Physics Challenges for

Teachers and Students

Solutions to January 2005 Challenges

Another Board Game (J1) the friction because it is an internal force.

Challenge: A board of mass m is placed on a fric- The center of mass of the block-board object
tionless inclined plane that makes an angle with starts with an initial velocity of M
the horizontal. A block of mass M is placed on the v,
( M +m)
board and is given a quick push up the board with with an acceleration of g sin().
initial velocity v. Find the distance d covered by the
block by the time its velocity drops to v/2. The board The final velocity is half the original, or
does not move relative to the plane. M
v
(M +m)
.
2
Using the kinematics equation v 2f = v 2i + 2 a x,
one finds that
3 M
( )v 2 = 2 g sin(R)x . (1)
Solution: For m to remain stationary, the
4 M + m)
upward force of kinetic friction must equal the
component of gravity acting down the ramp. If the center of mass moves a distance x, then
the block moves a distance
Fk = mg sin . (2)
M +m
x.
The net force acting on M (down the ramp is M
positive) is therefore Combining Eqs. (1) and (2) yields the answer
3 Mv 2
Fnet = Mg sin + mg sin = Ma. .
8 g sin( )(M +m )
So: a = g sin (M+m)/M. (Contributed by Kevin Modzelewski, student,
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH)
Using v 2 = v02 + 2ad and vf = v/2 gives
f Neither Up Nor Down (J2)
Distance = 3v02M/[8g sin (M+m)]. Challenge: An object of mass m rests on an inclined
plane that makes angle with the horizontal floor.
What is the minimum force F that must be applied to
(Contributed by Scott Saltman, Phillips Exeter the object in order to move it along the plane parallel
Academy, Exeter, NH) to the floor as shown? The coefficient of static fric-
tion between the object and the plane is s.
An Alternative Solution:
It is possible to treat the block-board pair as a
single object, eliminating the need to consider

14 THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 43, 2005

 Solution: There are four forces acting on the
object: a normal force N perpendicularly away
from the incline, gravity mg vertically down-
ward, the applied force F in the direction of
motion, and a static frictional force f before the
object begins to move. Since the object is about
to slide along the plane, the frictional force
must be at its maximum value, f = s N. The
sum of the force components perpendicular to
the incline is zero, so,
Now put Eq. (5) into (4) to get
F = mg s2 cos2 sin2 ,
(6)
where we require s tan , as otherwise
the object will slip even in the absence of an
applied force. Note that if k s, as is usually
the case, then the object will begin to accelerate
after it starts moving.
(Contributed by Carl E. Mungan, U.S. Naval
Academy, Annapolis, MD)

N = mg cos f = s mg cos . (1) No Spin Zone (J3)

On the other hand, the force components par-
allel to the surface of the incline are sketched in
the following free-body diagram.
Challenge: Two cylinders are rapidly spinning in the oppo-
site directions as shown. The axes of the cylinders are a
distance d apart. A uniform board of mass M is placed hori-
zontally on the cylinders as shown. The coefficient of kinetic
friction between the board and the cylinders is s. Describe
the subsequent motion of the board.

Note that the frictional force must make some Solution: Let us put the origin of our reference
angle as drawn because it initially balances frame over the midpoint of the axes of the cyl-
the other two forces on this diagram, inders, at the level of the center of the board,
and let us call x the horizontal position of the
F = f cos (2) center of the board in this reference frame (x
axis pointing to the right). The vertical equa-
for the minimum applied force to get the object tion for the forces acting on the board is N1 +
to start sliding, and N2 Mg = 0 and the equation for rotational
mg sin equilibrium is
f sin = mg sin f = .(3)
sin d d
N1 N 2 Mgx = 0 .
Substitute Eq. (3) into (2) along with 2 2
(N1 is the normal at the right cylinder, and N2
cos = 1 sin2 at the left cylinder.) From these two equations
we obtain
to obtain
1 x 1 x
1 N1 = Mg ( + ) and N 2 = Mg ( ).
F = mg sin 1. (4) 2 d 2 d
sin2 The kinetic friction forces are F1 = k N1 and
F2 = + k N2 (the first points to the left, and
Also substitute Eq. (3) into (1) and rearrange the second to the right). Applying Newtons
to find second law to the center of the board, we have
1 x 1 x
1 cos F1 + F2 = Mx Mx = k Mg ( + ) + k Mg ( )
= s . 2 d 2 d
(5)
sin sin =
2k g
x x +
2k g
x = 0.
d d

THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 43, 2005 15

This is the equation for simple harmonic
L
motion with angular frequency Mg sin ,
2
2k g
( 2 = ). where L is the length of the rod, M is its mass,
d and is the angle the rod makes with the ver-
Conclusion: The center of the board will oscil- tical. The buoyancy torque is in the opposite
late with period direction and equals to
d 2 Mgx x
T = 2 ( L )sin ,
2k g L 2
around the origin of our reference frame. The where x is the distance the rod has been sub-
amplitude of the motion will depend on the merged. Equating these and solving for x, we
initial situation, i.e., on the initial asym- have:
metry of the board when it is placed on the
cylinders. In the original figure, the center of 2 Mgx x L
( L )sin = Mg sin
the board seems to be (initially) slightly at the L 2 2
right of our origin, so the board will begin the 2x x L
oscillation moving to the left. (L ) =
L 2 2
(Contributed by Fernando Ferreira, 2
L
Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilh, 2 xL x 2 =
Portugal) 2
L2
Wet Behind the Ears (J4) 0 = x 2 + 2 xL + .
2
Challenge: A thin vertical uniform wooden rod is pivoted
at the top and immersed in water as shown. The pivot
point is slowly pulled up. At a certain moment, the rod Solving the quadratic equation, we get
begins to deflect from the vertical. What fraction of the
rod is still in the water at that moment if the density of the 2
rod is one-half of the density of water? x = (1 )L.
2
When this length of the rod or more is sub-
merged in the water, the rod deflects from ver-
tical. Otherwise, it does not.
(Contributed by Peter Sadowski, student,
Archbishop Murphy High School, Everett, WA)

(Column Editors note: there was a typo in the
problem, noticed by many readers; my apolo-
gies.)
Solution: The rod does not deflect when you
pull it up out of the water; it deflects when
you dip it down. The rod will begin to deflect
when the buoyancy force produces a torque
about the pivot equal to the torque created by
gravity. The latter is easily calculated as
The January problem-solving contest, our
first, was a tremendous success. The number
of contributions more than tripled compared
to last year, stretching the column editor well
past his elastic limit The contest was truly
worldwide: great contributions came not only
from all over the United States but also from
Canada, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands,
Portugal, and Spain. For the first time since the
inception of this column, the high school stu-
dents came out in force. The students (and fac-

16 THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 43, 2005

 ulty) from Miami Palmetto Senior High School
(Miami, FL), Science Academy of South Texas
(Mercedes, TX), and Phillips Exeter Academy
(Exeter, NH) were especially active.
The following participants were recognized as
the winners of the January contest:
Fernando Ferreira (Universidade da Beira Inte-
rior, Covilh, Portugal) faculty
Carl E. Mungan (U.S. Naval Academy, Annapo-
lis, MD) faculty
Kevin Modzelewski (Phillips Exeter Academy,
Exeter, NH) high school student
Peter Sadowski (Archbishop Murphy H.S., Ever-
ett, WA) high school student
Congratulations!
We would also like to recognize the following
contributors:
Benjamin Au, student (Miami Palmetto H.S.,
Miami, FL)
Phil Cahill (Lockheed Martin Corporation,
Rosemont, PA)
Yvonne Eibeck (San Diego, CA)
Sherry Gong (Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter,
NH)
Michael C. Faleski (Delta College, Midland,
MI)
Fernando Ferreira (Universidade da Beira Inte-
rior, Covilh, Portugal)
John F. Goehl, Jr. (Barry University, Miami
Shores, FL)
Art Hovey (Milford, CT)
THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 43, 2005
Yee Shan Kwok (HHCKLA Buddhist Ma Kam
Chan Memorial English Secondary School,
Hong Kong)
Chor Hang Lam, student (Charter School of
Wilmington, Wilmington, DE)
Jos Costa Leme (Lanheses H.S., Viana do Cas-
telo, Portugal)
Octavi Plana (Sant Pere de Ribes H.S., Catalo-
nia, Spain)
Bayani I. Ramirez (San Jacinto College South,
Houston, TX)
Gregory Ruffa (University of Minnesota, Min-
neapolis, MN)
Garima Saraswat, student (Government College
of Science, Raipur, India)
Atul Utturkar, student (Science Academy of
South Texas, Mercedes, TX)
Leo H. van den Raadt (Heemstede, The Nether-
lands)
Juan Valdez, student (Science Academy of South
Texas, Mercedes, TX)
H. Scott Wiley (Science Academy of South
Texas, Mercedes, TX)
Kai Xiao, student (Herbert H. Lehman H.S.,
Bronx, NY)
We look forward to your contributions in the
future!
Please send correspondence to:
Boris Korsunsky
korsunbo@post.harvard.edu
17