D32382

FIRST SEMESTER (CBCSS—UG) DEGREE EXAMINATION NOVEMBER 2022

Physics/Applied Physics
PHY IB 01/APH IB 01 - MECHANICS - I
(2020-2022 Admissions)

Time: 2 Hours Maximum : 60 Marks

Section A (Short Answer Type)

Answer all questions in two or three sentences, each correct answer carries a maximum of 2
marks.

1. Define and explain mass.

Mass is a fundamental scalar quantity that represent the total quantity of matter in an object.
Mass is related to an object’s inertia. Objects with greater mass are more resistant to changes in
their velocity (acceleration) and are, therefore, harder to set in motion, stop, or change direction.
Mass is conserved in isolated systems, which means that the total mass of an isolated system
remains constant over time. This principle is a fundamental concept in physics.
The international standard unit for mass is the kilogram (kg), defined by a platinum-iridium cylin-
der known as the International Prototype of the Kilogram. Other commonly used units for mass
include grams (g) and metric tons (tonnes). In the United States, the pound (lb) is often used for
everyday purposes.

2. Define inertial frame of reference with an example.

An inertial frame of reference, in the context of physics, is a specific coordinate system or reference
frame in which an object at rest remains at rest and an object in uniform motion continues to move
at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.
In an inertial frame of reference: (i) Objects at rest within the frame remain at rest (ii) Objects in
uniform motion in a straight line within the frame continue moving at a constant velocity.
Inertial frames are essential in the formulation of the fundamental principles of classical mechanics,
including Newton’s laws of motion. These laws are defined with respect to inertial frames, and they
are used to describe the behavior of objects in such frames.
Example:
Suppose we are in a car traveling along a straight, flat road with no bumps, turns, or hills. If
the car maintains a constant speed, everything inside the car (assuming no air resistance or other
external forces) are in an inertial frame of reference. Inside the car, one can perform experiments,
like dropping an object or rolling a ball on a frictionless surface, and they will follow the laws of
motion as described by Newton.
Within the car, the law of inertia holds true – objects remain at rest if they were at rest, or they
continue to move at a constant velocity if they were already in motion. It’s important to note that

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 the car’s motion is relative to the Earth, which can also be considered an inertial frame as long as it
is not subject to any significant acceleration (such as during an earthquake or in a high-speed roller
coaster).

3. Explain the essence of Newton’s first law.

Newton’s first law of motion, often referred to as the law of inertia, states that: "An object at rest
tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the
same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force."
The essence of Newton’s first law can be broken down into several key points:
Inertia: The first law is often called the law of inertia because it describes the natural tendency
of objects to maintain their state of motion or rest. Inertia is the property of an object to resist
changes in its velocity, whether that means starting from rest or changing direction or speed while
in motion.
State of Motion: The law emphasizes that objects will remain in their current state of motion
unless a net external force is applied to them. If an object is stationary (at rest), it will remain at
rest unless acted upon by a force. If an object is moving at a constant velocity (in a straight line), it
will continue to do so unless an external force changes its velocity.
Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces: The law distinguishes between balanced and unbalanced
forces. A balanced force doesn’t change an object’s state of motion; it maintains equilibrium.
However, an unbalanced force, meaning a net force that is not counteracted by an equal opposing
force, will cause an object to accelerate.
Direction and Speed: The first law specifies that the object will continue to move in the same
direction and at the same speed. This means that an object in motion will maintain its current
velocity, whether it’s at rest or moving at a constant speed.

4. Explain the gravitational force of a sphere.

When dealing with the gravitational force of a sphere, we assume that the mass of the sphere is
evenly distributed throughout its volume, creating a symmetric distribution. This is a reasonable
assumption for many real-world objects like planets, stars, and large celestial bodies.
The according to the Newton’s law of universal gravitation, the force between a particle of mass m
and a uniform thin spherical shell of mass M and radius R is:
(
−G Mr2m r̂ r>R
F~ =
0 r<R

where r is the distance from the center of the shell to the particle. The negative sign indicates that
the force on particle M is directed toward particle m, that is, the force is attractive.

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5. Name the four fundamental forces in nature.

Gravitational Force: Gravity is the force of attraction that exists between all objects with mass. It
is a universal force, meaning it acts on all objects with mass and extends over large distances. Grav-
ity is responsible for the attraction of objects toward each other, such as the Earth’s gravitational
pull on everything on its surface.
Electromagnetic Force: The electromagnetic force is responsible for the interaction between elec-
trically charged particles, such as electrons and protons. It includes both electric and magnetic
forces and governs a wide range of phenomena, from the behavior of charged particles in atoms to
the transmission of light and electromagnetic radiation.
Strong Nuclear Force: The strong nuclear force, also known as the strong interaction, holds
together the protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus. It is an extremely short-range force,
acting within the nucleus and overcoming the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged
protons. Without the strong nuclear force, atomic nuclei would be unstable.
Weak Nuclear Force: The weak nuclear force is responsible for certain types of radioactive decay
and interactions involving neutrinos. It is called the "weak" force because it is much weaker than
the electromagnetic and strong forces. The weak force is crucial for processes like beta decay,
where a neutron can transform into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino.

6. Find the tension of a “Dangling rope" at a distance x from the bottom.

The section shown in the figure is pulled up by a force of magnitude T (x), where T (x) is the
tension at x. The downward force on the section is its weight W = M g(x/L). The total force on
the section is zero since it is at rest. Hence:

Mg
T (x) = x
L
At the bottom of the rope the tension is zero, while at the top where x = L the tension equals the
total weight of the rope M g.

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7. State work-energy theorem for a conservative system.

Work done by a force F~ on a particle as it moves from position a to b is:

Wba = Kb − Ka

where Kb and Ka are the kinetic energies at the respective points. This result is the general state-
ment of the work–energy theorem.

8. Explain one example for conservation of linear momentum.

• When you jump off a boat, the boat moves in the opposite direction.
• When you hit a baseball, the baseball moves away from you and you move backwards slightly.
• When two cars collide head-on, the cars stick together and move forward.
• When a water balloon bursts, the water shoots out in all directions.
• When a person falls on a skateboard, the skateboard moves out from under them.
• When a rocket is launched, the hot exhaust gases are ejected downwards, which pushes the
rocket upwards.

9. Show that angular momentum is conserved for a particle in central force motion.

~ = ~r × p~
The angular momentum is: L
~r is the position vector and p~ is the linear momentum of the particle.
The time derivative of angular momentum is:

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 ~
dL

d~p
 
d~r

= ~r × + × p~
dt dt dt
 
~
= ~r × F + (~v × p~)

In central force motion, the central force acts along the radial direction, meaning it is always
directed along the position vector (~r). Therefore, ~r × F~ = 0, because ~r and F~ are parallel.
Also, in central force motion, the velocity (~v ) and linear momentum (~p) are always perpendicular
because the force is directed along ~r. Therefore, ~v × p~ = 0.
~
dL
As a result, the time derivative of angular momentum, dt
, is zero and hence, the angular momentum
is conserved in central motion.

10. Write a note on conservation of mechanical energy.

The conservation of mechanical energy states that the total mechanical energy of a system remains
constant over time, as long as there are no non-conservative forces acting on the system. Mechani-
cal energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.
To illustrate the conservation of mechanical energy, consider the case of a pendulum swinging back
and forth. At the top of its swing, the pendulum has only potential energy. At the bottom of its
swing, the pendulum has only kinetic energy. At some point in between, the pendulum will have
both kinetic energy and potential energy.
We can use the principle of conservation of energy to say that the total mechanical energy of the
pendulum at any point in its swing is equal to the total mechanical energy of the pendulum at the
top of its swing. This means that the kinetic energy of the pendulum at any point in its swing is
equal to the difference between the potential energy of the pendulum at the top of its swing and the
potential energy of the pendulum at that point.
Some other examples of the conservation of mechanical energy: (a) a roller coaster going up and
down a hill, (b) a planet orbiting a star A charged particle in an electric field (c) a water balloon
falling (d) a ball bouncing (e) a golf ball being hit by a club.

11. Give the relation between P.E and force.

Force acting on an object is the negative gradient of the potential energy. Mathematically, this
relationship can be expressed as:

F~ = −∇U

The negative sign in the equation indicates that the force acts in the direction of the steepest de-
crease in potential energy. In other words, the force is directed from regions of higher potential
energy to lower potential energy.

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12. Define normal force.

The normal force is the force that a surface exerts on an object in contact with it, perpendicular to
the surface. It is a contact force, meaning that it can only act between two objects that are touching
each other.
The normal force is the force that a surface exerts on an object in contact with it, perpendicular to
the surface. It is a contact force, meaning that it can only act between two objects that are touching
each other.
The normal force is necessary to prevent the two objects from penetrating each other. For example,
when you place a book on a table, the normal force prevents the book from falling through the
table.
The magnitude of the normal force is equal to the weight of the object if the object is at rest.
However, if the object is accelerating, the normal force will be different from the weight of the
object. For example, if you throw a ball up in the air, the normal force on the ball will be zero when
it is at the top of its trajectory.
Understanding the normal force is crucial in physics, especially in mechanics, when analyzing the
equilibrium and motion of objects in contact with surfaces. It plays a significant role in problems
related to forces on inclines, tension in ropes, and many other real-world scenarios where objects
interact with their surroundings.

Section B (Paragraph / Problem Type)

Answer all questions in a paragraph of about half a page to one page, each correct answer carries
a maximum of 5 marks.

13. ‘Ideal point masses is not essential for applying Newtons laws’. Explain with example.

Newton’s laws describe the behavior of point masses. However, in the case of extended bodies,
if it’s size is small compared with the interaction distance, Newton’s laws are equally valid. For
instance, the Earth and Sun are so small compared with the distance between them that for many
purposes their motion can be adequately described by considering the motion of point masses
located at the center of each.

14. Write a note on Astronauts’ Tug-of-War.

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15. Explain Torque due to gravity.

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16. A 5 kg mass moves under the influence origin of a force F~ = (4t2 î − 3tĵ) N, where t is the time in
seconds. It starts from the origin at t = 0. Find: (a) it’s velocity (b) it’s position, and (c) ~r × ~v , for
any later time.

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 F~ = m~a = 4t2 î − 3tĵ
 2  
4t 3t
∴ ~a = î − ĵ
5 5
Z Z  2 Z  
4t 3t
⇒ ~v = ~adt = î dt − ĵ dt
5 5
   2
4t3 3t
= î − ĵ + C1
15 10

When t = 0, ~v = 0, ⇒ C1 = 0.

t4 t3 ~
Z    
~r = ~v dt = î − j + C2
15 10

When t = 0, ~r = 0, ⇒ C2 = 0.

î
ĵ k̂
t4 t3
(~r × ~v ) = 15
− 10 0
4t3 3t2
− 0
 6  10
15
t
= k̂
150

17. Define and explain the Principle of equivalence.

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18. A small cube of mass m slides down a circular path of radius R = 10 cm cut into a large block
of mass M , as shown. M rests on a table, and both blocks move without friction. The blocks are
initially at rest, and m starts from the top of the path. Find the velocity v of the cube as it leaves
the block.

19. Explain work- energy theorem for a rigid body.

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 Section C (Essay Type)
Answer in about two pages, any one question. Answer carries 10 marks.

20. Define and explain conical pendulum. Derive the equation for the angle the rod that makes with
the vertical.

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21. With figure solve the equation of simple harmonic motion.

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