Physic Labs

International Physics Olympiad · Year 1995

Problems

  1. Problem 1A body slides from rest without friction down an incline of angle α, length ℓ, and height h. Find its final speed and travel time. Use the stated ideal model: quantities are constant or vary only as specified, with no extra drag, losses, or external influences. State a sign convention, keep units consistent, and use a classical approximation only where appropriate. (a) Set up the governing equation from a fundamental law. (b) Solve for the requested quantity under the stated conditions. (c) Check the result using a suitable limit, sign, or unit test, and report both the expression and its physical meaning.The gravitational acceleration has constant magnitude g; a denotes acceleration along the incline.Solutions: 1
  2. Problem 2A source of emf ℰ and internal resistance r drives a resistor R. Find the current, power in R, and R maximizing that power. Use the stated ideal model: quantities are constant or vary only as specified, with no extra drag, losses, or external influences. State a sign convention, keep units consistent, and use a classical approximation only where appropriate. (a) Set up the governing equation from a fundamental law. (b) Solve for the requested quantity under the stated conditions. (c) Check the result using a suitable limit, sign, or unit test, and report both the expression and its physical meaning.I is the circuit current and P_R is the power dissipated in the load R.Solutions: 1
  3. Problem 3Light travels from glass of refractive index 1.5 into air. Find the critical angle and condition for total internal reflection. Use the stated ideal model: quantities are constant or vary only as specified, with no extra drag, losses, or external influences. State a sign convention, keep units consistent, and use a classical approximation only where appropriate. (a) Set up the governing equation from a fundamental law. (b) Solve for the requested quantity under the stated conditions. (c) Check the result using a suitable limit, sign, or unit test, and report both the expression and its physical meaning.Solutions: 1