PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 0

Practice and Revision

THE PHYSICS HOMEWORK PROGRAM

The Homework Program is an essential part of your course. Homework problems are your main
source of regular feedback on your progress. Doing homework problems at home is like training
for the exam. Do the work effectively and carefully and it will greatly aid your learning program.
These problems are provided for you to complete in your own time to reinforce the concepts you
are covering in lectures.

It is important that you keep up to date on the homework problems. Being able to do these
problems will assist you with the online quizzes. (Homework Set 0 covers work with which you
should be familiar from previous studies: we assume that you have a working knowledge of these
topics. It also has general suggestions for problem solving.) It is permitted to discuss homework
problems with another student outside of class: this will help your understanding.

You can find solutions to these problems on Moodle in written and video format. You should
always attempt the problems for yourself before looking at the solutions. You will learn more from
having made mistakes than from watching someone explain to you how to solve a problem that
you have not attempted.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER MOST OF THE QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS?

(1) Have you read and understood the material in the text, lecture notes, links from course web
site or other sources?

(2) Have you looked at the Additional Learning Materials (see below)?

(3) Have you visited the Teaching Assistants (TAs)-on-duty (Room 5, Ground Floor, Old Main
Building, available at 12-2 PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday)?

(4) Have you talked to other students about the problems?

Don't worry if you are unsure of some of the questions/problems: that is what the TAs are for.
However if you can't answer most of them, you should try (1), (2), (3), or (4) above.

Additional Learning Material

Additional material is available from the course Moodle pages. This includes lecture notes,
homework solutions, and video clips and other multimedia material that may have been shown in
lectures. You can also enrol in the coursera course Mechanics: Motion, Forces, Energy and Gravity
from Particles to Planets. It can be found here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/mechanics-
particles-planets .

PHYS1121 HWS 0 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

PROBLEM SOLVING

Applying your knowledge to solve problems of varying degrees of difficulty is an important

guide to your understanding of the topic. Physics is based on understanding, not on rote learning
of laws or formulas. Being able to solve difficult problems is one of the main reasons for studying
physics.

Solution of problems is a multi-step process and is usually approached in a systematic manner.

The following is a useful guide.

1. Read and visualise the problem. Draw sketches or graphs to represent the problem. Identify
known and unknown quantities.

2. Try to identify the physical principles or concepts that are important in the problem. Using
these find relationships between the known quantities and those which must be calculated.

3. Where possible, write these relationships, laws and principles in the form of equations.
Sometimes there will be several equations with several unknowns. Check that you have (at
least) as many equations as unknowns. (Remember that a vector equation can yield two or
three scalar equations.) Solve the equations. Where numerical values are required, express
answers with an appropriate number of significant figures.

4. Check your solution. Are the dimensions consistent? Are the magnitudes reasonable? In the
algebraic answer, can you think of special cases to check?

It is a good general principle to keep your solution in algebraic form for as long as possible, before
substitution and evaluation. Often variables may cancel, saving work. It is easier to check special
cases and that dimensions are correct.

PHYS1121 HWS 0 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

Problem Solving - An Example

A lift without a ceiling is ascending with a constant speed of 10 ms–1. A boy on the lift throws a
ball directly upwards, from a height of 2.0 m above the lift floor, just as the lift floor is 28 m above
the ground. The initial speed of the ball with respect to the lift is 20 ms–1.
(a) What is the maximum height attained by the ball (relative to the ground)?
(b) How long does it take for the ball to return and hit the floor of the lift?

Step 1 Draw a sketch

20 ms-1

10 ms-1

28 m

Step 2 Physical principles: vertical motion under gravity. The lift and ball move independently.
Let us sketch position-time graphs for both the lift and the ball.

y ylift lift: ylift = yl + vlt (linear) (i)

1 2
ball: yball = yo + vot + at (quadratic) (ii)
yball 2
yo

The point of intersection represents the time when

the ball and lift floor are at the same height, i.e.
when the ball hits the floor.
t
Step 3 Identify values:
yo = 30 m, vo = initial velocity of ball relative to ground = (20 + 10)ms-1, a = -g = -9.8 ms-2

Step 4
Here there are a few different methods. We show only one.
(a) to find maximum in a function, use derivative
d v
vball = yball = vo - gt = 0 \ t = o
dt g

⎛ v ⎞ 1 ⎛ v ⎞2
Substitute in (ii) yball = yo + vo ⎜ o ⎟ – g⎜ o ⎟
€ ⎝ g ⎠ 2 ⎝ g ⎠
⎛ 2⎞ ⎛ 2⎞
v 1 v
= yo + ⎜ o ⎟ – ⎜ o ⎟ = 76 m
⎜ g ⎟ 2⎜ g ⎟
€ ⎝€ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
(b) to find the time at which it collides with the floor (i.e. has the same height as the
floor) set
yball = ylift € €
PHYS1121 HWS 0 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW
 1 2
y o + v ot − gt = yl + vlt
2
1 2
2
( ) (
gt − v o − vl t − y o − yl = 0 )
€ 4.9 t2 – 20t – 2.0 = 0 (t in seconds)
Solve: t = –0.10 s, +4.2 s
€ The physical solution is t = 4.2 s.
What is the meaning of the other solution? See figure!

PHYS1121 HWS 0 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

TOPIC: MOTION IN 1 DIMENSION (REVISION) TEXT REFERENCE: 2.1 – 2.8
See also www.physclips.unsw.edu.au

LEARNING GOALS
• Displacement, velocity and acceleration
• Graphical and calculus methods
• Motion with constant acceleration
• Vertical motion under gravity

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1. Discuss the sample problem above.

2. Revise the use of calculus in 1-dimensional motion.

3. Can a particle have

(i) zero velocity and non-zero acceleration?
(ii) positive velocity and negative acceleration?
Give examples.

4. The bob of a simple pendulum is passing

through its lowest point.

What is the direction of the

acceleration? Discuss.

PROBLEMS
v
1.
8
This is a velocity-time graph for a runner running
along a straight track.

4 (a) What is the acceleration of the runner at times

t = 1, 5, 11, 14 sec.?
(b) What is the total distance travelled in 16 s?
(c) What is the average velocity during the
first 10 s?
0 4 8 12 16 t
time (s)
2. A train started
started from rest and moved with constant acceleration. At one time it was travelling
from rest
at 30 ms–1 and 160 m farther on it was travelling at 50 ms–1. Calculate:
(a) the acceleration;
(b) the time required to travel the 160 m mentioned;
(c) the time required to attain the speed of 30 ms–1 starting from rest;
(d) the distance moved from rest to the time the train had a speed of 30 ms–1.

PHYS1121 HWS 0 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

3. At the instant the traffic light turns green, an automobile starts with a constant acceleration
of 2.2 ms–2. At the same instant a truck, travelling with a constant speed of 9.5 ms–1,
overtakes and passes the automobile.
(a) How far beyond the starting point will the automobile overtake the truck?
(b) How fast will the car be travelling at the instant? (It is instructive to plot a qualitative
graph of x versus t for each vehicle).

4. A particle moves along the x axis according to the equation x = 50t + 10t2, where x is in
metres and t is in seconds. Calculate:
(a) the average velocity and the average acceleration between t = 1 and t = 2s; and
(b) the instantaneous velocities and the instantaneous accelerations at t = 1 and t = 2s.
(c) Compare the average and instantaneous quantities and in each case explain wheywhy the
larger one is larger.
non-
accelerating accelerating
region region
5. An electron with initial velocity
vxo = 1.0 x 104 ms–1 enters a region of width 1.0
cm where it is electrically accelerated. It emerges
with a velocity vx = 4.0 x 106 ms–1. What was its v0 1.0cm v
acceleration, assumed constant?
(Such a process occurs in the electron gun in a
path of cm
cathode-ray tube, used in television receivers and electron a
oscilloscopes.)

source of
high
voltage

6. A rocket is fired vertically and ascends with a constant vertical acceleration of 20 ms–2 for
60s. Its fuel is then all used and it continues as a free particle. (Assume constant g1)
(a) What is the maximum altitude reached?
(b) What is the total time elapsed from take-off until the rocket strikes the earth?

Answers to set 0:

1. (a) 4, 0, –2, 0 ms–2; (b) 100 m; (c) 7.2 ms–1

2. (a) 5.0 ms–2; (b) 4.0 s; (c) 6.0 s; (d) 90 m
3. (a) 82 m; (b) 19 ms–1
4. (a) 80 ms–1, 20 ms–2; (b) 70 ms–1 90 ms–1; 20 ms–2
5. 8.0 x 1014 ms–2 in the x direction
6. (a) 110 km; (b) 330 s

1
We shall revisit this assumption in homework set 3 question 13.

PHYS1121 HWS 0 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 1

PARTICLE MOTION IN ONE DIMENSION

1. Two bodies begin a free fall from rest from the same height. If one starts 1.0 s after the other,
how long after the first body begins to fall will the two bodies be 10 m apart?
[Ans: 1.5 s).

2. A lift ascends with an upward acceleration of 1.5 ms–2. At the instant its upward speed is
2.0 ms–1, a loose bolt drops from the ceiling of the lift 3.0 m from the floor. Calculate:
(a) the time of flight of the bolt from ceiling to floor, and
(b) the distance it has fallen relative to the lift shaft.
[Ans: (a) 0.73 s; (b) 1.1 m]

PAST EXAM QUESTION

A scientist is standing at ground level, next to a very deep well (a well is a vertical hole in the
ground, with water at the bottom). She drops a stone and measures the time between releasing the
stone and hearing the sound it makes when it reaches the bottom.
i) Draw a clear displacement-time graph for the position of the falling stone (you may neglect
air resistance). On the diagram, indicate the depth h of the well and the time T1 taken for
the stone to fall to the bottom.
ii) Showing your working, relate the depth h to T1 and to other relevant constants.

iii) The well is in fact 78 m deep. Take g = 9.8 ms-2 and calculate T1.
iv) On the same displacement-time graph, show the displacement of the sound wave pulse that
travels from the bottom to the top of the well. Your graph need not be to scale.

v) Taking the speed of sound to be 344 ms-1, calculate T2, the time taken for the sound to
travel from the bottom of the well to reach the scientist at the top. Show T2 on your graph.
vi) State the time T between release of the stone and arrival of the sound. Think carefully about
the number of significant figures.
The scientist, as it happens, doesn't have a stopwatch and can only estimate the time to the
nearest second. Further, because of this imprecision and because she is solving the problem in her
head, she neglects the time taken for the sound signal to reach her. For the same reason, she uses
g ≅ 10 ms-2.
vii) What value does the scientist get for the depth of the well?
viii) Comment on the relative size of the errors involved in (a) neglecting the time of travel of
sound, (b) approximating the value of g and (c) measurement error.

PHYS1121 HWS 1 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

VECTORS AND RELATIVE MOTION
y

3. A person going for a walk follows the path

shown in the diagram. Taking the starting
point as the origin and using i, j, k notation 100 m
(a) write a vector displacement for each
straight line segment of the walk. x
(b) determine the person's resultant vector End
displacement at the end of the walk. 300 m
200 m
(c) determine the distance and direction of
30o
the end point from the start point.

60o 150 m

4. If a = 5.0 i + 4.0 j – 6.0 k

b = –2.0 i + 2.0 j + 3.0 k
c = 4.0 i + 3.0 j + 2.0 k
Determine:
(a) the components and magnitude of r = a – b + c
(b) the angle between r and the positive z axis

5. A person, travelling eastward at the rate of 4.0 km hr–1, observes that the wind seems to
blow directly from the north; on doubling his speed the wind appears to come from the
northeast; determine the direction of the wind and its velocity.
[Ans: Wind comes from NW, 5.7 km hr–1]

6. B j

40 m 5 ms–1
θ i

A rower wishes to cross a rapidly flowing river of width 40 m, which is flowing uniformly at
a rate of 5 ms–1. The rower starts at point A and heads in a direction θ, as shown, rowing at
a speed of 2 ms–1 relative to the water.
(a) Write down an expression for the velocity of the rower relative to the river bank, in
terms of unit vectors i and j.
(b) Write down the displacement of the rower at time t.
(c) If the rower wishes to cross the river in minimum time, in what direction should she
head? What is the crossing time and how far from point B will she land?
(d) If the rower wishes to land as close to B as possible, in what direction should she
head? What will be the crossing time and distance of landing point from B in this
case?

PHYS1121 HWS 1 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

MOTION IN TWO AND THREE DIMENSIONS

At time to the velocity of an object is given by vo = 125i + 25j ms–1. At 3.0s later the
velocity is v = 100i - 75j ms–1. What was the average acceleration of the object
during this time interval?

A particle moves so that its position as a function of time in SI units is: r(t) = i + 4t2j + tk.
(a) Write expressions for its velocity and acceleration as functions of time.
(b) What is the shape of the particle's trajectory?

9. A stone is projected at a cliff of height h with an initial

speed of 42.0 ms–1 at an angle of 60o above the
horizontal, as shown. The stone lands at A after 5.50 A
vo
sec. Find H
h
(a) the height of the cliff, h 60o
(b) the speed of the stone just before impact
(c) the maximum height H reached above the
ground.

10. In a cathode-ray tube a beam of electrons is projected horizontally with a speed of

1.0x107ms-1 into the region between a pair of horizontal plates 2.0x10-2 m long. An electric
field between the plates exerts a constant downward acceleration on the electrons of
magnitude 1.0x1015 ms-2. Find:
(a) the vertical displacement of the beam in passing through the plates, and
(b) the velocity of the beam (direction and magnitude) as it emerges from the plates.
[Ans: (a) 2.0 mm; (b) 1.0x107 ms-1, 11 ˚ below horizontal]

11. (a) At what speed must an automobile round a turn having a radius of curvature of 40 m

in order that its radial acceleration be equal to g?

(b) Suppose that the automobile is travelling at this speed along a straight roadway but
over a hill having a radius of curvature of 40 m. What is the behaviour of unattached
objects within the car?

12. (a) Write an expression for the position vector r for a particle describing uniform circular
motion, using polar coordinates and also the unit vectors i and j.
(b) From (a) derive vector expressions for the velocity v and the acceleration a.
( ) Prove that the acceleration is directed toward the centre of the circular path.

PHYS1121 HWS 1 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

PAST EXAM QUESTION
A bird flies at speed vb = 5.0 m.s-1 in a straight horizontal line that will pass directly above you,
at a height h = 5.0 m above your head. You are eating grapes and it occurs to you that the bird
might want one and so you decide to throw it a grape. Of course, you don't want to hurt the bird,
so you will throw the grape so that, at some time t, it has the same position, same height and same
velocity as the bird. (Hint: what will be the height and velocity of the grape when the bird takes
it?)
You throw the grape from a position very close to your head, with initial speed v0 and at an angle
θ to the horizontal. Air resistance is assumed to be negligible.
i) Should the bird be behind you, or ahead of you when you throw the grape, and by how
much? Explain your answer briefly. (3-5 clear sentences should suffice.)
ii) Calculate the required values of v0 and θ.

iii) If air resistance on the grape were not negligible, how would that change your answer to (i)?
A qualitative but explicit answer is required.

Answers set 1:
1. 1.5 s
2. (a) 0.73 s; (b) 1.1 m
3. (b) – 130 i – 202 j; (c) 240 m, 237o
4. (a) r = 11.0 i + 5.0 j – 7.0 k, 14.0 (b) 120o
5. Wind comes from NW, 5.7 km hr–1
6. (a) [(5 – 2 sin θ)i + 2 cos θ j] ms-1; (b) t[(5 – 2 sin θ)i + 2 cos θ j] ms-1; (c) 20 s, 100
m; (d) 22 s, 92 m
7. -8.3i - 33j ms-2
8. (a) v = 8t j + k, a = 8j; (b) parabola
9. 52 m, 27 ms–1, 68 m
10. (a) 2.0 mm; (b) 1.0x107 ms-1, 11 ˚ below horizontal
11. (a) 20 ms-1
12. (a) r = r(cos θ i + sin θ j); (b) v = rω(-sin θ i + cos θ j); a = -rω2(cos θ i + sin θ j) with
θ = ωt

PHYS1121 HWS 1 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 2

FORCES AND PARTICLE DYNAMICS

1. Two blocks are in contact on a frictionless table. A

horizontal force is applied to one block, as shown. F m1
m2
(a) If m1 = 2.0 kg, m2 = 1.0 kg and F = 3.0 N, find
the force of contact between the two blocks.
(b) Show that if the same force F is applied to m2 rather than to m1 the force of contact between the
blocks is 2.0N, which is not the same value derived in (a). Explain.

A man of mass 100 kg stands in a lift. What force does the floor exert on him when a lift is:
(a) stationary,
(b) moving up with constant velocity,
( ) accelerating upwards at 2.0 ms-2,
( ) moving up but decelerating at 3.0 ms-2,
( ) moving down with acceleration of 4.0 ms-2,
() moving down with deceleration of 5.0 ms-2.

3. A block of mass m1 = 3.0 kg on a smooth inclined plane of angle

30˚ is connected by a massless cord over a small frictionless pulley
to a second block of mass m2 = 2.0 kg hanging vertically. m1
m2
(a) What is the acceleration of each body? 30o
(b) What is the tension in the cord?

A plumb bob hanging from the ceiling of a railway carriage acts as an accelerometer.
(a) Derive the general expression relating the steady horizontal acceleration a of the carriage to the
angle θ made by the bob with the vertical.
(b) Find a when θ = 20˚. Find θ when a = 2.0 ms-2.

5. An airplane is flying in a horizontal circle at a speed of 480 km/h. If the

wings of the plane are tilted 40o to the horizontal, what is the radius of
the circle in which the plane is flying? Assume that the required force is 40
o
provided entirely by an "aerodynamic lift" that is perpendicular to the
wing surface.

PHYS1121 HWS 2 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 A horizontal force F of 60 N pushes a block of mass 3.0 kg against a vertical wall.
The coefficient of static friction between the wall and the block is 0.60 and the F
coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.40. Assume the block is not moving initially.
(a) Will the block start moving?
(b) What is the force exerted on the block by the wall?

PAST EXAM QUESTION

(a) (i) A car is travelling at initial speed v. The coefficients of kinetic and static friction between
tires and the (horizontal) road are µk and µs, with µs > µk. Determine the braking distance
sb, the shortest distance in which the car can stop using the brakes. Each time you use one
of Newton's laws of motion, mention it.
(ii) Take µs = 0.85 and µk = 0.78. Calculate the braking distances for the two cases v = 50
kilometres per hour and 80 kilometres per hour.
(b)

F (i) A mass m is on a plane inclined at an angle θ to

the horizontal. A horizontal force F is pushing it
up the slope at a steady speed v. The coefficient
of kinetic friction between the mass and the
θ plane is µk. Derive an expression for the
magnitude of F.
(ii) Derive an expression for the power applied by F in case (i). (i.e., for the rate at which F is
doing work.)

(iii) In the lower sketch, a roadway is banked at

R angle θ for a curve of radius R. Derive an
expression for the angle θ at which the road
must be banked if a car goes round the bend at
θ
uniform speed v and exerts no frictional force
either up or down the plane (i.e. no frictional
forces in the plane of the diagram).
(iv) State the direction of the force that the car exerts on the driver in case (iii). Explain your answer
in one or two clear sentences.

IMPORTANT: Would you like some feedback on your progress so far? How
would you go in a real test?
Download the trial test from the course web page and find out. The link is:
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/1131/prelimtest.pdf

PHYS1121 HWS 2 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

WORK, ENERGY, CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

A block of mass m = 3.57 kg is dragged at constant speed a distance d = 4.06 m across a horizontal floor by
a rope exerting a constant force of magnitude F = 7.68 N making an angle θ = 15o with the horizontal.
Compute:
(a) the total work done on the block
(b) the work done by the rope on the block
( ) the work done by the friction on the block, and
( ) the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the floor.

8. The potential energy of a diatomic molecule is

U

where A, B are positive constants. xo

(a) Calculate the force F(x) between the atoms and sketch
this as a function of x, using the same x axis as the x
plot of U(x) shown.
(b) Find the equilibrium separation between the atoms.

A certain peculiar spring is found NOT to conform to Hooke's law. The force (in Newtons) it exerts when
stretched a distance x (in metres) is found to have magnitude 52.8x + 38.4 x3 in the direction opposing the
stretch.
(a) Compute the total work required to stretch the spring from x = 0.500 to x = 1.00 m.
(b) With one end of the spring fixed, a particle of mass 2.17 kg is attached to the other end of the spring
when it is extended by an amount x = 1.00 m. If the particle is then released from rest, compute its speed
at the instant the spring has returned to the configuration in which the extension is
x = 0.500 m.
( ) Is the force exerted by the spring conservative or non conservative? Explain.

10. In the system shown, block A (of mass 6.0 kg) rests on a horizontal surface where the coefficient of kinetic
friction between the block and the surface is 0.30. Block A is attached by a light string passing over a light
frictionless pulley to block B (of mass 4.0 kg) which hangs freely.

(a) By applying Newton's second law (or otherwise), 6.0 kg

A
calculate the acceleration of the system and the tension
force in the string.
(b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the system after each
block has moved a distance of 1.5 m from rest. B
(c) How much heat energy is developed by the friction
between block A and the surface as the system moves a distance of 1.5 m from rest?

PHYS1121 HWS 2 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 11. A 2.0 kg block is placed against a compressed spring on a
frictionless incline. The spring, whose force constant is 1960
Nm–1, is compressed 20 cm, after which the block is
released. What distance along the incline will it travel
before coming to rest? Assume that the spring has 30 0
o
o

negligible mass and that the spring and block are not
attached to each other.

PAST EXAM QUESTION

A toy racing car is placed on a track, which has

car the shape shown in the diagram. It includes a
loop, which is approximately circular with
radius R. The wheels of the car have negligible
mass, and turn without friction on their axle.
You may also neglect air resistance. The
h
dimensions of the car are much smaller than R.
R i) Showing all working, determine the
minimum height h from which the car
may be released so that it maintains
contact with the track throughout the trip.
ii) Does your answer depend on the mass of
the car? Comment briefly.
iii) If a solid ball were released from the
height you calculate in (i), would it
maintain contact with the track
throughout the trip? Explain briefly.

PHYS1121 HWS 2 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

Answers to set 2:
1. (a) 1.0 N
2. (a) 9.8x102N up; (b) 9.8x102N up; (c) 1.2x103N up; (d) 6.8x102N up; (e) 5.8x102N up; (f) 1.5x103N
up
3. (a) 0.98 ms-2; (b) 18 N
4. (a) a = g tan q; (b) 3.6 ms-2, 12˚
5. (a) 2.2 km
6. (a) No; (b) 67 N, directed 64o away from the vertical wall
7. (a) zero; (b) 30 J; (c) –30 J; (d) 0.23
1
12A 6B 2A 6
8. (a) F =
x 13
-
x7
; (b) ( B )
9. (a) 28.8 J; (b) 5.15 ms-1 towards origin
10. (a) 2.2 ms–2; 31 N; (b) 32 J; (c) 26 J
11. 4.0 m

PHYS1121 HWS 2 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 3

MOMENTUM AND CENTRE OF MASS

1. Three particles of masses 2, 1, 3 respectively have position vectors: r1 = 5ti – 2t2j + (3t-2)k, r2 = (2t-3)i
+ (12-5t2)j + (4+6t-3t3)k, r3 = (2t-1)i + (t2+2)j – t3k where t is the time and all quantities are in SI units.
Find:
(a) the velocity of the center of mass at time t = 1, and
(b) the total linear momentum of the system at t = 1.

2. In the ammonia (NH3) molecule, as shown in the figure, the three N 10.14 x 10-11 m
hydrogen (H) atoms form an equilateral triangle; the center of the triangle
is 9.40 x 10–11 m from each hydrogen atom. The nitrogen (N) atom is at
the apex of a pyramid, the three hydrogens forming the base. The
nitrogen-to-hydrogen distance is 10.14 x 10–11 m, and the nitrogen-to-
hydrogen atomic mass ratio is 13.9. Locate the center of mass relative to
the nitrogen atom. H H

9.4 x 10-11 m

CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM, COLLISIONS

3. A 1.0 kg ball drops vertically onto the floor with a speed of 25 ms-1. It rebounds with an initial speed of
10 ms-1.
(a) What impulse acts on the ball during contact?
(b) If the ball is in contact for 0.020 s, what is the average force exerted on the floor?

4. A block of mass m1 = 1.88 kg slides along a

frictionless table with a speed of 10.3 ms-1. u1 u2
Directly in front of it, and moving in the
same direction, is a block of mass k
m2 = 4.92 kg moving at 3.27 ms-1.
m1 m2
A massless spring with a force constant
k = 11.2 N cm-1 is attached to the backside
of m2, as shown in the figure.
When the blocks collide, what is the maximum compression of the spring? (Hint: At the instant of
maximum compression of the spring, the two blocks move as one.)

5. A radioactive nucleus, initially at rest, decays by emitting an electron and neutrino at right angles to one
another. The momentum of the electron is 1.2 x 10-22 kg ms-1 and that of the neutrino is
6.4 x 10-23 kg ms-1.
(a) Find the direction and magnitude of the momentum of the recoiling nucleus.
(b) The mass of the residual nucleus is 5.8 x 10-26 kg. What is its kinetic energy of recoil?

PHYS1121 HWS 3 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

PAST EXAM QUESTION

Can a bathroom scale (a device usually used for measuring

one's weight) be used to measure the speed of a bullet fired
from a gun?
A student decides to find out. When she stands on the scale, it
accurately reads her mass (60 kg). She observes that, when she
stands on the scale, its lid is lowered by x = 5.0 mm. Assume
that the scale behaves like an undamped spring, with spring
constant k.
x
i) Calculate the value of the spring constant k.
(Hint: be careful with units.)
The student then mounts the scale vertically, and fixes a block
(M = 10 kg) on its surface. Its mass is considerably greater than
bathroom that of the scale. In this orientation, and with the block fixed,
scales the scale reads zero. In a preliminary experiment, she discovers
v that the bullet does not penetrate through the block, and comes
to rest inside it after a very brief collision.
M Her research tells her that a particular model gun fires bullets at
m a speed of v = 400 m.s-1 (called its muzzle velocity) and that
the bullets have a mass m = 6.0 g.
ii) Showing all working, and using the values given, calculate the maximum compression of the scale
when a bullet is fired into it at normal incidence (as shown in lower diagram). State any assumptions
you make and justify any conservation laws that you use.

iii) Calculate the reading on the scale at this point.

(Important warning: Under no circumstances should you try to answer this problem experimentally.)

ROTATIONAL KINEMATICS

6. Because of tidal friction, the Earth's period of rotation is increasing at roughly 2.5 x 10–8 s per day.
(a) What is the angular acceleration?
(b) What would the Earth's period be in a billion years (109) time, assuming α remains constant.

7. Assume the Earth to be a sphere of uniform density.

(a) What is its rotational kinetic energy? Take the radius of the Earth to be 6.4x103 km and the mass
of the Earth to be 6.0 x1024 kg.
(b) Suppose this energy could be harnessed for peoples’ use. For how long could the Earth supply 1
kW of power to each of the ~1010 persons on Earth?

8. A uniform sphere of mass M and radius R rolls without

slipping down an incline of height h and angle θ. At
some point the linear velocity of the centre of mass is v.
(a) Derive an expression for the total kinetic energy
of the sphere in terms of M, v. h
(b) What is the angular velocity of the sphere when
v
it reaches the bottom of the incline?
(c) What is the magnitude of the linear acceleration θ
of the centre of mass.
(d) What is the time taken to roll down the
incline, if the sphere starts from rest?

PHYS1121 HWS 3 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

GRAVITATION

DATA: The following constants are needed in some of the calculations.

Universal Gravitation Constant G = 6.673 x 10–11 Nm2 kg–2
Mass of Earth Me = 5.98 x 1024 kg
Radius of Earth Re = 6.38 x 106 m

9. How does g, the acceleration due to gravity, vary with height above the Earth? (Neglect the Earth’s
rotation)
(a) Assuming a uniform Earth calculate the value of g:
(i) at a height of 10,000 m above the Earth
(ii) at a height of 200 km (in the top of the ionosphere)
(b) How high above the Earth (in Earth radii) must one be if g is 50% of the value at the Earth's
surface.

10. Certain neutron stars (extremely dense stars) are believed to be rotating at about one revolution per
second (they are sending radio waves towards the Earth at this frequency). If such a star has a radius of
20 km, what must be its minimum mass so that objects on its surface will be attracted to the star and
not 'thrown off' by the rapid rotation? What is its density? Comment on your answer.

11. It is desired to place a satellite into an orbit so that it remains fixed above a given point on the Earth.
(a) Explain why the orbit must be in the equatorial plane
(b) Calculate the radius of the orbit
(c) If the satellite has a mass of 240 kg calculate its potential energy, kinetic energy and total energy.

12. Our Sun, with a mass 2.0 x 1030 kg, revolves about the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is
2.2 x 1020 m away, once every 2.5 x 108 years. Assuming that each of the stars in the galaxy has a
mass equal to that of our Sun, that the stars are distributed uniformly in a sphere about the galactic
center, that we can neglect dark matter, and that our Sun is essentially at the edge of that sphere,
estimate roughly the number of stars in the galaxy.

REVISION

13. A particle of mass 2 kg moves in the X-Y plane so that its position is r(t) = 3ti + (1+t2)j m
(a) Sketch the trajectory of the particle.
(b) Calculate the velocity and acceleration of the particle
(c) Determine the force acting on the particle
(d) Calculate the vector torque and angular momentum of the particle about the origin
dL
(e) Show that you results in (d) satisfy τ =
dt

14. An α-particle collides with an oxygen nucleus, initially at rest. The α-particle is scattered at an angle of
64o from its initial direction of motion and the oxygen nucleus recoils at an angle of 51o on the other
side of this initial direction. What is the ratio, α-particle to nucleus, of the final speeds of these
particles? The mass of the oxygen nucleus is four times that of the α-particle.

PHYS1121 HWS 3 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

Answers to set 3:
1. (a) 3i – 2j – k; (b) 18i – 12j – 6k
2. 0.675 x 10–11 m toward the plane of the hydrogens, along the axis of symmetry
3. (a) 35 N.s; (b) 1800 N
4. 24.6 cm
5. (a) 1.4 x 10-22 kg ms-1, 150o from the electron track and 120o from the neutrino track. (b) 1.0 eV
6. (a) –2.5 x 10–22 rad s–2; (b) 26.5 hrs
7. (a) 2.6x1029 J; (b) ~ 109 years
8. (a) 7/10 Mv2 ; (b) (10gh/7R2)1/2 ; (c) 5/7 g sin θ ; (d) (14h/5g sin2θ)1/2
9. (a) 0.997 go (where go is value on surface of Earth); 0.94 go; (b) 0.41 Re

10. (a) 4.7 x 1024 kg; (b) 1.4 x 1011 kg/m3

11. (b) 4.22 x 107 m; (c) –2.27 x 109, 1.13 x 109, –1.13 x 109 J
12. 5 x 1010
1 2
13. (a) y = 1 + x ; (b) 3i + 2t j, 2 j; (c) 4 j; (d) 12 tk, (6t2 – 6)k
9
14. 3.47

PHYS1121 HWS 3 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 4

TEMPERATURE

1. The amplification or gain of a transistor amplifier may depend on the temperature. The gain for a
certain amplifier at room temperature (20.0˚C) is 30.0, whereas at 55.0˚C it is 35.2. What would the
gain be at 28.0˚C if the gain depends linearly on temperature over this limited range?

2.
A composite bar of length L = L1 + L2 is made L1 L2
from a bar of material 1 and length L1 attached
to a bar of material 2 and length L2, as shown in
the figure. L
(a) Show that the effective coefficient of
linear expansion α for this bar is given by:
α = (α1L1 + α2L2)/L.
(b) Using steel and brass, design such a composite bar whose length is 52.4 cm and whose
effective coefficient of linear expansion is 13 x 10-6/C˚. For steel, α = 1.1x10-5 oC-1, for brass,
α = 1.9x10-5 oC-1.

KINETIC THEORY AND THE IDEAL GAS

3. A weather balloon is partially inflated with helium at a pressure of 1.00 atm (= 76.0 cm Hg) and a
temperature of 22.0˚C. The gas volume is 3.47 m3. At an elevation of 6.50 km, the atmospheric
pressure is down to 36.0 cm Hg and the helium has expanded, being under no restraint from the
confining bag. At this elevation the gas temperature is -48.0˚C. What is the gas volume now?

4. The mass of the H2 molecule is 3.3x10-24 g. If 1.0x1023 hydrogen molecules per second strike 2.0
cm2 of wall at an angle of 55˚ with the normal when moving with a speed of
1.0x105 cm/s, what pressure do they exert on the wall?

5. A steel tank contains 315 g of ammonia gas (NH3) at an absolute pressure of 1.35x106 Pa and
temperature 77.0˚C.
(a) What is the volume of the tank?
(b) The tank is checked later when the temperature has dropped to 22.0˚C and the absolute
pressure has fallen to 8.68x105 Pa. How many grams of gas leaked out of the tank?

PHYS1121 HWS 4 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

PAST EXAM QUESTION
a)
Water at temperature 20 °C flows from a tap T into a heated container
T C. The container has a heating element (a resistor R) which is supplied
with electrical power P, that may be varied.
The rate of water flow is F = 0.020 litres per minute. The electrical
power is sufficient that the water in the container is boiling. What is the
minimum power P that must be supplied in steady state so that the
amount of liquid water in the container neither increases nor decreases
with time? (Neglect other losses of heat, such as conduction from the
container to the air.)
C -1 -1
For water, c = 4.2 kJ.kg K , Lvap = 2.3 MJ.kg-1,

ρ = 1000 kg.m-3
R

b)
bearing surfaces The diagrams show a sketch (top) and cross section of a low
expansion mounting. It is designed so that the two bearing
surfaces remain separated by a constant distance D,
independent of temperature. Part A is a rod, which has length
C B A Lo+Do at reference temperature To and is made of material
with linear coefficient of thermal expansion αA. Part B is a
hollow cylinder which has length Lo at To and is made of
material with linear coefficient of thermal expansion αB.
Both are mounted on a rigid plate C.
L D i) Showing all working, derive an expression for the
length D as a function of temperature, in terms of the
parameters given above.
ii) Give an expression for the value of ratio Do/Lo which
A produces the result that D is independent of
C temperature.
B

WORK DONE ON AN IDEAL GAS

P
6. Suppose that a sample of gas expands from 2.0 to 8.0 m3 along the 20 B
diagonal path AC in the pV diagram shown. It is then compressed
p(kPa)

back to 2.0 m3 along either path 1 or path 2. Compute the net work u
done on the gas for the complete cycle in each case 5 C
D v
V
2 8
V(m3)

PHYS1121 HWS 4 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

PAST EXAM QUESTION
The diagram below shows a monatomic ideal gas undergoing a cyclic process. The states A, B, C
and D are marked on the diagram. As the gas goes from state A to state B 1515 kJ of heat energy
enter the system. As the gas goes from state C to state D 704.5 kJ of heat energy leaves the system.
The process from B to C is adiabatic and from D to A is isothermal. The volume at C is 5.79 m3.

P atm⇥
3.5
3.0 A B

2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0 D C
0.5
0.0 V m3 ⇥
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(i) Calculate the work done on the gas as it goes from state A to state B.
(ii) What is the change in internal energy as the gas goes from state D to state A?
(iii) What is the change in internal energy as the gas goes from state B to state C?

Answers set 4

1. 31.2
2. 39.3 cm steel and 13.1 cm brass
3. 5.59 m3
4. 0.19 N/cm2
5. (a) 0.0399 m3; (b) 75 g
6. 45 kJ along path 1; -45 kJ along path 2

PHYS1121 HWS 4 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 5

In this set make use of the data provided in these tables.

Specific Heats and Thermal conductivities of selected metals

Substance Specific Heat Linear thermal Thermal
-1 -1
c, (Jkg K ) expansion conductivity
coefficient k, (Wm-1K-1)
α, (oC)-1
Aluminium 910 24 × 10-6 205.0
-6
Brass 377 19 × 10 109.0
-6
Copper 390 17 × 10 385.0
-6
Lead 130 29 × 10 34.7
-6
Steel 456 11 × 10 50.2

Water
Quantity Value
Specific Heat (liquid) 4186 Jkg-1K-1
Latent heat of Fusion 3.33 × 105 Jkg-1
Latent heat of vaporization 2.26 × 106 Jkg-1
Density (at 4o C) 1000 kgm-3
Melting point (at 1 atm) 0.000 °C
Boiling point (at 1 atm) 100.0 °C
Volume expansion coefficient (β) 207 × 10-6 (oC)-1
(at 20oC: you may assume it is
constant between 15oC and 100o C)

HEAT AND THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

1. A 146 g copper bowl contains 223 g of water; both bowl and water are at 21.0˚C. A very hot 314 g
copper cylinder is dropped into the water. This causes the water to boil, with 4.70 g being converted to
steam, and the final temperature of the entire system is 100˚C.
(a) How much heat was transferred to the water?
(b) How much to the bowl?
(c) What was the original temperature of the cylinder?

2. A person makes a quantity of iced tea by mixing 520 g of the hot tea (essentially water) with an equal
mass of ice at 0˚C. What are the final temperature and fraction of the mass of ice remaining if the initial
hot tea is at a temperature of (a) 90.0˚C and (b) 70.0˚C ?

PHYS1121 HWS 5 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

HEAT TRANSFER

3. (a) Calculate the rate at which body heat flows out through the clothing of a skier, given the
following data: the body surface area is 1.8 m2 and the clothing is 1.0 cm thick; skin surface
temperature is 33˚C, whereas the outer surface of the clothing is at 1.0˚C; the thermal
conductivity of the clothing is 0.040 W/mK.
(b) How would the answer change if, after a fall, the skier's clothes become soaked with water?
Assume that the thermal conductivity of water is 0.60 W/mK.

4. Four square pieces of insulation of two k1 k1

different materials, all with the same thickness k1 k2
and area A, are available to cover an opening
of area 2A. These materials are aligned so that k2
k2
the two square sections forming the rectangle
are on top of each other. This can be done in k2 k1
either of the two ways shown in the figure.
Which arrangement, (a) or (b), would give the
lower heat flow if k2≠k1? (a) (b)

5.
When a system is taken from state i to state f along the
p a f path iaf in the figure, it is found that Q = 50 J and
W = -20 J. Along the path ibf, Q = 36 J.
(a) What is W along the path ibf?
(b) If W = +13 J for the curved return path fi, what is
Q for this path?
i b
(c) Take Eint,i = 10 J. What is Eint,f?
(d) If Eint,b = 22 J, find Q for process ib and process
0 V bf.

6. A cylinder has a well-fitted 2.0 kg metal piston whose cross-

sectional area is 2.0 cm2, as shown in the figure. The cylinder
contains water and steam at constant temperature. The piston is
observed to fall slowly at a rate of 0.30 cm/s because heat flows
out of the cylinder through the cylinder walls. As this happens,
some steam condenses in the chamber. The density of the steam
inside the chamber is 6.0×10-4 g/cm3 and the atmospheric piston
pressure is 1.0 atm.
(a) Calculate the rate of condensation of steam.
steam
(b) At what rate is heat leaving the chamber?
(c) What is the rate of change of internal energy of the steam and
water inside the chamber? water

PHYS1121 HWS 5 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

PAST EXAM QUESTION

Pneumatic or air suspension has some advantages (and some m

disadvantages) in comparison with springs. In this question we PA
consider an idealised version of air suspension. A volume V0
of air at atmospheric pressure PA and temperature T0 is sealed A
in a piston of area A that slides without leaks or friction in a
cylinder. The air may be considered as an ideal gas with molar h0
P
mass 0.029 kg.kmol-1. The piston is then loaded with a mass
m, that includes the mass of the piston. The system is allowed
to reach mechanical and thermal equilibrium at T0.
Showing your working, derive an expression for h0, the equilibrium height of the piston in
the cylinder as shown in the sketch in terms of the parameters given above and the gas
constant.

OSCILLATION

7. A body oscillates with simple harmonic motion according to the equation:

π
x = 6.0 cos(3πt + 3 ) metres .
At t = 2 seconds, what is:
(a) the displacement,
(b) the velocity; and
(c) the acceleration?

Find also:
(d) the phase,
(e) the frequency, v; and
(f) the period of motion

8. A ball moves in a circular path with a radius of 2 metres with a constant speed of 3m/s.
(a) Find the period and frequency of the motion of the ball.
(b) Write down an equation for the x component of the position of the ball as a function of time t.
Assume the ball is on the positive x axis at t=0.

9. A block is on a piston which is moving vertically with simple harmonic motion of period 1.0 seconds.

(a) At what amplitude of motion will the block and piston separate?
(b) If the piston has an amplitude of 5.0cm, what is the maximum frequency for which the block and
piston will be in contact continuously?

10. A mass is in simple harmonic motion with amplitude A. What is the fraction of the kinetic energy
component to the total energy when x = A/3.

PHYS1121 HWS 5 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

11. A block of mass M, at rest on a horizontal, frictionless table, is attached to a rigid support by a spring
of force constant k. A bullet of mass m and speed v strikes the block as shown in the figure. After a
very hard collision the bullet remains embedded in the block. Determine the amplitude of the resulting
simple harmonic motion, in terms of m, M, v and k.

v
k
M
m

12. The equation of a transverse wave travelling in a rope is given by:

y = 0.1sin π(x − 2.00t) m

where y and x are expressed in metres and t in seconds.
(a) Find the amplitude, frequency, velocity and wavelength of the wave.
(b) Find the maximum transverse speed of a ‘particle’ (by particle we mean any small element of the rope
which will be set in motion as the wave moves past a chosen position) in the rope.

13. What is the speed of a transverse wave in a rope of length 2.0 metres and mass 0.060 kg under a tension
of 500 N?

Answers to set 5
1. (a) 84.8 kJ; (b) 4.46 kJ; (c) 835˚C.
2. (a) 5.2˚C; no ice left; (b) 0˚C; 0.062 kg ice left
3. (a) 230 J/s; (b) Heat flows out about 15 times as fast
4. a
5. (a) -6.0 J; (b) -43J; (c) 40 J; (d) 18 J; 18 J
6. (a) 0.360 mg/s; (b) 0.814 J/s; (c) –0.694 J/s

7. a) 3.0m, b) v = −9π 3 ms-1, c) a = −27π 2 ms-2, d) φ = π/3 is the phase constant,

e) v = 1.5Hz. f) 2/3 sec
8. a) T=4.19s, f=0.2398Hz, b) x=2cos(1.5t)
9. a) x = 0.25m, b) f = 2.2Hz
10. 8/9

11.
mv
k(m + M )
12. (a) 0.1 m, 1.0 Hz, 2 ms-1, 2m; (b) 0.63 ms-1
13. 130 ms-1

PHYS1121 HWS 5 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 PHYS1121 PHYSICS 1A

HOMEWORK SET 6

WAVE MOTION

1. A wave of frequency 500 Hz has a phase velocity of 350 ms-1. [“Phase” velocity is “speed” or “velocity” of
wave. It is the velocity that any given “phase” propagates at; eg. The crest or trough of a wave.]
(a) How far apart are two points 60˚ out of phase?
(b) What is the phase difference between two displacements at a certain point at times 10-3 sec apart?

2. A string vibrates according to the equation:

πx
y = 0.5 sin cos 40πt
3
where x and y are in centimetres and t is in seconds.
(a) What are the amplitude and velocity of the component waves whose superposition can give rise to this
vibration?
(b) What is the distance between nodes?
(c) What is the velocity of a particle of the string at the position x = 1.5 cm when t = 9/8s?

3. An aluminium wire of length L1 = 60.0 cm and of cross-

sectional area 1.00x10-2 cm2 is connected to a steel wire of L1 L2
the same cross-sectional area. The compound wire; loaded
with a block m of mass 10.0 kg is arranged as shown in the
diagram so that the distance L2 from thejoint to the Al Steel
supporting pulley is 86.6 cm. Transverse waves are set up in
the wire by using an external source of variable frequency.

The density of aluminium is 2.60 g cm-3, and that of steel is

7.80 g cm-3. m

(a) Find the lowest frequency of excitation for which standing waves are observed such that the
joint in the wire is a node.
(b) What is the total number of displacement nodes observed at this frequency, excluding the two at the ends
of
the wire?

4. A harmonic wave is given by the function

y = ( 2.0m ) sin ( 2π ( x − vt ) / λ )
where y is the displacement of the wave travelling in the x-direction at speed v. If the frequency of the wave is
2.0 Hz, what is the displacement y at x=0 when t=4.0s?

5. The figure here shows part of a computer circuit (the

surface of a processor or memory chip) viewed in
two different types of microcope. The left figure was
obtained by a regular optical light microscope. The
view on the right was produced by an acoustic
microscope by focusing 3 GHz ( 3x10 9 Hz )
ultrasonic waves through a droplet of water on the
chip’s surface. The ultrasonic wave speed in water is
1.5 km/s. Find the wavelength of the ultrasonic
travelling waves and compare this to the wavelength
of green light (approximately middle of the visible
spectrum) in air.

PHYS1121 HWS 6 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

 (Interested students can find some background at http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/~zinin/Zi-SAM.html)

SOUND WAVE

6. Calculate the energy density in a sound wave 4.82 km from a 47.5 kW siren, assuming the waves to be spherical,
the propagation isotropic with no atmospheric absorption, and the speed of sound to be 343 m/s.
Hint: Consider a thin, spherical shell with thickness v.dt

7. Two waves give rise to pressure variations at a certain point in space given by:
p1 = P sin 2πft, p2 = P sin 2π(ft - φ).
1 1 1
What is the amplitude of the resultant wave at this point when φ = 0, φ = 4 , φ = 6 , φ = 8 ?

8. A note of frequency 300 Hz has an intensity of I = 1.0 µW m-2. What is the amplitude of the air vibrations
caused by this sound? Assume that the velocity of sound in air is 343 m/s and the density of air at room
temperature is 1.21 kgm-3. What about if I = 1.0 µW m-2, close to the threshold of human hearing at this
frequency?

9. A certain sound level is increased by an additional 30 dB. Show that:

(a) its intensity increases by a factor of 1000; and
(b) its pressure amplitude increases by a factor of 32.

10. S in the figure opposite is a small loudspeaker driven by an audio

oscillator and amplifier, adjustable in frequency from 1000 to 2000 Hz
only. D is a cylindrical pipe, length l=0.49 m. S
Assume that the tube is open at both ends.
(a) If the velocity of sound in air is 339 m s-1 at the
ambient temperature, at what frequencies will
resonance occur when the frequency emitted by the l=0.49 m
speaker is varied from 1000 to 2000 Hz? Neglect
end effects.
(b) Sketch the displacement modes for each.
(c) Explain what end effects are and how they would change your
results in the real case.

11. A tuning fork of unknown frequency makes three beats per second with a standard fork of frequency 384 Hz.
The beat frequency decreases when a small piece of wax is put on a prong of the first fork. What is the frequency
of this fork?

SOUND WAVES AND DOPPLER EFFECT

12. Sinusoidal vibrations of 20 Hz propagate along a coil spring. The distance between successive condensations
(positions of maximum compression) in the spring is 30 cm.
(a) What is the speed of motion of the condensations along the spring?
(b) The maximum longitudinal displacement of a particle of the spring is 4 cm. Write down an equation for
this wave motion for waves moving in the positive x direction and which have zero displacement at x = 0
at time t = 0.
(c) What is the maximum velocity experienced by a particle of the spring?

PHYS1121 HWS 6 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW

13. For a sound wave, the pressure amplitude ΔPmax is the maximum value of the change in pressure from the
ambient pressure (when no wave is present in the medium). ΔPmax is related to the wave amplitude A by
2⇥
Pmax = ( )⇤v 2 A
where ρ is the density of the medium and v is the wave velocity. Humans can tolerate values of pressure
amplitude up to ΔPmax ~ 30 Pa ; for these loud sounds, the pressure wave varies by ±30 Pa with respect to the
ambient atmospheric pressure P ~ 105 Pa . What value of displacement amplitude does this correspond to at a
frequency f = 1000Hz ? Take the density of air to be ρair =1.22 kgm-3 and the speed of sound at 37º C to be 353.7
ms-1.

14. A siren emitting a sound of frequency 1000 Hz moves away from you towards a cliff at a speed of 10 ms-1.
(a) What is the wavelength of the sound you hear coming directly from the siren?
(b) What is the wavelength of the sound you hear reflected from the cliff?
(c) What is the difference in frequency between cases (a) and (b)?
(Velocity of sound in air = 340 ms-1)

15. A tuning fork, frequency 297 Hz, is used to tune the D-string of two guitars at a temperature of 27˚C when the
velocity of sound in air is 340 ms-1.
(a) What difference in frequency will the audience detect if one player is stationary and the other is moving
towards the audience at 3 ms-1?
(b) What difference in sound would you expect if one player plucked the string at the centre point and the
other at a point 1/7th the length of the string from one end?
(c) What length of open organ pipe would give a fundamental of 297 Hz at 27˚C? Derive the formula used.
(d) What different frequency would the organ pipe have if the temperature fell to 7˚C?
(e) What changes would occur in the note produced by the organ pipe if it had a hole at its half-way point?

Answers to set 6
1. (a) 0.12 m; (b) 180˚]
2. (a) 0.25 cm, 120 cm s-1; (b) 3.0 cm; (c) zero
3. (a) 323 vib/sec; (b) 6
4. 0 m
5. 500 nm
6. 474 nJ m-3
7. 2.00P, 1.41P, 1.73P, 1.85P
8. 3.7×10-8 m, 1.1×10-10 m (about the size of an atom!)
9. –
10. (a) 1038, 1384, 1730 Hz
11. 387 Hz
x
12. (a) 6 ms-1; (b) y = 0.04 sin 2π(20t - 0.3 ); (c) 1.6π ms-1

13. 0.011 mm
14. (a) 0.35 m; (b) 0.33 m; (c) 58 Hz
15. (a) increased by 2.64 Hz; (c) 0.572 m; (d) 287 Hz; (e) 594 Hz

PHYS1121 HWS 6 First Year Physics Teaching Unit, UNSW