people involuntarily walked in step with each other, which caused the bridge to shake
even more.
Part B
What would the amplitude of oscillation of the Millennium Bridge have been on the
opening day if the damping effects had been three times more effective?

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 What formula to consider

Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically in millimeters to three significant figures.
ANSWER: 25
= Answer
Requested
As you found out, a resonance response can be considerably reduced by increasing

the damping. To prevent resonance from occuring again, engineers installed a series
of dampers underneath the deck of the bridge and, after several tests, the Millennium
Bridge was succefully reopened to the public.
Damped Egg on a Spring

A 50.0- hard-boiled egg moves on the end of a spring with force constant .
It is released with an amplitude 0.300 . A damping force acts on the egg. After
it oscillates for 5.00 , the amplitude of the motion has decreased to 0.100 .
Part A

Calculate the magnitude of the damping coefficient .
Hint A.1 How damped is it?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 What formula to use

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the amplitude

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Solving for in

Hint not displayed
Express the magnitude of the damping coefficient numerically in kilograms

per second, to three significant figures.
ANSWER:
= 2.20×10−2 kg/s
Correct
Measuring the Acceleration Due to Gravity with a Speaker

To measure the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity in an unorthodox manner, a
student places a ball bearing on the concave side of a flexible speaker cone . The speaker
cone acts as a simple harmonic
oscillator whose amplitude is and
whose frequency can be varied.
The student can measure both
and with a strobe light. Take the
equation of motion of the oscillator
as
,
where and the y axis
points upward.
Part A

If the ball bearing has mass , find , the magnitude of the normal force exerted by
the speaker cone on the ball bearing as a function of time.
Hint A.1 Determine the total force on the ball bearing

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the acceleration of the ball bearing

Hint not displayed
Your result should be in terms of , (or ), , , a phase angle , and the

constant .
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Part B
The frequency is slowly increased. Once it passes the critical value , the student hears
the ball bounce. There is now enough information to calculate . What is ?
Hint B.1 Determine the force on the ball bearing when it loses contact
Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Find the value of when the ball loses contact
Hint not displayed
Hint B.3 Relation between and

Hint not displayed
Express the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity in terms of and

.
ANSWER:
=
Correct

Oscillations of a Balanced Object

Two identical thin rods, each of mass and length , are joined at right angles to form an
L-shaped object. This object is balanced on top of a sharp edge . If the object is displaced
slightly, it oscillates.
Assume that the magnitude of the
acceleration due to gravity is .
Part A
Find , the angular frequency of oscillation of the object.
Hint A.1 Determine the angular frequency of a physical pendulum

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Calculate

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the moment of inertia

Hint not displayed
Your answer for the angular frequency may contain the given variables
and as well as .
ANSWER:
=
Correct

Period of a Mass-Spring System Ranking Task

Different mass crates are placed on top of springs of uncompressed length and stiffness
. The crates are released and the springs compress to a length before bringing the
crates back up to their original
positions.
Part A
Rank the time required for the crates to return to their initial positions from largest to
smallest.
Hint A.1 Formula for the period

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Determining the mass

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Determining

Hint not displayed
Rank from largest to smallest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

ANSWER:
View
displayed
Springs in Series
In this problem you will study two cases of springs connected in series that will enable you
to draw a general conclusion.
Two springs in series
Consider two massless springs connected in series. Spring 1 has a spring constant ,
and spring 2 has a spring constant . A constant force of magnitude is being applied
to the right. When the two springs are connected in this way, they form a system
equivalent to a single spring of spring constant .
Part A

What is the effective spring constant of the two-spring system?
Hint A.1 Free-body diagram

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Free-body diagram for spring 2

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Determine the extension of spring 2

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Determine the extension of spring 1

Hint not displayed
Hint A.5 Determine the total extension of the two springs

Hint not displayed
Hint A.6 Replace and

Hint not displayed
Hint A.7 Determine the extension of the equivalent system

Hint not displayed
Hint A.8 Solving for

Hint not displayed
Express the effective spring constant in terms of and .
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Three springs in series

Now consider three springs set up in series as shown. The spring constants are , ,
and , and the force acting to the
right again has magnitude .
Part B
Find the spring constant of the three-spring system.
Express your answer in terms of , , and .
ANSWER:
=
Correct
You have now found the pattern for the general form of the overall spring constant of
a set of springs connected in series. This result will be similar to the one for the total
capacitance of a set of capacitors attached in series that you will see when you study
electric circuits.
Weighing Lunch

For lunch you and your friends decide to stop at the nearest deli and have a sandwich made
fresh for you with 0.300 of Italian ham. The slices of ham are weighed on a plate of
mass 0.400 placed atop a vertical spring of negligible mass and force constant of 200
. The slices of ham are dropped on the plate all at the same time from a height
of 0.250 . They make a totally inelastic collision with the plate and set the scale into
vertical simple harmonic motion (SHM). You may assume that the collision time is extremely
small.
Part A
What is the amplitude of oscillation of the scale after the slices of ham land on the plate?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the position of the plate and the ham immediately after
the collision
Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the speed of the plate and the ham immediately after
the collision
Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 How to find by matching initial conditions

Hint not displayed
Hint A.5 Find using energy conservation

Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically in meters and take free-fall acceleration

to be = 9.80 .
ANSWER: 5.80×10−2
= All attempts used; correct answer
displayed
Part B

What is the period of oscillation of the scale?
Hint B.1 Period of oscillation in SHM

Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically in seconds.
ANSWER:
= 0.372
Correct
Gravity on Another Planet

After landing on an unfamiliar planet, a space explorer constructs a simple pendulum of
length 53.0 . The explorer finds that the pendulum completes 102 full swing cycles in a
time of 142 .
Part A
What is the value of the acceleration of gravity on this planet?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Calculate the period

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Equation for the period

Hint not displayed
Express your answer in meters per second per second.
ANSWER:
= 10.8
Correct
The Fish Scale

The scale of a spring balance reading from 0 to 190 has a length of 11.0 . A fish
hanging from the bottom of the spring oscillates vertically at a frequency of 2.25 .
Part A
Ignoring the mass of the spring, what is the mass of the fish?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Calculate the spring constant

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Calculate the angular frequency

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Formula for the angular frequency of a mass on a spring

Hint not displayed
Express your answer in kilograms.
ANSWER:
= 8.64
Correct
Vibrating Hydrogen Molecule

When displaced from equilibrium by a small amount, the two hydrogen atoms in an
molecule are acted on by a restoring force with = 500 .
Part A

Calculate the oscillation frequency of the molecule. Use as the

"effective mass" of the system, where in the mass of a hydrogen atom.
Hint A.1 Formula for the oscillation frequency

Hint not displayed
Take the mass of a hydrogen atom as 1.008 , where .

Express your answer in hertz.
ANSWER:
= 1.23×1014
Correct
Ant on a Tightrope
A large ant is standing on the middle of a circus tightrope that is stretched with tension .
The rope has mass per unit length . Wanting to shake the ant off the rope, a tightrope
walker moves her foot up and down near the end of the tightrope, generating a sinusoidal
transverse wave of wavelength and amplitude . Assume that the magnitude of the
acceleration due to gravity is .
Part A
What is the minimum wave amplitude such that the ant will become momentarily
weightless at some point as the wave passes underneath it? Assume that the mass of the
ant is too small to have any effect on the wave propagation.
Hint A.1 Weight and weightless

Hint not displayed

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the maximum acceleration of the string

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Putting it all together

Hint not displayed

Express the minimum wave amplitude in terms of , , , and .
ANSWER:
Correct
Fundamental Wavelength and Frequency Ranking Task

A combination work of art/musical instrument is illustrated. Six pieces of identical piano wire
(cut to different lengths) are hung
from the same support, and masses
are hung from the free end of each
wire. Each wire is 1, 2, or 3 units
long, and each supports 1, 2, or 4
units of mass. The mass of each
wire is negligible compared to the
total mass hanging from it. When a
strong breeze blows, the wires
vibrate and create an eerie sound.
Part A
Rank each wire-mass system on the basis of its fundamental wavelength.
Hint A.1 Identify the fundamental wavelength

Hint not displayed

ANSWER:
View
Correct
Part B
Rank each wire-mass system on the basis of its wave speed.
Hint B.1 Factors that determine wave speed

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Tension in the wires

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
View
Correct
Part C

Rank each wire-mass system on the basis of its fundamental frequency.
Hint C.1 Find an equation for the fundamental frequency

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
View
Correct
Wave and Particle Velocity Vector Drawing

A long string is stretched and its left end is oscillated upward and downward. Two points on
the string are labeled A and B.
Part A
At the instant shown, orient and to correctly represent the direction of the wave
velocity at points A and B.
Hint A.1 Distinguishing between wave velocity and particle velocity

A wave is a collective disturbance that, typically, travels through some medium, in this
case along a string. The velocity of the individual particles of the medium are quite
distinct from the velocity of the wave as it passes through the medium. In fact, in a
transverse wave such as a wave on a string, the wave velocity and particle velocities are
perpendicular.
Hint A.2 Wave velocity

A wave on a stretched string travels away from the source of the wave along the length
of the string.
At each of the points A and B, rotate the given vector to indicate the
direction of the wave velocity.

ANSWER:
View
Correct
Part B
At the instant shown, orient the given vectors and to correctly represent the
direction of the velocity of points A and B.
Hint B.1 Distinguishing between wave velocity and particle velocity

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Determining velocity from a snapshot

Hint not displayed
Hint B.3 Find the change in point A’s position

Hint not displayed
Hint B.4 Find the change in point B’s position

Hint not displayed
At each of the points A and B, rotate the given vector to indicate the
direction of the velocity.
ANSWER:
View
Correct

Wave in a Dangling Rope

A uniform rope of length and negligible stiffness hangs from a solid fixture in the ceiling .
Part A
The free lower end of the rope is struck sharply at time . What is the time it takes
the resulting wave on the rope to travel to the ceiling, be reflected, and return to the lower
end of the rope?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Wave equation for a string

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the general speed of the wave

Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Find the speed of the wave at

Hint not displayed
Hint A.5 Find the time

Hint not displayed
Express your answer in terms of and constants such as (the magnitude

of the acceleration due to gravity), , etc.
ANSWER:
=
Correct
Notice the similarities between this result and the period of a simple ideal pendulum
of length (which has a period of ( ). Not surprisingly, these two times
are closely related. In the first case, the time does not depend on the mass of the
rope; in the second, the time does not depend on the mass of the pendulum.
Wave Propagation in a String of Varying Density

Consider a string of total length , made up of three segments of equal length. The mass
per unit length of the first segment is , that of the second is , and that of the third .
The third segment is tied to a wall, and the string is stretched by a force of magnitude
applied to the first segment; is much greater than the total weight of the string.
Part A
How long will it take a transverse wave to propagate from one end of the string to the
other?
Hint A.1 How do the segments differ?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Example: speed in the second segment

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Some math help

Hint not displayed
Express the time in terms of , , and .

ANSWER:
=
Correct
The changes in density along the string are sudden, and the wave will experience
them as boundaries. This will cause a fraction of the wave (energy, amplitude) to be
reflected, while the rest is transmitted at each boundary. Although this will not affect
the time it takes for the wave to reach the end of the string (thus it is not directly
relevant to this question), the wave's amplitude will be reduced. Also, after the main
wave has arrived, we may observe later arrivals of waves that have reflected back
and forth between the boundaries before finally reaching the end of the string.
Harmonics of a Piano Wire

A piano tuner stretches a steel piano wire with a tension of 765 . The steel wire has a
length of 0.700 and a mass of 5.25 .
Part A
What is the frequency of the string's fundamental mode of vibration?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the mass per unit length

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Equation for the fundamental frequency of a string under

tension
Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically in hertz using three significant figures.
ANSWER:
= 228
Correct
Part B

What is the number of the highest harmonic that could be heard by a person who is
capable of hearing frequencies up to = 16 kHz?
Hint B.1 Harmonics of a string

Hint not displayed
Express your answer exactly.
ANSWER:
= 70
Correct
When solving this problem, you may have found a noninteger value for , but
harmonics can only be integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
Beat Frequency Ranking Task

An all female guitar septet is getting ready to go on stage. The lead guitarist, Kira,who is
always in tune, plucks her low E string and the other six members, sequentially, do the
same. Each member records the initial beat frequency between her low E string and
Kira's low E string.
Part A
Rank each member on the basis of the frequency of her low E string.
Hint A.1 Beat frequency

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the frequency of Aiko's E string

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
View
Correct

Because the beat frequency between Kira's guitar and Diane's guitar is 0 , these
guitars play the exact same note and are in tune.
To tune an instrument using beats, more information than just the beat frequency is
needed. In addition to recording the initial beat frequency , each member, except
Diane, also records the change in the frequency (increase or decrease) when she
increases the tension in her low E string.
Part B
Rank each member on the basis of the initial frequency of her low E string.
Hint B.1 Determine the relationship between tension and beat

frequency
Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Determine the initial frequency of Aiko's E string

Hint not displayed
ANSWER:
View
displayed
Breathe Quietly to Avoid Detection

The sound of normal breathing is not very loud, with an intensity of about 11 dB at a
distance of 1 m away from the face of the breather.
Note that in this problem sound intensity in decibels is denoted ; intensity in is
denoted .
Part A
Given that a person with normal hearing can barely detect a sound with intensity of 1 dB at
a frequency of 1 kHz (the sensitivity of the human ear peaking near 1 kHz), how far away
could this person detect another person breathing normally?
Hint A.1 Find the decibel change corresponding to a change in the

distance from the source
Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Determine the numerical value for

Hint not displayed
Express the distance in meters.
ANSWER:
= 3.16 m
Correct
Part B
In general, if a sound has intensity of dB at 1 m from the source, at what distance
from the source would the decibel level decrease to 0 dB? Since the limit of hearing is 1
dB this would mean you could no longer hear it.
Hint B.1 Find the decibel decrease corresponding to an increase in

distance from the source
Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Solving equations involving logarithmic functions

Hint not displayed
Express the distance in terms of . Be careful about your signs!

ANSWER:
= m
displayed
Interference of Sound Waves

Two loudspeakers, A and B, are driven by the same amplifier and emit sinusoidal waves in
phase. The frequency of the waves emitted by each speaker is 172 . You are 8.00
from speaker A. Take the speed of sound in air to be 344 .
Part A
What is the closest you can be to speaker B and be at a point of destructive interference?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the wavelength of the sound wave

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the condition for destructive interference

Hint not displayed
Express your answer in meters.
ANSWER: 1.00
Correct
Two Loudspeakers in an Open Field

Imagine you are in an open field where two loudspeakers are set up and connected to the
same amplifier so that they emit sound waves in phase at 688 . Take the speed of sound
in air to be 344 .
Part A
If you are 3.00 from speaker A directly to your right and 3.50 from speaker B directly
to your left, will the sound that you hear be louder than the sound you would hear if only
one speaker were in use?

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Constructive and destructive interference

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the wavelength of the sound

Hint not displayed
ANSWER: yes
no
Correct
Because the path difference is equal to the wavelength of the sound, the sound
originating at the two speakers will interfere constructively at your location and you
will perceive a louder sound.
Part B

What is the shortest distance you need to walk forward to be at a point where you
cannot hear the speakers?

Hint not displayed
Hint B.2 Find the path-length difference at a point of destructive

interference
Hint not displayed
Hint B.3 Find your distance from speaker A

Hint not displayed
Express your answers in meters to three significant figures.
ANSWER:
= 5.62
Correct
A Pipe Filled with Helium

A certain organ pipe, open at both ends, produces a fundamental frequency of 256 in
air.
Part A
If the pipe is filled with helium at the same temperature, what fundamental frequency
will it produce? Take the molar mass of air to be 28.8 and the molar mass of helium
to be 4.00 .

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the length of the pipe

Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the speed of sound in helium

Hint not displayed

Express your answer in hertz.
ANSWER:
= 750
Correct
Because helium is less dense than air and has a lower molar mass, sound waves
propagate faster in helium than in air. Thus, the frequencies produced in the pipe
when it is filled with helium are higher than those produced in the same pipe filled
with air.
Part B
Now consider a pipe that is stopped (i.e., closed at one end) but still has a fundamental
frequency of 256 in air. How does your answer to Part A, , change?
Hint B.1 How to approach the question

Hint not displayed
ANSWER: increases.
decreases.
stays the same.
Correct
The fundamental frequency of the pipe in helium is given by .

This relationship is independent of the length of the pipe or whether the pipe is open
or stopped. A relationship of this type, known as a scaling law, is very powerful
because it allows you to solve problems without knowing all of the values that would
normally be relevant. In this case, you can determine the frequency in helium
knowing only the frequency in air and the ratio of the speed of sound in helium to that
in air.
The Beat Heard by a Bat

A bat flies toward a wall, emitting a steady sound with a frequency of 25.0 . This bat
hears its own sound plus the sound reflected by the wall.
Part A
How fast should the bat fly, , to hear a beat frequency of 215 ?
Take the speed of sound to be 344 .

Hint not displayed
Hint A.2 Find the frequency of the wave bouncing off the wall
Hint not displayed
Hint A.3 Find the frequency of the echo that the bat hears
Hint not displayed
Hint A.4 Find the expression for the beat frequency

Hint not displayed
Hint A.5 Working the math

Hint not displayed
Express your answer numerically in meters per second to three significant

figures.
ANSWER:
= 1.54
Correct

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What is the total initial energy of the asteroid far away from Earth?

What is the total initial energy of the asteroid far away from Earth?

What is the maximum impact parameter for which collision is guaranteed?

What is the maximum impact parameter for which collision is guaranteed?

MasteringPhysics: Assignment Print View

Cross Section for Asteroid Impact

Hint A.1 Gravitational potential energy

Express your answer in terms of , , , , and .

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (1 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Hint B.1 Definition of angular momentum

Express your answer in terms of , , , , and .

Hint C.1 Potential energy

Express your answer in terms of , , , , and .

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (2 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Hint D.1 Direction of velocity before impact

Express your answer in terms of , , , , and .

Use conservation of energy and angular momentum to find an expression for .

Hint E.1 Find the final velocity

Express your answer as a function of , , , and .

Hint F.1 Find the escape speed

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (3 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Express the collision cross section in terms of and .

Hint G.1 Useful constants

Hint G.2 Find the orbital speed of the asteroid

Hint G.3 Calculate a value for

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (4 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Hint A.1 How to approach the problem

Hint A.2 Total energy

Hint A.3 Potential energy

Express the speed in terms of , , and the universal gravitational

Hint B.1 General approach

Hint B.2 First step in finding the speed

Express the speed in terms of and .

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (5 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Gravitational Acceleration inside a Planet

Hint A.1 Force due to planet's mass outside radius

Hint A.2 Find the force on an object at distance

Hint A.3 Finding from

Hint not displayed

Express the acceleration due to gravity in terms of , , , and , the

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (6 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Hint B.1 Acceleration at the surface

Express your answer in terms of , , and .

value of at the surface of .

Hint C.1 How to approach the problem

Calculate your answer to four significant digits.

Kepler's 3rd Law

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (7 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Hint A.1 Kepler's 3rd law

Hint A.2 Find the semi-major axis

Hint A.3 Find the period of a circular orbit

Express the period in terms of , , , and .

The Dyson Sphere

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (8 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]

Hint A.1 How to approach the problem

Express your answer numerically in newtons.

Hint B.1 How to approach the problem

Hint B.3 Find the gravitational force exerted by the sun

Express your answer in newtons.

http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct/assignmentPrintView?assignmentID=1484586 (9 of 46) [12/13/2010 7:10:03 PM]