2020 F = ma Exam 1

AAPT UNITED STATES PHYSICS TEAM

AIP 2020

2020 F = ma Exam

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. The only scratch paper you may use is scratch paper provided by the
proctor. You may not use your own.

• This test contains 25 multiple choice questions. Select the 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. 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 of the same level of difficulty.

• Correct answers will be awarded one point; incorrect answers or 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 cannot be used during the exam or while the exam papers are present. You may not
use any tables, books, or collections of formulas.

• The question booklet, the answer sheet, and all scratch paper will be collected at the end of this
exam.

• 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 1, 2020.

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

We acknowledge the following people for their contributions to this year’s exams (in alphabetical order):

Ariel Amir, JiaJia Dong, Mark Eichenlaub, Abijith Krishnan, Daniel Longenecker, Kye Shi, Brian Skinner,
Paul Stanley, Mike Winer, and Kevin Zhou.

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2020 F = ma Exam A 2

1. A ball is launched straight toward the ground from height h. When it bounces off the ground, it
loses half of its kinetic energy. It reaches a maximum height of 2h before falling back to the ground
again. What was the initial speed of the ball?
√
(A) gh
√
(B) 2gh
√
(C) 3gh
√
(D) 4gh
√
(E) 6gh ← CORRECT

Solution

The calculation is easiest in the framework

√ of energy: E0 = mgh + 12 mv02 = 2Ef = 2mg(2h). So
solving for initial velocity we get v0 = 6gh.

2. A rigid ball of radius R is rolling without slipping along the rib of a right-angle chute, as shown in the
figure. Which of the point(s) of the ball have the maximum speed?

P
A B

side (3d) view cross-section (2d) view

(A) All points have the same speed.

(B) The contact points A and B.
(C) The center O.
(D) The lowest point P .
(E) The highest point Q. ← CORRECT

Solution

The top point. A and B must be stationary because they are in contact with the rib and the ball
is rolling without slipping. Because the velocity at any point is given by v + ω × r, if the part of
the ball below the center has speed 0, the highest point of the ball must have the speed. Explicitly,
one can show that √
2+ 3
vtop = v √ .
3

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3. When an axe is swung with kinetic energy E directly at a piece of wood, the edge of the axe is
buried a depth L into the wood. If the axe is swung with kinetic energy 2E, how deep will it be
buried into the wood? Assume that the axe is wedge-shaped with a constant angle and that the
force per unit contact area between the axe and the wood during the impact is proportional to the
depth.

(A) 21/4 L
(B) 21/3 L ← CORRECT
√
(C) 2L
(D) 2L
(E) 4L

Solution

The energy required to enter the wood scales as L3 . This is because the energy to displace a
harmonic oscillator scales as L2 , and the amount of contact with the wood gives another factor of
d. Thus, doubling the energy will increase the distance into the wood by a factor of 21/3 .
Calculus is not necessary here, but may aid understanding this solution. We can define a spring
2
constant density k` so that the energy per unit length is ky2` , where y = rL is the perpendicular
displacement, and
R L r is the wedge ratio. We can then integrate the energy as a function of distance
02
into the wood: 0 dL0 kL2r2 `
= k
6r2 `
L3 .

4. Four identical rods, each of mass m and length 2d, are joined together to form a square. The square
is then spun around its center, as shown in the figure, at an angular frequency of ω. What is the
magnitude of the force that the joints between the rods (at the corners of the square) must bear?

(A) mω 2 d/2
√
(B) mω 2 d/ 2 ← CORRECT
(C) mω 2 d
√
(D) 2mω 2 d
(E) 2mω 2 d

Solution

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2020 F = ma Exam A 4

Consider the rightmost rod, and consider an arbitrary point (d, h) on this rod. The centripetal
acceleration at that point is given by ω 2 r = ω 2 (d, h).
Thus, the rightward component of centripetal acceleration is ω 2 d, which is constant along the rod.
Thus, the rightward force on the rod is F = ma = mω 2 d.
Using Newton’s third law and symmetry, we see that the tension in each joint must be in the
direction perpendicular to the corresponding diagonal. Thus, we can set up a free-body diagram
equation for each rod, with the two forces at the joints and the centripetal force.
√
Since these forces must cancel, we get 2Fjoint cos(π/4) = Fcent = mω 2 d, so Fjoint = mω 2 d/ 2

5. A pendulum of length L oscillates inside a box. A person picks up the box and gently shakes it
horizontally with frequency ω and a fixed amplitude for a fixed time. The final amplitude can be
maximized if ω satisfies
p
(A) ω = g/L ← CORRECT
p
(B) ω = 2 g/L
p
(C) ω = (1/2) g/L
(D) There will be no effect on the amplitude for any value of ω.
(E) None of the above

Solution

In the frame of the box, this is equivalent to a horizontal driving

p force with frequency ω. To increase
the amplitude, the driving should be at resonance, so ω = g/L.

6. A planet is orbiting a star in a circular orbit of radius r0 . Over a very long period of time, much
greater than the period of the orbit, the star slowly and steadily loses 1% of its mass. Throughout
the process, the planet’s orbit remains approximately circular. The final orbit radius is closest to

(A) 1.02r0
(B) 1.01r0 ← CORRECT
(C) r0
(D) 0.99r0
(E) 0.98r0

Solution

The angular momentum L = mvr is conserved. Moreover, since the orbit is always circular, the
kinetic energy and potential energy are related by 2K = −U , giving mv 2 = GM m/r, where M is
the mass of the star. Therefore M ∝ v 2 r ∝ L2 /r, so a 1% decrease in the star’s mass gives a 1%
increase in the orbital radius.

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2020 F = ma Exam A 5

7. An astronaut standing on the exterior of the international space station wants to dispose of three
pieces of trash. They face the station’s direction of travel with the Earth to their left. From
the astronaut’s perspective, the three pieces are thrown (I) left, (II) right, and (III) up. To the
astronaut’s frustration, some of the pieces of trash return to the space station after several hours.
They are

(A) II only
(B) III only
(C) I and II
(D) II and III
(E) I, II, and III ← CORRECT

Solution

By Kepler’s third law, T 2 ∝ a3 where a is the semimajor axis, and E = −GM m/2a. The astronaut’s
throw has a negligible impact on the total energy of the trash, and hence a negligible impact on a
and hence T . In fact, after one full orbit, all three pieces of trash simply return to the space station.

8. The velocity versus position plot of a particle is shown below. Which following choices is the correct
acceleration vs. position plot of the particle?

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a a

(A) (D)

x x
a a

(B) (E)

x x
a

(C) ← CORRECT

Solution

Suppose the particle starts at x = 0. Then its velocity is zero, meaning it remains at 0, and its
acceleration is zero. So the correct acceleration plot must start at (0,0). It remains to determine
whether the plot of acceleration vs time curves upward or is a straight line.
Suppose it is a straight line, as shown in choice (c). Then the average force on the particle traveling
from some very small value to some x is proportional to x. The energy of the particle, which is the
average force multiplied by x, is then proportional to x2 . Because the energy is the square of the
velocity, we have v 2 ∝ x2 , or simply v ∝ x, as desired, so choice (c) is the one consistent with the
shown v vs x plot.
For a calculus-based solution, the velocity is given by v = kx for some k. Differentiating both sides
with respect to time, we find a = kv = k 2 x, so again we find that the acceleration is a straight line
starting at zero and sloping upward.

The following information is relevant to problems 9 and 10.

9. A block of mass m is attached to a massless string. The string is passed over a massless pulley
and the end of the string is fixed in place. The horizontal part of the string has length L. Now a
small mass m is hung from the horizontal part of the string, and the system comes to equilibrium.
(Diagram not necessarily to scale.)

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−→

Neglecting friction everywhere, the tension at the end of the string is

(A) mg/2
(B) mg ← CORRECT
(C) 3mg/2
(D) 2mg
(E) 3mg

Solution

In equilibrium, the tensions on both sides of any pulley must be equal, for torque balance on the
pulley. The same logic applies to the mass; one can think of it as just another pulley. Hence the
tension everywhere in the string is mg.

10. During this process, the block has been raised by approximately a height

(A) 0.15L ← CORRECT

(B) 0.23L
(C) 0.31L
(D) 0.37L
(E) 0.40L

Solution

For force balance on the disc, the strings must attach to it at an angle of 30◦ to the horizontal; this
also implies the mass must be placed at the middle of the horizontal section. Hence the horizontal
√
√ of length L, becomes two tilted sections, each with length L/ 3. The
section of string, originally
change in length is L(2/ 3 − 1), which is equal to the increase in height of the block.

11. The maximal tension per area a material can sustain without failure is called its tensile strength.
Plain steel has a tensile strength of 415 MPa. What is the maximal mass one can hang on a vertical
steel rod of negligible mass and a diameter of 2 cm?

(A) 1300 kg
(B) 5200 kg
(C) 13 000 kg ← CORRECT
(D) 52 000 kg
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(E) The answer depends on the length of the steel rod.

Solution

Balancing the forces, we have:

mmax g = σπr2
→ mmax = 13000kg

12. A point mass m is glued inside a massless hollow rod of length L at an unknown location. When
the rod is pivoted at one end, the period of small oscillations is T . When the rod is pivoted at the
other end, the period of small oscillations is 2T . How far is the mass from the center?
(A) L/8
(B) L/6
(C) L/4
(D) 3L/10 ← CORRECT
(E) 2L/5

Solution
√
We have T ∝ ∆L, where ∆L is the distance from the pivot point to the mass. Then the ratio of
distances is 4, so the mass is 0.2L from one of the ends, or 0.3L from the center.

13. A ballerina with moment of inertia I is quickly twirling with angular velocity ω. In her hand she has
a pen of mass m at a radius R from her axis of rotation. The ballerina releases the pen. Afterward,
what happens to the vertical component of the angular momentum of the system consisting of the
ballerina and the pen? You may ignore all friction, but not gravity or normal forces.
(A) It decreases until the pen hits the floor.
(B) It increases until the pen hits the floor.
(C) It always stays the same. ← CORRECT
(D) It initially stays the same, but decreases when the pen hits the floor.
(E) It initially stays the same, but increases when the pen hits the floor.

Solution

There are no external vertical torques in this problem, as both the gravity and normal forces are
vertical, so the vertical component of angular momentum is conserved.

14. Two blocks of mass m are placed on top of each other, and the bottom block is placed on the ground.
The ground is frictionless. The static and kinetic coefficients of friction between the two blocks are
µs and µk , with µs < µk . The blocks are at rest initially. When a constant horizontal force F is
then applied to the bottom block, which of the following graphs could show its acceleration as a
function of F ?
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2020 F = ma Exam A 9

m
m F

a a

(A) (D)

F F
a a

(B) ← CORRECT (E)

F F
a

(C)

Solution

The statement µs < µk above is a typo, which makes the setup not make physical sense. As a
result, credit was given for all answers. The intended solution (for µk < µs ) is as follows.
For small forces, the blocks move together, and the acceleration is linear in the force. At a certain
threshold, the top block begins to slip. Because µk < µs , the friction force decreases suddenly at
this threshold, so the acceleration of the bottom block increases suddenly. For higher forces, the
acceleration is again linear in the force, but with a greater slope, since the top block is not moving
with the bottom block.

15. As shown in the figure, a vessel contains two types of liquid: the liquid with density ρ1 on top and
ρ2 on the bottom. The depth of the top liquid is h1 , and the interface area between the top and
the bottom liquid is s1 . The bottom liquid has a depth of h2 . The area of the bottom of the vessel
is s2 . What is the gauge pressure (i.e. pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure) at the bottom of
the vessel?

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2020 F = ma Exam A 10

h1
s1
h2
s2

(A) (ρ1 h1 + ρ2 h2 )g ← CORRECT

ρ1 s1 h1 + ρ2 s2 h2
(B) g
s2
1
(C) (ρ1 + ρ2 )(h1 + h2 )g
2
(D) (ρ1 + ρ2 )(h1 + h2 )g
(E) ρ2 (h1 + h2 )g

Solution

The gauge pressure is zero by definition at the top, so it is ρ1 h1 g at the liquid interface. The pressure
then increases by ρ2 h2 g from here to the bottom of the vessel, giving the answer, (ρ1 h1 + ρ2 h2 )g.

16. Liquid droplets store a given amount of potential energy per unit surface area, due to their surface
tension. When two identical, nearly spherical liquid droplets coalesce on a certain type of surface,
part of this energy can be converted into upward kinetic energy, causing the coalesced droplet to
jump. Assuming the conversion is 100% efficient, how does the maximum height h depend on the
radius r of the initial droplets?

(A) h ∝ r
(B) h ∝ r1/2
(C) h ∝ r−1/2
(D) h ∝ r−1 ← CORRECT
(E) h ∝ r−2

Solution

The change in surface area, and hence the energy released, is proportional to r2 . The mass is
proportional to r3 . Since the energy released is equal to mgh, we have h ∝ r−1 .

17. Paul the Giant stands outside on a force-meter calibrated in Newtons, which reads 5000 N. Paul
is wearing a large cowboy hat, which has horizontal cross-sectional area A = 1 m2 and completely
covers both him and the scale when seen from directly above. At time t = 0, rain begins to fall
vertically downward on Paul, and any rain that hits his hat is collected in the hat’s brim. The
raindrops have a constant downward speed of 1 m/s, and the rain accumulates on the ground at a
rate of 1 mm/s. What is the reading (in N) on the scale as a function of the time t > 0 (in s)? The
density of water is 1000 kg/m3 .

(A) 5001 + 11t

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(B) 5001 + 10t ← CORRECT

(C) 5000 + 11t
(D) 5001 + 1.1t
(E) 5001 + t

Solution

The force on the scale has three components: (1) Shrek’s weight, (2) the weight of the water
collected in the ogre hat, and (3) the pressure associated with changing the momentum of the
downward-falling rain. Component (1) gives a constant weight 5000 N. Component (2) is equal to
the weight of the water collected in the hat. The total volume of water collected is V = (1 mm/s)
×A × t, and the weight of the water is V × (1000 kg/m3 ) × g = 10 × t.
Component (3) can be found by noting that in a time t, the total mass M = ρV of water that hits
the hat has its momentum changed from p = M v to zero. Here ρ = 1000 kg/m3 is the density of
water. The force applied by the hat on the water is therefore F = ∆p/∆t = M v/t = 1 N.
Adding these three contributions together gives a total weight W = 5000 + 1 + 10t.

18. A massless rigid rod is pivoted at one end, and a mass M is at the other end. Originally, the rod
rotates frictionlessly about the pivot with a uniform angular velocity such that the mass M has
speed v. The rotating rod collides with another mass M at its midpoint, which then sticks to the
rod. After the collision, what is the kinetic energy of the system?

v
M

1
(A) M v2
4
1
(B) M v2
3
7
(C) M v2
18
2
(D) M v 2 ← CORRECT
5
1
(E) M v2
2

Solution

Angular momentum about the pivot is conserved in the collision. Let the final speed of the original
mass M be v 0 . Then the final speed of the second mass is v 0 /2. Balancing the initial and final
angular momentum,
M vr = M v 0 r + M (v 0 /2)(r/2)

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which gives v 0 = (4/5)v. The final kinetic energy is

1 1 2
M (v 0 )2 + M (v 0 /2)2 = M v 2 .
2 2 5

19. A system of cylinders and plates is set up as shown. The cylinders all have radius r, and roll without
slipping to the right with angular velocity ω. What is the speed of the top plate?

plate
plate

ω plate
r
floor

(A) ωr
(B) 2ωr
(C) 3ωr
(D) 4ωr
(E) 6ωr ← CORRECT

Solution

Instantaneously, each cylinder can be thought of as rotating about its point of contact with the
ground or plate below. The rotational angular velocity is ω. This means that, relative to the bottom
of the cylinder, the top is moving at speed 2ωr. So the first plate is moving to the right at 2ωr. The
second plate moves to the right at 2ωr faster than the first, and the top plate moves to the right
at 6ωr.

20. A car is driving against the wind at a constant speed v0 relative to the ground. The wind direction
is always opposite to the car’s velocity, but its speed fluctuates about an average speed of v relative
to the ground. The air drag force is Avrel 2 , where A is a constant and v
rel is the relative speed
between the car and the wind. What is the average rate P of energy dissipation due to the air
resistance?

(A) P = Av0 (v0 + v)2

(B) P > Av0 (v0 + v)2 ← CORRECT
(C) P < Av0 (v0 + v)2
(D) Both (B) and (C) are possible depending on how v fluctuates.
(E) Both (A) and (C) are possible depending on how v fluctuates.

Solution

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Define u = v0 + v. Then the relative speed of the car and wind is u + δu, where δu averages to zero.
The instantaneous energy dissipation rate is

P = F v0 = Av0 (u + δu)2 = Av0 (u2 + 2u δu + (δu)2 ).

On average, the second term in parentheses will be zero, because δu averages to zero. But the third
term is positive. So if the wind fluctuates at all, then on average,

P > Av0 u2 = Av0 (v0 + v)2 .

21. A circular table has radius R and N > 2 equally spaced legs of length h attached to its perimeter.
Suppose the table has a uniform mass density with total mass m, and neglect the mass of the legs.
Assuming the table does not slip, the minimum horizontal force needed to tip over the table is

mgR
(A)
h  
mgR N −2
(B) sin π ← CORRECT
h 2N
mgR π
(C) cos ← CORRECT
h  N 
mgR N −2
(D) tan π
h 2N
mgR  π 
(E) sin
h 2N

Solution

Label the tops of two adjacent legs by A and B. The best way to push is to push directly opposite
the table from the midpoint of AB, directly towards this midpoint.
When the table is about to tip over, these two legs will bear all of the weight of the table, and
hence provide all of the frictional force. Balancing torques on the table about the axis AB, we have
F h = mgR0 where R0 = R cos(π/N ) is the distance from the center ofthe table to the midpoint of
AB. Solving for F gives the answer. Note that credit was given for both choices (B) and (C), since
they are equivalent.

22. A collision occurs between two masses. In each inertial reference frame, one can compute the change
in total momentum ∆P and the change in total kinetic energy ∆K due to the collision. Which of
the following is true?

(A) ∆P and ∆K do not depend on the frame. ← CORRECT

(B) ∆P and ∆K do not depend on the frame for perfectly elastic collisions, but ∆P may depend
on the frame for inelastic collisions.
(C) ∆P and ∆K do not depend on the frame for perfectly elastic collisions, but ∆K may depend
on the frame for inelastic collisions.
(D) ∆P and ∆K do not depend on the frame for perfectly elastic collisions, but both may depend
on the frame for inelastic collisions.
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2020 F = ma Exam A 14

(E) ∆P and ∆K may both depend on the frame, for both perfectly elastic and inelastic collisions.

Solution

In a collision, momentum is conserved whether the collision is elastic or inelastic. This means
∆P = 0 regardless of reference frame, so ∆P does not depend on frame.
In an elastic collision, ∆K = 0, which is again independent of frame. In an inelastic collision,
whatever kinetic energy is dissipated will go to heat up the masses (assuming they are isolated, and
energy can only go into thermal energy). The heat capacity and temperature change of the masses
are both frame-invariant, so the kinetic energy dissipated is again independent of reference frame.
(This can also be shown more straightforwardly by direct calculation.)

23. Steve determines the spring constant k of a spring by applying a force F to it and measuring the
change in length ∆x. The tools he uses to measure F and ∆x both have a constant absolute
uncertainty, leading to an uncertainty in k of δkS . If Tiffany measures the same spring constant
with the same tools but by using a force that is five times larger, what will her uncertainty in k be
in terms of δkS ?

(A) δkT = 0.04 δkS

(B) δkT = 0.08 δkS
(C) δkT = 0.2 δkS ← CORRECT
(D) δkT = 0.4 δkS
(E) δkT = 0.5 δkS

Solution

Conceptually, quintupling all forces, and consequently ∆x (including the errors) would leave the
error in k the same. So quintupling the values but not the errors multiplies the error in k by 0.2.
Quantitatively, we use the equation for relative errors:
 2  2  2
δk δF δx
= +
k F ∆x

The denominators on the right hand side will quintuple when Tiffany does the measurement, hence,
the new uncertainty is 15 δkS .

24. A mass m is connected to one end of a zero-length spring with spring constant k. The other end
of the spring is connected to a frictionless bearing mounted around a horizontal pole so that the
mass can swing in a vertical circle of radius R around the pole. The setup is shown in the figure
below. What is the vertical distance h between the center of the circular orbit and the axis of the
pole? Assume that both the diameter of the pole and the rest length of the spring are negligible
compared to R.

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2020 F = ma Exam A 15

p
(A) mgR/k
p
(B) R (R + mg/k)/(R − mg/k)
(C) R − mg/k
(D) mg/k ← CORRECT
q
(E) R2 − (mg/k)2

Solution

Consider the instant when the mass is moving vertically upward. In this instant the mass’s acceler-
ation is perfectly horizontal, which means that the vertical component of the force from the spring
must be equal and opposite to the force of gravity. The angle θ that the spring makes with the
horizontal satisfies
√ tan θ = h/R, where h is the desired
√ vertical distance. The length of the spring
in this instant is h2 + R2 , so the upward force is k h2 + R2 sin θ = kh. This should be set equal
to mg, which means h = mg/k.

25. A ball of negligible radius and mass m is connected to two ideal springs. Each spring has rest length
`0 . The springs are connected to the ball inside a box of height 2`0 , and the ball is allowed to come
to equilibrium, as shown. Under what condition is this equilibrium point stable with respect to
small horizontal displacements?

k1

m
k2

(A) k1 > k2
(B) k2 > k1
(C) k1 − k2 > mg/`0 ← CORRECT
(D) k1 k2 /(k1 + k2 ) > mg/`0
(E) k1 k2 /(k1 − k2 ) > mg/`0

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2020 F = ma Exam A 16

Solution

Suppose we call z the height measured from the middle of the box and x the horizontal displacement,
also measured from the middle of the box. When the ball is at equilibrium at some z0 , the springs
obey
−k1 z0 − k2 z0 = mg.
We can use this to find the equilibrium position,
−mg
z0 = .
k1 + k2

Imagine a horizontal displacement of size x. If x is small, the tension in the top spring is not
changed from the tension at equilibrium (to first order in x). So the restoring force is

−k1 xz0
F1 = T1 sin θ ≈ T1 θ ≈
`0 − z0
x
where θ ≈ `0 −z0 is the angle the spring makes with the vertical.
The bottom spring similarly exerts a force
k2 xz0
F2 ≈
`0 + z 0
pushing the ball away from equilibrium.
For equilibrium to be stable, for positive x, we must have

F1 + F2 < 0

Putting in F1 and F2 , we have

k1 xz0 k2 xz0
− + <0
`0 − z 0 `0 + z 0
Dividing by x and z0 , which we recall is negative,
k1 k2
< .
`0 − z 0 `0 + z 0
Plugging in our expression for z0 and rearranging this, we derive
mg
k1 − k2 < .
`0

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