Solutions to
F=ma Mock Exam 2022
William Huang
1 Problem 1
Originally, there is only one set of springs of constant k, meaning a weight W would result in a
compression of W/k. After adding the new set of springs, the effective spring constant is
1 1 1 2k
= + =⇒ keff =
keff k 2k 3
which means a weight W0 would result in a total compression of 3W0 /(2k). Therefore:
W′ 3W0
=
k 2k
W ′ 3
= =⇒ B
W0 2
2 Problem 2
Note that the string has no way of dissipating energy, so the velocity remains at a constant v.
Between consecutive collisions of the string with each corner, the length of the string is constant,
so the mass undergoes uniform circular motion. Therefore, the total time is the sum of times taken
to traverse each circular arc, which is
7πa 6πa 2πa πa 14πa
t= + + ··· + + = =⇒ B
2v 2v 2v 2v v
3 Problem 3
The maximum height is achieved by the hole in which the water shoots straight up. If the initial
speed of water through the hole is v, then by continuity, the new speed v ′ of water going through a
singular hole is
N v = v′
Since h ∝ v 2 , h′ = N 2 h =⇒ D
2 4. Problem 4
4 Problem 4
Let us consider the rotating reference frame of the four-way pipe. When the water initially leaves,
it has a velocity v that is parallel to one of the pipes. Afterwards, it is affected by a coriolis
acceleration −2ω × v that points in the opposite direction of rotation. Note that the shape of the
water relative to the pipes should be the same in all reference frames. Therefore, the only choice
that satisfies both the parallel exit velocity and coiling in the opposite direction of the rotation is
E.
5 Problem 5
The amount of energy required to take out a cubical crater of length L is proportional to
E ∝ mgL ∝ ρL3 gL
A meteor with twice the mass will be able to provide twice the energy. Therefore, the linear size of
the crater will be 21/4 larger, and its volume will be 23/4 times larger, implying D .
6 Problem 6
The weight of the cylinder is negligible, so the total normal force of the ground on the cylinder
is 10 N. By symmetry, the normal pressure is equal at all contact points and the frictional force
is similarly equal in magnitude at all points, pointing in the opposite direction to the cylinder’s
rotation. Therefore, summing up all the frictional works of each point, the total rate at which heat
is being dissipated is
P = µN v = µN ωR
Therefore
∆Q = P t = 0.6t =⇒ A
7 Problem 7
The tower will be stable if its center of mass is located within its area of support. If we set the
origin of our coordinate system to be the bottom left corner, that’s equivalent to saying
xcm ≤ b
Calculating xcm :
b/2 + b/2 + a/2 2b + a
xcm = =
3 6
Yields:
2b + a ≤ 6b
a/b ≤ 4 =⇒ C
3 8. Problem 8
8 Problem 8
Suppose the rod had an angle ϕ with the horizontal. In a time t, the bead would travel a distance
1 1
d = at2 = gt2 sin ϕ
2 2
along the rod. Now consider the set of points that can be reached from P in a time t. That set of
points has a radial distance r ∝ sin ϕ, which you may recognize as the polar form of a circle! In
particular, the set of points reachable in time t is a circle with P as its uppermost point.
From this information, we can determine that the shortest time is reached if the rod is placed at
the tangency point of two circles: the circle centered at the origin, and the circle whose upper most
point is P and is tangent to the circle centered at the origin. Using geometry, we can determine
that
θ ≈ 53◦ =⇒ B
9 Problem 9
Suppose the small hole has area A. Just before breaking, the tape experiences a force
6 N = P A = (ρgh)A
√
After breaking, water exits at a velocity of 2gh. By momentum conservation, the force that the
exiting water exerts on the remaining water is
dp dm
F = = v = ρAv 2 = 2ρghA = 12 N =⇒ D
dt dt
10 Problem 10
By conservation of angular momentum,
Icm ω0 = Iω
It is well known that Icm = M R2 /2, and by the parallel axis theorem
11
I = Icm + M (R/3)2 = M R2
18
Therefore:
9
ω= ω0 =⇒ E
11
11 Problem 11
Suppose the low density solid we are trying to measure has a volume V . Let us call the density of
the gas ρg . The true weight of the solid is ρ1 V , but the scale results the measurement of a weight
4 12. Problem 12
(ρ1 − ρg )V
Therefore, the relative error is
ρg
= 2% =⇒ E
ρ1
12 Problem 12
The ladder experiences 5 forces: two normal forces, two frictional forces, and the weight of the
construction worker. However, for the maximum height not to slip, the frictional forces will be
maximized to µN , so in fact we can combine each of the friction+normal pairs to get 3 effective
forces. Finally, each of the lines of the “3” forces, if extended, must intersect at a single point in
order for torque to be balanced, because otherwise we can take torque about the point of intersection
of two forces and find a non-zero torque.
Let us find the position of the construction worker in this scenario. Suppose the ladder is located
in the first quadrant, and the x and y axes are the ground and wall respectively. The lines that the
forces from the wall and the ground make are
y = L sin θ + µx
1
y = − (x − L cos θ)
µ
respectively. These lines intersect at an x value of
L(cos θ − µ sin θ)
x=
1 + µ2
which corresponds to a y value on the ladder of
y = L sin θ − x tan θ = 0.15 m =⇒ A
13 Problem 13
Pressure increases linearly with depth, so the average pressure from the water on the dam is ρgH/2.
Therefore, the total force is
1
F = P A = ρgH 2 L =⇒ C
2
14 Problem 14
While falling, both masses fall at the same rate. Therefore, the mass within stays at its equilibrium
position during the fall. When the box hits the ground, it immediately slows to a stop, whereas the
√
mass within still has a velocity 2gH. The maximum compression achieved by the mass within
can be determined by conservation of energy:
5 15. Problem 15
1 2
kx = mgH
2
r
2mgH
x=
k
For the box to jump up afterward, kx must be greater than mg:
p
kx = 2mgHk > mg
mg
H> =⇒ C
2k
15 Problem 15
Angular momentum is conserved throughout this process, so
d d dI dω
L = (Iω) = ω+I =0
dt dt dt dt
dω dI ω 1 10
=− = − (0.2 · π12 )12 · = −π =⇒ D
dt dt I 2 (1/2)2 · 12
16 Problem 16
The total momentum, which is conserved, is 0. Therefore, the center of mass is stationary. From
inspection, we know that the center of mass is initially within the black curve, so it must always be
below the black curve. From these two facts alone, we can eliminate all other choices:
• Choice A satisfies both these requirements. =⇒ A
• Choice B has moments where the center of mass is above of the black curve.
• The initial momentum of Choice C does not even satisfy the problem’s requirements.
• Neither does the initial momentum of Choice D.
• In Choice E, the momentum quickly becomes nonzero.
17 Problem 17
In the accelerating reference frame of the center of mass of the firework, the firework bursts into
a sphere where each portion of the firework has equal speed. Since fragments with equal height in
the sphere will hit the ground at the same time, the number of fragments that hit the ground at
a certain time is proportional to the circumference of the circular cross-section of the sphere that
intersects with the ground. Therefore, the number of fragments will increase, reach a maximum,
then decrease =⇒ C .
6 18. Problem 18
18 Problem 18
Adding the springs from top to bottom is annoying to calculate. Instead, we can consider each
iteration to be equivalent to taking the existing contraption and hanging it on a new mass, then
hanging this new contraption with a spring. That way, it is clear that the increase in length for
each iteration of the process is equal to the length of the top spring.
The length of the top spring for the iteration of N springs is:
N mg
l0 + ∆x = l0 +
k
So the total length of the springs is:
N
X img N (N − 1) mg
l0 + = N l0 +
k 2 k
i=1
Setting this total length to be greater than or equal to the height of the room yields a quadratic
with solution
N = 11 =⇒ D
19 Problem 19
Note that since the center of mass of the table is stationary, all the oscillations described in this
problem excite only one normal mode. When point A is pushed down, the motion is equivalent to
that of a rod, with two springs of constant 2k at each end, and opposite sides of the table alternate
going up and down. For a small tilt from the horizontal of angle θ, the torque equation about the
center of mass becomes
1 a a
ma2 θ̈ = −4k θ ·
12 2 2
r
12k
ω0 =
m
When point B is pressed down, the motion is such that the opposite corners alternate going up
and down. Note that the moment of inertia across the diagonal of the square, by the perpendicular
axis theorem, is equal to the moment of inertia about an axis in the plane of the square that bisects
the two opposite
√ sides. However, there are two springs involved instead of four, the lever
√ arm is a
factor of 2 greater, and the linear elongation in the springs per unit θ is a factor of 2 greater,
therefore the oscillation frequency is also
r
12k
ω=
m
Therefore ω = ω0 =⇒ C .
7 20. Problem 20
20 Problem 20
If there’s no friction interaction between the rings, the rotations of each ring does not affect the
velocities of the collision. Further, during the collision, friction from the ground does not have
time to act on the rings. Therefore, the linear velocities change exactly as if it were an elastic collision.
From this fact, the premise becomes clear. Initially, both rings roll without slipping until the
collision, when the ratios of linear to rotational velocity is offset, which allows friction to act on
the rings. If friction is sufficient, it may result one of the rings moving in the opposite direction,
causing a second or perhaps even more collisions.
Since the masses are equal, the velocities v1 and v2 simply swap. After the first collision, the ring
A is suddenly rotating too fast (ω1 = 10/R > v/R) for its linear speed; therefore, friction points
forwards to decelerate its angular speed while accelerating its linear speed:
ma = +µmg =⇒ a = +µg
mR2 α = −µmgR =⇒ Rα = −µg
Both accelerations stop when ω = v/R, indicating rolling without slipping. Note that due to
the nice setup, a = −Rα, so v and Rω simply meet at their average, which is 6 m/s. The linear
distance travelled during this time is given by the kinematic equation
vf2 = vi2 + 2adA
72 − 42
dA = = 1.65 m
2µg
A similar analysis on ring B shows that it also ends up at 6 m/s after the collision and friction
act on it, but during the same amount of time, ring B travels a distance dB = 2.55 m. Since they
both end up with the same velocity after the first collision, the two rings’ separation stays constant
afterwards. Therefore, the final separation is 0.9 m =⇒ A .
21 Problem 21
Since the cloud is uniform, the amount of dust collected is proportional to the distance x travelled.
Suppose the length that can be traversed in time T0 without dust is L0 . Then m(x) is
x
m(x) = m + δm
L0
By momentum conservation mv is constant. Therefore:
m
v(x) = v0
m(x)
The time needed to traverse the length L0 is
L0
δm L20
Z Z
dx dx δm x L0 δm
= 1+ = + = T0 1 + = 1.01T0 =⇒ B
v 0 v0 m L0 v0 mv0 L0 2 2m
8 22. Problem 22
Note that calculus is only necessary for the exact solution. For an approximate solution, note that
to first order, v(x) is
δm x
v(x) ≈ v0 1 −
m L0
which is a linear function with average velocity
δm
v ≈ v0 1 −
2m
After which we get a similar answer as before:
L0 δm
T = ≈ T0 1 + = 1.01T0
v 2m
22 Problem 22
The thrust required to keep the spaceship in that position is
GM mf dp dm
Fnet = F −2
= = v = µv
4R dt dt
GM (m0 + µR/v) GM
F = + µv = const. + µ + v
4R2 4Rv
p
which by AM-GM is minimized when v = GM/4R =⇒ A
23 Problem 23
Angular momentum of the spaceship is conserved. Therefore, we know the answer should depend
on both ρ0 and ρ, since as ρ → 0 the time it takes to slow down should go to infinity (since massless
dust can’t obtain angular momentum and slow down the spaeship), and ρ0 → ∞ should achieve
similar results (since the dust is essentially massless relative to the spaceship). Therefore, in an
expression for time, ρ should be in the denominator and ρ0 should be in the numerator. The only
answer choice that satisfies both of these requirements is C .
24 Problem 24
There are two velocities involved: the daily rotation of the Earth and the velocity at which Earth
revolves around the Sun. The latter is the much greater contributor, and it has a magnitude of
2πa 2π × 1.5 × 1011 m
= ≈ 3 × 104 m/s =⇒ B
T 365 × 24 × 3600 s
9 25. Problem 25
25 Problem 25
The√angular impulse about the center of mass of the square due to the impulse J has magnitude
Ja/ 2. This causes the square to obtain an angular velocity
Ja
ω= √
I 2
where I is the moment of inertia of the square across the diagonal. Note that by the perpendicular
axis theorem, the moment of inertia about a diagonal of a uniform square is equal to the moment
of inertia through an axis that bisects two opposite sides. Therefore I = (2m)a2 /12 and
√
3 2J
ω=
ma
Now, we turn to the rotational dynamics after the impulse. The tensions must provide the centripetal
acceleration of each triangle to keep them rotating at a speed ω. The appropriate equation is
2T = mω 2 rcm
It is well known that the center of mass of a uniform triangle
√ is located at its centroid, which
by geometry can be found to be a radial distance rcm = 2a/6 away from the center of rotation.
Therefore
√ √
1 18J 2 2a 3 2J 2
T = m 2 2 = =⇒ ???
2 m a 6 2ma
