216 Year 2018

2018 F = ma Exam 1

AAPT UNITED STATES PHYSICS TEAM

2018 F = ma Contest

25 QUESTIONS - 75 MINUTES

INSTRUCTIONS
DO NOT OPEN THIS TEST UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO BEGIN

• Use g = 10 N/kg throughout this contest.

• You may write in this booklet of questions. However, you will not receive any credit for anything
written in this booklet.

• Your answer to each question must be marked on the optical mark answer sheet.

• Select the single answer that provides the best response to each question. Please be sure to use a
No. 2 pencil and completely fill the box corresponding to your choice. If you change an answer, the
previous mark must be completely erased.

• Correct answers will be awarded one point; incorrect answers and leaving an answer blank will be
awarded zero points. There is no additional penalty for incorrect answers.

• A hand-held calculator may be used. Its memory must be cleared of data and programs. You may
use only the basic functions found on a simple scientific calculator. Calculators may not be shared.
Cell phones may not be used during the exam or while the exam papers are present. You may not
use any tables, books, or collections of formulas.

• This test contains 25 multiple choice questions. Your answer to each question must be marked on
the optical mark answer sheet that accompanies the test. Only the boxes preceded by numbers 1
through 25 are to be used on the answer sheet.

• All questions are equally weighted, but are not necessarily the same level of difficulty.

• In order to maintain exam security, do not communicate any information about the
questions (or their answers or solutions) on this contest until after February 20, 2018.

• The question booklet and answer sheet will be collected at the end of this exam. You may not use
scratch paper.

DO NOT OPEN THIS TEST UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO BEGIN

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2018 F = ma Exam B 2

1. A large lump of clay is dropped off of a wall and lands on the ground. Which graph best represents the
acceleration of the center of mass of the clay as a function of time?
(A) (B)
acceleration (arbitrary units)

acceleration (arbitrary units)

0 0

0 0
time (arbitrary units) time (arbitrary units)

(C) (D)
acceleration (arbitrary units)

acceleration (arbitrary units)

0 0

0 0
time (arbitrary units) time (arbitrary units)

(E)
acceleration (arbitrary units)

0
time (arbitrary units)

2. A uniform block of mass 10 kg is released at rest from the top of an incline with length 10 m and
inclination 30◦ , and slides to the bottom. The coefficients of static and kinetic friction are µs = µk = 0.1.
How much energy is dissipated due to friction?

(A) 0 J
(B) 22 J
(C) 43 J
(D) 87 J
(E) 164 J

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2018 F = ma Exam B 3

3. A 3.0 kg mass moving at 40 m/s to the right collides with and sticks to a 2.0 kg mass traveling at 20 m/s
to the right. After the collision, the kinetic energy of the system is closest to

(A) 600 J
(B) 1200 J
(C) 2600 J
(D) 2800 J
(E) 3400 J

4. A basketball is released from rest and bounces on the ground. Considering only the ball just before and
just after the bounce, which of the following statements must be true?

(A) The momentum and the total energy of the ball are conserved.
(B) The momentum of the ball is conserved, but not the kinetic energy.
(C) The total energy of the ball is conserved, but not the momentum.
(D) The kinetic energy of the ball is conserved, but not the momentum.
(E) Neither the kinetic energy of the ball nor the momentum is conserved.

5. The hard disk in a computer will spin up to speed within 10 rotations, but when turned off will spin
through 50 rotations before coming to a stop. Assuming the hard disk has constant angular acceleration
α1 and angular deceleration α2 , the ratio α1 /α2 is

(A) 1/5
√
(B) 1/ 5
√
(C) 5
(D) 5
(E) 25

6. A massless beam of length L is fixed on one end. A downward force F is applied to the free end of the
beam, deflecting the beam downward by a distance x. The deflection x is linear in F and is inversely
proportional to the cross-section moment I, which has units m4 . The deflection is also dependent on
Young’s modulus E, which has units N/m2 . Then x depends on L according to
√
(A) x ∝ L
(B) x ∝ L
(C) x ∝ L2
(D) x ∝ L3
(E) x ∝ L4

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2018 F = ma Exam B 4

7. A pendulum of length L oscillates inside a box. A person picks up the box and gently shakes it vertically
with frequency ω and a fixed amplitude for a fixed time. To maximize the final amplitude of the pendulum,
ω should satisfy
p
(A) ω = 4g/L
p
(B) ω = 2g/L
p
(C) ω = g/L
p
(D) ω = g/4L
(E) there will be no significant effect on the pendulum amplitude for any value of ω

8. The coefficients of static and kinetic friction between a ball and a horizontal plane are µs = µk = µ. The
ball is given a horizontal speed but no rotational velocity about its center of mass. Which of the following
graphs best shows the rotational velocity of the ball about its center of mass as a function of time?
(A) (B)
rotational velocity ω

rotational velocity ω

0 0
0 0
time t time t

(C) (D)
rotational velocity ω

rotational velocity ω

0 0
0 0
time t time t

(E)
rotational velocity ω

0
0
time t

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2018 F = ma Exam B 5

9. A 3.0 kg ball moving at 10 m/s east collides elastically with a 2.0 kg ball moving 15 m/s west. Which of
the following statements could be true after the collision?

(A) The two balls are both moving directly east.

(B) The 3.0 kg ball moves directly west at 15 m/s.
(C) The 2.0 kg ball moves directly north at 10 m/s.
(D) The 3.0 kg ball is at rest.
(E) The 2.0 kg ball moves directly south at 15 m/s.

10. A balloon filled with air submerged in water at a depth h experiences a buoyant force B0 . The balloon is
moved to a depth of 2h, where it experiences a buoyant force B. Assuming the water is incompressible
and the balloon and air are compressible, the buoyant force B satisfies

(A) B ≥ 2B0
(B) B0 < B < 2B0
(C) B = B0
(D) B < B0
(E) it depends on the compressibility of the balloon and air

11. A circle of rope is spinning in outer space with an angular velocity ω0 . Transverse waves on the rope have
speed v0 , as measured in a rotating reference frame where the rope is at rest. If the angular velocity of
the rope is doubled, the new speed of transverse waves, as measured in a rotating reference frame where
the rope is at rest, will be

(A) v0
√
(B) 2v0
(C) 2v0
(D) 4v0
(E) 8v0

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2018 F = ma Exam B 6

12. A child in a circular, rotating space station tosses a ball in such a way so that once the station has rotated
through one half rotation, the child catches the ball. From the child’s point of view, which plot shows
the trajectory of the ball? The child is at the bottom of the space station in the diagrams below, but
only the initial location of the ball is shown.
(A) (B)

(C) (D)

(E)

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2018 F = ma Exam B 7

13. Two blocks of masses m1 = 2.0 kg and m2 = 1.0 kg are stacked together on top of a frictionless table as
shown. The coefficient of static friction between the blocks is µs = 0.20. What is the minimum horizontal
force that must be applied to the top block to make it slide across the bottom block?

m1

m2

(A) 4.0 N
(B) 6.0 N
(C) 8.0 N
(D) 12.0 N
(E) The top block will not slide across the bottom block

14. A spool is made of a cylinder with a thin disc attached to either end of the cylinder, as shown. The
cylinder has radius r = 0.75 cm and the discs each have radius R = 1.00 cm. A string is attached to the
cylinder and wound around the cylinder a few times. At what angle above the horizontal can the string
be pulled so that the spool will slip without rotating?

side−view

2R 2r
θ

(A) 31.2◦
(B) 41.4◦
(C) 54.0◦
(D) 60.8◦
(E) 81.5◦

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2018 F = ma Exam B 8

15. You are standing on a weight scale that reads 700 Newtons while holding a large physics textbook that
is originally at rest. At time t = 1 seconds you begin moving the textbook upward so that by time t = 2
seconds the textbook is now half a meter higher and once again at rest. Which of the following graphs
best illustrates how the reading on the scale might vary with time?
(A) (B)
710 710

705 705
weight (Newtons)

weight (Newtons)
700 700

695 695

690 690
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
time (seconds) time (seconds)

(C) (D)
710 710

705 705
weight (Newtons)

weight (Newtons)

700 700

695 695

690 690
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
time (seconds) time (seconds)

(E)
710

705
weight (Newtons)

700

695

690
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
time (seconds)

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2018 F = ma Exam B 9

16. A plane can fly by tilting the trailing edge of the wings downward by a small angle θ, called the angle of
attack. In still air, a plane with ground speed v will have a lift force proportional to v 2 θ and a drag force
is proportional to v 2 .
Consider a plane initially in level flight in still air with constant ground speed v. If the plane enters a
region with a tailwind with speed w < v (the wind is blowing in the same direction that the plane wants
to fly), how must the engine power and the angle of attack change for the plane to maintain level flight
at the same ground speed?

(A) The engine power decreases and the angle of attack decreases
(B) The engine power decreases and the angle of attack stays the same
(C) The engine power decreases and the angle of attack increases
(D) The engine power increases and the angle of attack decreases
(E) The engine power increases and the angle of attack increases

17. A pogo stick is modeled as a massless spring of spring constant k attached to the bottom of a block of
mass m. The pogo stick is dropped with the spring pointing downward and hits the ground with speed
v. At the moment of the collision, the free end of the spring sticks permanently to the ground.

m
v
k

During the subsequent oscillations, the maximum speed of the block is

(A) v
(B) v + 2mg 2 /kv
(C) v + mg 2 /kv
p
(D) v 2 + 2mg 2 /k
p
(E) v 2 + mg 2 /k

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2018 F = ma Exam B 10

18. A spring of relaxed length ℓ1 and spring constant k1 is placed ‘in parallel’ with a spring of relaxed length
ℓ2 and spring constant k2 . A force F is applied to each end.

Spring 1
F F

Spring 2

The combination of the springs acts like a single spring with spring constant k and relaxed length ℓ where

(A) k = k1 + k2 and ℓ = ℓ1 ℓ2 /(ℓ1 + ℓ2 )

(B) k = k1 + k2 and ℓ = (ℓ1 k1 + ℓ2 k2 )/(k1 + k2 )
(C) k = k1 + k2 and ℓ = (ℓ1 k2 + ℓ2 k1 )/(k1 + k2 )
(D) k = (ℓ1 k1 + ℓ2 k2 )/(ℓ1 + ℓ2 ) and ℓ = (ℓ1 k1 + ℓ2 k2 )/(k1 + k2 )
(E) k = (ℓ2 k1 + ℓ1 k2 )/(ℓ1 + ℓ2 ) and ℓ = (ℓ1 k2 + ℓ2 k1 )/(k1 + k2 )

19. In an experiment to determine the speed of sound, a student measured the distance that a sound wave
traveled to be 75.0 ± 2.0 cm, and found the time it took the sound wave to travel this distance to be
2.15 ± 0.10 ms. Assume the uncertainties are Gaussian. The computed speed of sound should be recorded
as

(A) 348.8 ± 0.5 m/s

(B) 348.8 ± 0.8 m/s
(C) 349 ± 8 m/s
(D) 349 ± 15 m/s
(E) 349 ± 19 m/s

20. A massive, uniform, flexible string of length L is placed on a horizontal table of length L/3 that has a
coefficient of friction µs = 1/7, so equal lengths L/3 of string hang freely from both sides of the table.
The string passes over the edges of the table on smooth, frictionless, curved surfaces.
Now suppose that one of the hanging ends of the string is pulled a distance x downward, then released
at rest. Neither end of the string ever touches the ground in this problem. The maximum value of x so
that the string does not slip off of the table is

(A) L/42
(B) L/21
(C) L/14
(D) 2L/21
(E) 3L/14

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2018 F = ma Exam B 11

21. A uniform bar of length L and mass M is supported by a fixed pivot a distance x from its center. The
bar is released from rest from a horizontal position. The period of the resulting oscillations is minimal
when

(A) x = L/2
√
(B) x = L/2 3
(C) x = L/4
√
(D) x = L/4 3
(E) x = L/12

22. Two particles of mass m are connected by pulleys as shown.

m m
v
The mass on the left is given a small horizontal velocity, and oscillates back and forth. The mass on the
right

(A) remains at rest

(B) oscillates vertically, and with a net upward motion
(C) oscillates vertically, and with a net downward motion
(D) oscillates vertically, with no net motion
(E) oscillates horizontally, with no net motion

23. Two particles with mass m1 and m2 are connected by a massless rigid rod of length L and placed on a
horizontal frictionless table. At time t = 0, the first mass receives an impulse perpendicular to the rod,
giving it speed v. At this moment, the second mass is at rest. The next time the second mass is at rest is

(A) t = 2πL/v
(B) t = π(m1 + m2 )L/m2 v
(C) t = 2πm2 L/(m1 + m2 )v
(D) t = 2πm1 m2 L/(m1 + m2 )2 v
(E) t = 2πm1 L/(m1 + m2 )v

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2018 F = ma Exam B 12

24. A particle of mass m is placed at the center of a hemispherical shell of radius R and mass density σ,
where σ has dimensions of kg/m2 .

m
σ
R

The gravitational force of the shell on the particle is

(A) (1/3)(πGmσ)
(B) (2/3)(πGmσ)
√
(C) (1/ 2)(πGmσ)
(D) (3/4)(πGmσ)
(E) πGmσ

25. A student is measuring the surface area of a cylindrical wire. The student measures the radius of the
wire to be 1 ± 0.1 cm using a ruler and the length of the wire to be 1.00 ± 0.01 m using a meter-stick.
The precision of their result can be increased in several ways.

1: Upgrade the ruler to a caliper with uncertainty 0.01 cm.

2: Upgrade the meter-stick to a tape measure with uncertainty 0.001 m.
3: Repeat the measurement independently ten times and average the results.

How do the resulting uncertainties of the measurements compare?

(A) Method 3 has the lowest uncertainty, while methods 1 and 2 have the same uncertainty
(B) Method 3 has the highest uncertainty, while methods 1 and 2 have the same uncertainty
(C) Method 1 has the highest uncertainty, and method 2 has the lowest
(D) Method 2 has the highest uncertainty, and method 1 has the lowest
(E) Method 2 has the highest uncertainty, and method 3 has the lowest

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Answers, Problem Difficulty, and Topics

ToC
2018-B.1 B ⋆ projectile motion

2018-B.2 D ⋆ kinetic friction

2018-B.3 C ⋆ collisions, kinetic energy

2018-B.4 E ⋆ collisions, kinetic energy

2018-B.5 D ⋆ circular motion
2018-B.6 D ⋆ dimensional analysis

2018-B.7 A ⋆⋆ simple pendulum, oscillations

2018-B.8 C ⋆ kinetic friction

2018-B.9 E ⋆⋆ collisions
2018-B.10 D ⋆⋆ Archimedes’ Principle

2018-B.11 C ⋆⋆ waves, centripetal force, tension

2018-B.12 C ⋆⋆ rotating reference frame
2018-B.13 D ⋆ static friction

2018-B.14 B ⋆⋆ rolling motion,

2018-B.15 E ⋆ forces

2018-B.16 C ⋆ power, air friction

2018-B.17 E ⋆⋆ springs, energy
2018-B.18 B ⋆⋆ springs, Hooke’s Law

2018-B.19 E ⋆⋆ measurement error analysis

2018-B.20 A ⋆⋆⋆ static friction, tension

2018-B.21 B ⋆⋆⋆ physical pendulum, oscillations

2018-B.22 B ⋆⋆⋆ tension, Atwood machine, oscillations
2018-B.23 A ⋆⋆ circular motion

2018-B.24 E ⋆⋆⋆ gravitation, pressure

2018-B.25 D ⋆⋆ measurement error analysis
Year 2018 229

Solutions for Exam B

ToC
2018.1. The motion of the object can be described in three phases.
1. First, while the clay is in free fall, it has a constant negative acceleration
of a = −g = −10 m/s2 , which should be indicated by a horizontal line
below the time axis. This means that answer choice A is incorrect.
2. When the object lands, it experiences a sudden upwards acceleration due
to the collision with the ground, indicated by a large vertical spike in the
graph. This observation narrows our options down to answer choices B
and C.
3. Afterwards, the object on the ground remains at rest, having constant,
zero acceleration. In the graph, this should result in a horizontal line at
the time axis.
Therefore, the answer is B.

2018.2. The work on the object due to friction is given by the force of friction
Ff multiplied by distance over which it is applied. If we denote the length of
the incline by d, we get that
W = Ff · d
= −µk N · d
= −µk mg cos θ · d
= −(0.1)(10 kg)(10 m/s2 )(cos 30◦ )(10 m)
√
= −50 3 J.
This works out to be about 87 J of energy dissipated, so the answer is D.

2018.3. Since the objects stick together, the collision in this problem is per-
fectly inelastic. First, we calculate the initial momentum of the system as the
sum of the momenta of its parts, or
pi = m1 v1 + m2 v2 = (3.0 kg)(40 m/s) + (2.0 kg)(20 m/s) = 160 kg m/s.
However, by conservation of momentum, this initial momentum pi should
equal to the final momentum after collision pf . Since the masses after collision
combine into a single object of mass m1 + m2 = 5.0 kg, the kinetic energy can
be calculated as
1 2 m2 v 2 p2f (160 kg m/s)2
Kf = mv = = = = 2560 J.
2 2m 2m 2(5.0 kg)
Thus, the answer is C.
230 Year 2018

2018.4. The kinetic energy of the ball is not conserved, as when the ball
hits the floor, some of its mechanical energy is converted into sound and heat
energy. This is why you can hear the sound of a ball bouncing, and it is also
why colliding steel balls can burn a piece of paper between them7 . This energy
loss explains why the height of the peak of a ball’s motion decreases with every
bounce.
Momentum is also not conserved, as the ball receives an external force from
the ground. You can also see this because the ball’s velocity changes direction.
Therefore, the answer is E.

2018.5. From the rotational kinematic formulas, we know that ωf2 − ωi2 =
2αθ for a process with constant angular acceleration α. In this problem, the
acceleration and deceleration parts have the same difference between initial
and final squared angular velocities, so the magnitude of αθ is the same.
Then, θ1 /θ2 = 10/50 = 1/5, so α1 /α2 = 5, and the answer is D.

2018.6. This is an exercise in dimensional analysis. First, notice that all

quantities are in length units, except for the newtons in the units of Young’s
modulus E and force F , so these force units must cancel each other out. Since
the deflection x is linear in F , it must therefore be inversely proportional to
E. If we let the exponent of L in the formula for x be γ, we have that
F γ IEx
x= L ⇒ Lγ = .
IE F
The dimensions of this are
m4 · N · m−2 · m
 
IEx
= = m3 .
F N

Thus, γ = 3, and the answer is D.

2018.7. First, note that any acceleration of the box due to the person’s shak-
ing is manifested in the box’s frame as a pseudo-force in the opposite direction.
In effect, this leads to a gravitational acceleration g that oscillates between
higher and lower than normal. Note, however, thatp since the shaking is “gen-
tle,” we have that a ≪ g, so the frequency ω ≈ g/L of the pendulum should
remain approximately the same.
With this approximation of the pendulum’s period staying relatively constant,
we can now approach the problem from a logical point of view. For the am-
plitude (maximum angle) of the pendulum to be high, we want gravity to be
7
See here for a video demonstration: https://youtu.be/COWOv8aOoSU.
Year 2018 231

greater when the pendulum is moving downwards, so it gains more speed, and
weaker when it is moving upwards, so that it reaches a greater height. Each
half-period of the pendulum’s swing should then correspond to one complete
period of the box shaking. Thus, the frequency of the box shaking should be
double that of the pendulum, so the answer is A.

2018.8. First, note that we can immediately eliminate answers A and E, as

the problem states that the angular velocity at time zero is zero. Initially,
as the ball slides on the plane, kinetic friction at the contact point should
exert a constant force of magnitude Ff = µk mg, which acts to give the ball
a constant torque. This should correspond to a linear increase in the ball’s
angular velocity.
However, when the ball begins rolling without slipping at ω = v/r, it no longer
has a force of friction with the ground, as the instantaneous velocity of the
mass at the point of contact is zero. The graph should then level out to a
horizontal line, showing a constant angular velocity. Thus, the answer is C.

2018.9. Since the collision is elastic, momentum (in both dimensions) and
kinetic energy are conserved. Note that the initial momentum is

p = m1 v1 + m2 v2 = (3.0 kg)(10 m/s) + (2.0 kg)(−15 m/s) = 0.

The final momentum should then also be zero. This means that after collision,
the two balls should be moving in opposite directions along the same axis
passing through the collision point such that their momenta are equal and
opposite. We will work in this axis.
Since the balls’ momenta are equal in magnitude, let the speed of the 3.0 kg
and 2.0 kg balls be 2v and 3v, respectively. By conservation of energy, we have
m1 u21 m2 u22 m1 v12 m2 v22
+ = + ,
2 2 2 2
(3.0 kg)(10 m/s)2 (2.0 kg)(15 m/s)2 (3.0 kg)(2v)2 (2.0 kg)(3v)2
+ = + .
2 2 2 2
It is easy to solve this equation by observation, as initial velocities just equal
the final velocities. Alternatively, we could simplify and end up with

375 J = (15.0 kg)v 2 ⇒ v = 5.0 m/s.

After collision, the 3.0 kg ball should thus be moving at a speed of 2v = 10 m/s,
while the 2.0 kg ball should be moving at 3v = 15 m/s in the opposite direction.
This rules out A for direction reasons and B, C, D for speed reasons, so the
answer is E.
232 Year 2018

2018.10. At a depth of 2h, the gauge pressure on the balloon is doubled.

Because the air in the balloon is compressible, its volume will decrease pro-
portionally to the pressure. Since less water is displaced by a smaller volume
of air, the buoyant force will be lower, so the answer is D.

2018.11. The centripetal force on a small section of rope with mass m is

Fc = mrω 2 . This force is provided by and p
is proportional to the tension in
8
the circle of rope . Since wave speed v = T /µ, where µ is mass density
(constant in this scenario), we have
√ p
v ∝ T ∝ Fc ∝ ω ⇒ the answer is C.

2018.12. Since the child both throws and catches the ball, the path of the
ball in the child’s reference frame must begin and end at the child’s position,
narrowing the answers down to B, C, and D. Next, we examine the initial
velocity of the ball. Consider the inertial reference frame with the child at the
South end of the circle at time of the initial throw. The ball’s velocity is due
North, while the child’s velocity is East, so the initial velocity of the ball in
the child’s reference frame is Northwest9 . Therefore, the answer is C.

2018.13. Consider the scenario below the threshold force, when the blocks
do not slide. Then, we can treat the blocks together as a system, so their
acceleration is
F
a= .
m1 + m2
However, the only horizontal force acting on the bottom block is static friction
Fs with the top block, so we must have that
m2 F
Fs = m2 a = F = .
m1 + m2 3
The normal force between the blocks is equal to magnitude to the force of
gravity on m1 , i.e., N = m1 g. We can then calculate the threshold for slipping
as

Fs < µs N ⇒ F < 3µs m1 g = 3(0.20)(2.0 kg)(10 m/s) = 12 N.

Thus, the answer is D.

8
See Problem 2016.23 for a similar problem involving explicit calculation of this tension
force in a circular rubber band.
9
The directions here are actually arbitrary. The important observation is that the ball’s
initial velocity in the child’s frame should neither be in the child’s direction, as in D, or
perpendicular to the child’s direction, as in B.
Year 2018 233

2018.14. The trick to solving this problem is that the motion of any rolling
rigid body can be described by a rotation with some angular velocity about
the contact point, as well as a translational component. The advantage of this
representation is that the gravity and friction acting on the object have zero
torque along the contact-point axis, as the length of the moment arm is zero.
For the spool to slip without rotating, the torque from the string also needs
to be zero. In other words, the contact point of the spool with the ground
should lie on the line of the string.

Figure 1: Illustration for Problem 2018.14.

As shown in Figure 1, if we draw the right triangle connecting the center of

the spool, the tangency point of the string, and the contact point with the
ground, we can use trigonometry to get that
r
cos θ = ⇒ θ = arccos(r/R) = 41.4◦ .
R
Thus, the answer is B.

2018.15. Consider the combined system of you and the textbook. The dif-
ference between the reading on the scale (the normal force) and the system’s
weight is the net force on the system. In particular, since the system begins
and ends at rest, the weight reading on the scale should be the same before
and after, ruling out answer choice A. This also means the net change in mo-
mentum (impulse) is zero, leaving us with answer choices B and E. Clearly,
the force on the system cannot be a constant zero, as then the center of mass
would remain at rest, so the answer is E.

2018.16. When the plane enters a tailwind while keeping the same ground ve-
locity, its velocity in the reference frame of the air surrounding it will decrease
(v 7→ v − w). The lift force must remain equal in magnitude to the weight of
the aircraft, so the angle of attack θ must increase with v −2 . However, the
engine power, P = Fdrag v ∝ v 3 , will decrease. Thus, the answer is C.
234 Year 2018

2018.17. At the instant that the pogo stick hits the ground, the spring is at
its usual rest length ℓ, but the actual equilibrium length is ℓ − mg/k due to
the gravitational potential on the block. The maximum kinetic energy is then
the sum of the potential and kinetic energies at impact, or
1 1
Kmax = mv 2 + k(mg/k)2
2 2
1
= m(v + mg2 /k).
2
2
Then, by the formula for kinetic energy,
1
mv 2
p
Kmax = ⇒ vmax = v 2 + mg2 /k ⇒ the answer is E.
2 max
2018.18. First, when springs are placed in parallel, the value of the spring
constant k is summed. In order words, k = k1 + k2 , which rules out answer
choices D and E.
We now need to find the relaxed length ℓ of the two springs together. At this
length, the system should be in static equilibrium, so

Fnet = 0 = k1 (ℓ − ℓ1 ) + k2 (ℓ − ℓ2 ) ⇒ k1 ℓ1 + k2 ℓ2 = (k1 + k2 )ℓ.

Dividing both sides by k1 + k2 gives us the formula for the combined rest
length, and the answer is B.

2018.19. We use relative uncertainties. When two measurements are multi-

plied or divided, their relative uncertainties add geometrically, giving
s  2 s
∆s 2 2.0 2 0.10 2
   
∆v ∆t
≈ + = + = 5.4%.
v s t 75.0 2.15

Using a first-order approximation, we estimate v to be the quotient of the

measurements. Then the uncertainty is
∆v 75.0 cm
∆v = v ≈ 5.4% · = 19 m/s.
v 2.15 ms
Thus, the answer is E.

2018.20. Let the total mass of the string be m. First, we will list all the
external forces contributing to the motion of the string. These are: gravity, the
normal force, and static friction with the table. The normal force is responsible
for changing the direction of the string’s tension at its rounded corners, which
holds the hanging ends of the string up. However, this force is on the smooth,
Year 2018 235

frictionless edges of the table. The magnitude of the normal force on the string
above the flat part of the table, with static friction, is mg/3.
Let T1 be the tension in the string on the side of longer hanging end, and let
T2 be the tension on the shorter end. Since the string is in equilibrium, these
forces must be equal to gravity on the hanging ends, so
   
1 x 1 x
T1 = + mg, T2 = − mg.
3 L 3 L
Between the two ends of the table, the only external force acting parallel to
the string (in the horizontal direction) is static friction, so this must account
for the difference in tensions. Hence,
2x
Fs = T1 − T2 = mg.
L
Since static friction is bounded by Fs < µs N = µ3s mg, this gives us an upper
bound for x:
2x µs µs
< ⇒ x< L = L/42.
L 3 6
Therefore, the answer is A.

2018.21. The uniform bar is a physical pendulum. The formula (at small
amplitudes) for the period of a physical pendulum with mass M , moment of
inertia I about the axis of rotation, and distance x between the axis and center
of mass is s
I
T = 2π .
M gx
In this case, using the parallel axis theorem, the moment of inertia I is
1
I = Ic + M x2 = M L2 + M x2 .
12
Since g and 2π remain constant, to minimize T we wish to minimize I/M x,
which can be expressed in terms of x as
 
I 1 2
=x+ L x−1 .
Mx 12
√
The right-hand side is in the famous form c(y +1/y), for a constant c = L/2 3
and y = x/c. Note that the sum of y and its reciprocal takes its minimum of
2 when y = 1, which can be proven either by taking the derivative or using
classical inequalities10 . Thus,
√
x = cy = c · 1 = L/2 3 ⇒ the answer is B.
10
These include the AM-GM or Cauchy-Schwarz Inequalities. Alternatively, we can simply
square the expression and re-factor to get (y + 1/y)2 = y 2 + 1/y 2 + 2 = y 2 + 1/y 2 − 2 + 4 =
(y − 1/y)2 + 4 ≥ 4, as desired.
236 Year 2018

2018.22. The pulley system turns tension from the string connected to the left
mass, no matter what the direction, into an equal tension force acting directly
upwards on the right mass. Thus the motion of the right mass is purely in
the vertical axis, so we can rule out answer choice E. Furthermore, during the
oscillation of the mass to the left, the tension changes, so the vertical motion
of the mass to the right must also oscillate, ruling out answer choice A.
We now need to discern the net motion of the mass to the right, which can
be done by comparing the average tension in one oscillation to mg. If there
was no net vertical motion, then when the mass to the left oscillates once, the
average vertical component of the tension is mg, and the horizontal component
is nonzero. Therefore, the average magnitude of the tension should be greater
than mg, which contradicts the assumption of no vertical motion. To correct
this, the average tension in one oscillation must be greater than mg, so the
right mass must move upward as it oscillates. Thus, the answer is B.

2018.23. The key to solving this problem is that the rod is rigid, meaning
that the entire system of the two masses is a rigid body. Since no external
forces are being applied to the rod, by Newton’s First Law, its motion can
be described as a constant translational velocity vc , combined with a constant
angular velocity ω about the center of mass.
We can calculate the velocity of the center of mass using the total momentum,
which yields
m1 v
p = (m1 + m2 )vc ⇒ vc = .
m1 + m2
Furthermore, the center of mass is a point at distances
m2 m1
r1 = L and r2 = L
m1 + m2 m1 + m2
from masses m1 and m2 , respectively. We can use this to calculate the angular
velocity as
m1 v m2
v = vc + r1 ω = + Lω ⇒ ω = v/L.
m1 + m2 m1 + m2
Initially, the velocity of m2 is zero, i.e., ~vc + ~ω × ~r2 = 0. This means that r2 ω
is equal in magnitude to vc . The next time m2 is at rest is when ω × r2 is
again in the opposite direction from vc . This first occurs after one complete
revolution, so the time is given by the period of rotation
2π
t= = 2πL/v.
ω
Thus, the answer is A.
Year 2018 237

2018.24. We present two different approaches here:

Approach 1: This approach involves a clever application of symmetry to solve

the problem without using calculus. It was given as the intended solution for
the problem.

First, by Newton’s Third Law, the gravitational force on the particle from the
shell is the same as the force on the shell from the particle. The key observation
is that since the points on the shell are all symmetric and equidistant from
the particle, the gravitational pull of the particle on each unit area of the
shell is constant. If we reverse the direction of this force without changing
its magnitude, we end up with a pressure of P = Gmσ/R2 pushing the shell
away from the particle.

We want to find the magnitude of the net force from this pressure. To do
this, imagine an equivalent situation without the particle, instead putting a
flat airtight lid on the hemisphere and filling it with gas of constant pressure
P . The net force due to pressure of the gas on the closed hemisphere (with
lid) is zero, as otherwise the hemisphere would accelerate on its own, which is
absurd11 . Thus, the force on the curved hemisphere is equal and opposite to
the force on the lid. However, since the lid is flat, its net force can be easily
computed as
Gmσ
F = PA = · πR2 = πGmσ.
R2
Thus, the answer is E.

Approach 2: This approach uses calculus. Although it requires more ad-

vanced mathematics than is tested on the F = ma, it is also more straightfor-
ward to come up with.

We can parameterize the points on the hemispherical surface with two angles,
as follows. First, if we consider the radius connecting the center to the point,
let the angle between this radius and the vertical be θ. Second, if we project
the radius onto a horizontal plane, let ϕ be the angle it makes in that plane12 .
Then a mass element dm can be described as

dm = σR2 sin θ dθ dϕ.

Taking into account that the horizontal components of gravity cancel each

11
You can also derive this fact mathematically by using the divergence theorem.
12
The angles θ and ϕ are known as the polar and azimuthal angles in spherical coordinates.
238 Year 2018

other out for symmetry reasons, the net force on the particle is
Gm
ZZ
F = 2
cos θ dm
S R
Z 2π Z π/2
= Gmσ sin θ cos θ dθ dϕ
0 0
Z π/2
= 2πGmσ sin θ cos θ dθ
0
π/2
1
Z
= 2πGmσ sin 2θ dθ = πGmσ ⇒ the answer is E.
0 2
2018.25. We also present two approaches for this problem:
Approach 1: This approach uses approximation and significant figures to
obtain the answer, and it is likely the approach a time-conscious student would
take on the actual test.
The surface area of the wire is proportional to rℓ. The number of significant
figures in the product of two measurements is approximately the minimum
number of significant figures in either measurement. Thus, the initial mea-
surement uncertainty is given by the ruler measurement, on the order of 10%.
The other methods have estimated uncertainties of
1. ≈ 1%, as both measurements have three significant figures,
2. ≈ 10%, as the ruler is still the bottleneck in terms of uncertainty, and
3. ≈ 3.2%,
√ as the uncertainty of a measurement is inversely proportional
to N , where N , the number of independent trials, is 10.
These approximations are sufficiently far apart from each other, so we can use
them to conclude that the answer is D.
Approach 2: This approach uses calculation with relative uncertainties.
When two independent measurements are multiplied or divided, their relative
uncertainties add geometrically. The relative uncertainties of each method of
improving precision are then
p
1. (1%)2 + (1%)2 ≈ 1.4%,
p
2. (10%)2 + (0.1%)2 ≈ 10%, and
p √
3. (10%)2 + (1%)2 / 10 ≈ 3.3%.
Thus, the answer is D.
Note: We can see that the estimates from Approach 1 were quite close to the
actual values, particularly for Methods 2 and 3, where the two measurements
had very different relative uncertainties.