UP 101: Introductory Mechanics

Midterm Exam

Time: 3 hours

INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

1. Write your name on each booklet. Booklets with no name will not be graded.
2. There are three questions, each carrying 10 marks.
3. Each question has several parts. The marks for a particular part are indicated next to it.
4. The different parts of a question should be together in your booklets. Use a separate booklet for each question
if you need to.
5. Turn in only the booklets you have written your final solutions in. You dont need to turn in any sheets or
booklets with rough work nor do you need to hand in the question paper.
6. You will not be given any extra time.
7. You are not allowed to look at any written, electronic or printed material.
8. You are not allowed to talk to anyone else, peek at their exam or exchange any papers or chits with them.
9. You are not allowed to have your cell phone on your person. You may keep it in your backpack with the zip
closed.
10. Anyone found in violation of (7), (8), and (9) will not be allowed to continue taking the exam and will get no
marks for it. Further, the undergraduate office will be notified so that appropriate disciplinary action can be
taken.
1. (10 marks) A particle of mass m moves along a trajectory given by
1
r= q ,
cos2 sin2
A + B

where A > 0, B > 0 and A 6= B.

(a) (1 mark) What is the shape of the trajectory?
(b) (3 marks) At which points, if any, can the velocity of the particle be either completely radial (i.e. v = 0
and vr 6= 0) or completely tangential (i.e. vr = 0 and v 6= 0)? Identify the points by specifying their
coordinates (r, ).
Now, assume that the tangential acceleration of the particle is zero everywhere, i.e. a = 0 v = C/r, where
C is a constant.
(c) (4 marks) Show that

vr2 = + r2 + ,
r2
where , and are constants and express them in terms of A, B and C.
(d) (2 marks) What is the force on the particle as a function of ~r ? (It should turn out to have a very simple
form).
2. (10 marks) A uniform inextensible rope of length L and mass M hangs from the ceiling of a room of height h.
It is given that L < h < 3L/2.
(a) (2 marks) Calculate the tension in the rope as a function of length from the ceiling.
At time t = 0, the rope starts falling.
(b) (2 marks) Calculate the length l of the rope on the floor at time t.
(c) (4 marks) Calculate the force F exerted by the floor on the rope as a function of time.
(d) (2 marks) Plot l and F as functions of t starting at t = 0.
3. (10 marks) A planet of radius R, mass M and uniform mass q density is rotating with an angular velocity
about an axis joining its north and south poles. Further < GM R3 . A spaceship of mass m lands at a point P
at a latitude on the planet as shown in the figure (Note: this definition of latitude is different by 90 from
the conventional definition). It is stationary relative to P at the instant it lands. The coefficient of friction on
the surface of the planet is .

(a) (1 mark) Where should the spaceship land so that its weight on the planet is equal to GM m
R2 ?
(b) (3 marks) Calculate its weight as a function of .
(c) (1 mark) If = 0, the spaceship slips after landing except at certain points. Which are these?
(d) (5 marks) What is the smallest value of so that it does not slip anywhere on the planet after landing?