SEFYDLIAD MATHEMATEG A FFISEG

INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS

ARHOLIADAU SEMESTER 1

EXAMINATIONS

IONAWR/JANUARY 2011

PH01010 Introduction to Physical Forces

Amser/Time 2 hours
Answer ANY THREE questions
The numbers in the right hand margin indicate the marks that the examiners anticipate
assigning to each part of the question.
Casio FX-83 or FX-85 calculators ONLY may be used.

1 a) If our moon is considered to be a uniform sphere of radius Rm = 1.74 x 106 m and has
uniform density with mass Mm = 7.35 x 1022 kg.
i) Find gravitational field strength gm at a point on the surface of the moon.
ii) Find gravitational field strength gh at a height h = 8.6 x 105 m above its surface.
[Universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 x 1011 N m2 kg2]

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GMm
r
i) Use the law of conservation of energy to find the equation for escape speed of an
object on a planets surface and show that it is independent of the objects mass m.
ii) Find the escape speed from the surface of the moon.
[For the moon: Radius: Rm = 1.74 x 106 m and Mass Mm = 7.35 x 1022 kg]
[Universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 x 1011 N m2 kg2]

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b) Given that gravitational potential energy U

c) Three point masses m1 = 1924 kg, m2 = 784 kg and m3 = 0.02 kg are positioned with
their centres on a joining line as shown in figure 1. Masses m1 and m2 are distance
d = 1.80 m apart, a much smaller test mass m3 between them is positioned x = 0.25 m
from m2.
Figure 1

m1 = 1924 kg

m3 = 0.02 kg

m2 = 784 kg

x = 0.25 m
d = 1.80 m
i) Find the net gravitational force due to m1 and m2 acting on the test mass m3 if it is
placed at distance x = 0.25 m from m2.
ii) Find a new value for x for test mass m3 to experience zero net gravitational force.
[Universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 x 1011 N m2 kg2]

[8]

2 a) State Kepler's three laws of planetary motion using rough sketches as an aid in
answering the question.

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b) For the case of Kepler's third law, derive the proof for a circular orbit

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c) The orbits of Earth and Venus round the Sun are very nearly circular with mean radius
of Earths orbit re = 1.50 x 1011 m and mean radius of Venuss orbit rv = 1.08 x 1011 m
respectively. Given the Earths period of orbit round the Sun is 365.3 days and Venus
is 224.7 days:
i) Show that these figures are approximately consistent with Kepler's third law.
ii) Derive a formula and estimate the mass of our Sun
[Universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 x 1011 N m2 kg2]

PH01010 Introduction to Physical Forces: January 2011

Printed: 04/03/2011

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3 a) Explain the difference between a vector and a scalar and classify the following:
temperature, speed, velocity, momentum, mass, force
kinetic energy, acceleration, displacement and potential energy

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b) The path of a particle moving in the two dimensional x-y plane, between two points
from A1 to A2, is shown by the dotted line in figure 2. The points A1 and A2 have
position vectors given by r1 and r2 .
y

Figure 2
Position vectors for points A1 and A2 are:
r1 x1i y1 j 3.4i 19.7 j
r2 x2i y2 j 24.6i 10.3 j

A1

r1

A2

r2

i) On a rough sketch draw displacement vector r between the two points and find
the resultant displacement vector and its magnitude.
ii) Indicate on your sketch the distance l travelled.

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c) Figure 3 shows a graph of velocity against time v(t) for a moving particle.
v (m s1)

Figure 3

v(t)

30

Am

25
20

A2

15

A1

10
5
0

t (s)
0

10

12

i) Define average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration.

ii) Find the average acceleration of the particle between the two points A1 and A2.
iii) Estimate the particles instantaneous acceleration at the point Am on the graph.
In each case, with the aid of a rough sketch, show how you calculated your answers.

PH01010 Introduction to Physical Forces: January 2011

Printed: 04/03/2011

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4 a) A body in a gravity free and frictionless environment is initially at rest. It is pushed

with a constant force of F = 40 N for a time t =0.5 seconds.
i) Find the magnitude of momentum produced by the impulse force.
ii) If the body has mass m = 2 kg, find its velocity after the impulse is applied.

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b) Five force vectors F1 , F2 , F3 , F4 and F5 act on a single particle of mass m = 1.50 kg

as shown in figure 4.
i) Find the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on the particle.
ii) Find the particles acceleration and velocity after a time t = 2.5s.
y

Figure 4

F2 = 16 N

F1 = 10 N
45o

F5 = 12 N

F3 = 14 N
x
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F4 = 8 N

c) Figures 5a and 5b show four 5 kg point masses m1, m2, m3 and m4 of equal mass,
fixed and positioned as shown along a light rigid rod of length 8m.
Figure 5b

Figure 5a

8m

8m
2m
m1

2m
m2

2m

2m

2m
m3

m4

Axis of rotation
through centre

m1

2m
m2

2m

2m
m3

m4

Axis of rotation offset

0.5 m to right of m1

i) Define the moment of inertia of an object and briefly explain when it should be
used in calculations in physics.
ii) Find the moment of inertia when the system rotates about an axis midway along the
rod as shown in Fig. 5a
iii)Find the moment of inertia when the system rotates about a new offset axis 0.5 m to
the right of mass m1 as shown in Fig. 5b.
iv) If both systems rotate with a constant angular speed of = 3.8 rad s1 find their
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angular momentum and angular kinetic energy in each case.

PH01010 Introduction to Physical Forces: January 2011

Printed: 04/03/2011

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