MIT Department of Physics

Physics 8.01L

Fall 2010
TOP TEN 8.01 PROBLEMS

These problems are intended to span the range of physics treated in 8.01. One
of these problems will appear, verbatim, on the final exam. We believe that
a student who can solve all ten of these problems perfectly, from start to finish without using aids (even if he or she has beforehand studied the answer),
will be able to demonstrate mastery on the final exam. The perfect solutions
should be written out in the format we have used for our problem sets.
1. A projectile is launched with speed v0 making angle 0 with the horizontal from the
edge of a vertical cliff at height Q above a horizontal plane. At what distance from the
bottom of the cliff does the projectile land?
2. A vehicle travels on a circular track with coefficient of friction inclined (banked)
at angle to the horizontal. Find the maximum constant speed at which the vehicle can
travel without slipping sideways.
3. A mass m at rest is struck by a second mass 2m travelling with speed vi . The collision is 100% elastic and the velocity of the smaller mass after the collision is along the
same direction as that of the incoming mass. Find the velocities and energies of each of
the two masses following the collision.

4. A mass m is attached to four identical massless springs, each with spring constant k, as shown
at right. The mass is shown at time t = 0, at
which time the mass has velocity v0 and none of
the springs is either stretched or compressed.

k
k

a) Find the maximum displacement of the mass from its equilibrium position.
b) What is the period, T of the system?
c) Find the kinetic and potential energy
of the system at time t = T /12. (Some useful
sines and
cosines: sin /4 = cos /4 = 2/2; sin /6 = cos /3 = 1/2; cos /6 =
sin /3 = 3/2.)
5. Consider Atwoods machine (as shown at
right) with hanging masses
m1 < m2 . The pulley has moment of inertia I
and radius R.
a) Find the acceleration of the heavier mass.

b) Find the tension in the string connected to the lighter mass.

6. Consider a physical pendulum,

constructed by suspending a thin rod of mass M and

length L from a point L/ 12 above its midpoint. Find the period of oscillation.
7. Consider a circular loop-the-loop of radius R. A solid uniform sphere of mass m
and radius r (negligible compared to R) rolls on it without slipping. From what minimum height must the object be released so as not to lose contact with the track?
8. A circular object with mass m, moment of inertial I and radius R rolls down an incline with coefficient of friction . What is the maximum angle of the incline such that
the object rolls without slipping?
9. A solid spherical ball of radius R is thown down a bowling alley with initial velocity
v0 and no initial angular velocity. After some time it rolls without slipping.
a) What is its final angular velocity.
b) What intial angular velocity (backspin) must be given to the ball so that it stops
completely and never rolls without slipping?
10. A spacecraft of mass m is in circular orbit around a star (say the Sun) with mass M
at radius R. An efficient way to put the spacecraft into orbit at another radius (which
for the purpose of this problem we take to be 2R) is in two stages. First, one puts it into
an elliptical orbit with perihelion R and aphelion 2R. Then one puts it into circular orbit at radius 2R
a) What is the eccentricity of the non-circular, transfer orbit.
b) The first step is accomplished by increasing the amplitude of (but not changing the
direction of) the velocity when the spacecraft is at perihelion. By how much must one
increase its velocity at perihelion?
c) The second step is accomplished by again increasing the amplitude of (but not changing the direction of) of the velocity when the spacecraft is at aphelion. By how much
must one increase its velocity at aphelion?