Scribd
Upload
59 views8 pages

NS 101 Midterm Exam Fall 2023

Uploaded by

tunagenc999
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
59 views8 pages

NS 101 Midterm Exam Fall 2023

Uploaded by

tunagenc999
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

NS 101 Science of Nature I

Fall 2023 Semester


Midterm Exam
Nov 18, 2023 (9:00 – 11:00)

Surname:

Name:

Student No:

This exam consists of 8 pages including 8 problems (105 points in total).

The “List of formulas and constants” is attached at the end of the exam.

Show all your work and in-between steps clearly to receive full credits.
Clearly indicate vectors, vector directions and units.
Use at most 2 decimal digits in your calculations.

Before you start the exam


● remove the formula sheet carefully from the exam
● count the number of pages (8 pages, 8 problems) and write your full name on top of
each page
● Scientific calculators are allowed, but use of cell phones, computers, or any other
electronic devices are not allowed.
● Exam papers will be scanned and graded online, so please use a dark pencil and write
clearly in the exam. It is your responsibility to write clearly.
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q1 [20 pts] A car travels on a straight road (say, in positive x direction) with the following velocity as a function of
time,
v(t) = b t2 + c t + d

where b, c and d are constants. At t = 0, the car is at a position 8 m from a reference point, having a velocity of 2 m/s
and acceleration of −1 m/s2.

(a) What is the value and unit of constant d? Show your work. [3 pts]

(b) What is the value and unit of constant c? [3 pts]

(c) If the acceleration of the car is 3 m/s2 at t = 4 s, determine the value and unit of constant b. [4 pts]

(d) Given below the graph of acceleration as a function time, plot the graph of velocity as a function of time.
Indicate the units in ( ). [5 pts]

(e) What is the displacement of the car at t = 4 s? [5 pts]

2
Do not write below this line
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q2 [16 pts] Cart 1 slides on a surface in x direction with a speed of v1i = 10 m/s towards Cart 2. It enters a high friction
surface with a kinetic friction coefficient of 0.1. At the edge of the frictional surface, it docks with Cart 2 which is at
rest. When the docking takes place, the speed of Cart 1 is 1 m/s. The carts are 100 kg each. Except for the indicated
high friction areas, assume that the surfaces are frictionless. Take g = 10 m/s2.

(a) Draw the free body diagram of Cart 1 during the motion on the
high friction surface. Draw it in the box on the right. [2 pts]

(b) Calculate the frictional force. [2 pts]

(c) Calculate the time it takes for Cart 1 to slow down to 1 m/s [4 pts]

(d) What is the length of the high friction surface? [4 pts]

(e) After the carts are docked, what is the speed of the system with two joined carts? [4 pts]

3
Do not write below this line
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q3 [14 pts]. There are two planets orbiting a nearby star. The planets revolve around the star in circular orbits with
constant tangential speeds. The planets are at distances of 0.2 AU and 0.5 AU from the central star. The orbital speed
of the inner planet is 50 km/s.

(a) Calculate the mass of the star. [Hint: you may first draw a free body diagram of m1] (5 pts)

(b) Calculate the orbital speed of the outer planet. [4 pts]

(c) Given that the mass of the outer planet (m2) is 25% more than that of the inner planet (m1), calculate the
ratio of the orbital angular momenta of the outer planet to the inner planet, L2 / L1. [3 pts]

(d) Assume that an asteroid impacts the outer planet (m2) and changes its angular momentum. Place an arrow
on the figure to indicate one possible direction of the impacting asteroid. [2 pts]

4
Do not write below this line
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q4 [19 pts]. An asteroid hits the surface of a newly-formed rocky planet, which results in a small piece of rock (2 kg)
on the surface to fly directly upwards. The rock reaches the maximum height of 100 m. The thick gas surrounding
the planet provides a constant air friction (4 N) to the rock on average. The planet’s gravitational acceleration is 6
m/s2.

Consider only the motion of the rock going up from the ground to 100 m to answer the following questions (a) − (e).

(a) Draw a free body diagram of the rock going up, in the box on
the right. [2 pts]

(b) Find the work done by the gravitational force of the planet on
the rock going up. [4 pts]

(c) Find the work done by the air friction force on the rock going
up. [4 pts]

(d) Using the work-energy theorem, find the initial velocity of the rock. [4 pts]

(e) List two types of energy conversions taking place during this motion. [2 pts]
1.

2.

(f) If the same magnitude of the air friction is applied on the ball coming down, how do the magnitudes of net
work done on the rock going up (Wnet,up) and coming down (Wnet,down) compare? Briefly state why. [3 pts]

5
Do not write below this line
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q5[15 pts] Cyanobacteria uses about 3.5 x 10−19 J of energy every second for photosynthesis. It is estimated that
this energy is provided by roughly one photon that interacts with a chlorophyll molecule.
(a) What is the wavelength of this photon? [3 pts]

(b) What type of radiation does this


correspond to? You may use the figure
on the right. [2 pts]

(c) The Sun's surface temperature is about 5700 K. Which one


of the curves (A, B, C) best describes the Sun’s spectrum?
[1 nm = 10−9 m] Briefly state your reasoning. [3 pts]

(d) By comparing the energy of the photon used by a


chlorophyll molecule with the Sun’s peak emission
wavelength, comment on a possible reason why
photosynthesis utilizes this amount of energy. Relate this
to early forms of life. [3 pts]

(e) We receive about 1400 J of energy from the Sun every second per 1-m2 area on the surface of the Earth.
Using the orders of magnitude, estimate the number of photons we receive in one hour per area. Clearly
state the assumptions that you make. [4 pts]

6
Do not write below this line
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q6[6 pts] Two objects of unequal masses (M and m) are fixed at the distance shown below. Note that M > m.

(a) Show the direction of the gravitational field due to the two masses at point P. Label it with G or write “G =
0” if you think that the field is zero. [2 pts]

(b) Explain how you found the field directions using the concepts of fields. [2 pts]

(c) Now, assume that the masses M and m are planets. Suppose the Turkish Space Agency is considering placing
a satellite in this planetary system. At which of the points (1-5) along the dashed line can the satellite remain
stationary? Assume that the only force acting on it is the gravitational force. [2 pts]

Your answer: ___________

Q7 [6 pts] You heard in class that carbons (in the form of CO2) have been detected on the icy surface of Europa (the
4th largest moon of Jupiter’s). Observations of water vapor “plumes” in the past also indicate
that Europa has hydrothermal vents at the bottom of its presumed liquid-water ocean
beneath the icy surface. Europa’s density suggests that its composition is similar to that of
terrestrial planets. Europa has a very-thin atmosphere composed of oxygen.
Answer the following in maximum 2-3 sentences each.
(a) According to the information given above, do you think Europa is habitable for life as
we know it? Explain your answer using the information given. Think about both surface
and underground. [3 pts]

(b) Explain why finding carbon on Europa may be important for answering the module question, “are we alone in
the universe?”. Relate this to the chemical evolution origin of life as well as the conditions and location of
Europa. (3 pts)

7
Do not write below this line
Do not write Do not write
here Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q8 [9 pts] You are observing a light source that emits blackbody radiation.

(a) In which case (1, 2, 3 or 4) would you observe an i. absorption spectrum and ii. continuous spectrum? Fill in
the blanks with 1, 2, 3 or 4. [2 pts]

i. Absorption spectrum: ________

ii. Continuous spectrum: ________

(b) The observed spectra of two stars, X and


Y, are shown below. Star X has a surface
temperature of ~7400 K and Y has a temperature
of ~6100 K. Which spectrum (I or II) is for Star X?
Briefly state your reasoning. [2 pts]

In the table below, the atomic transition wavelengths corresponding to 3 chemical elements (A, B, C) are listed.
Based on the spectra and the table, which one of the chemical element
(A, B, or C) exists: [5 pts]
(i) only in star X: ____________ because ________________________

_________________________________________________________

(ii) only in star Y: ________________

(iii) commonly in both: _______________

8
Do not write below this line

Common questions

Powered by AI

An absorption spectrum occurs when a cooler gas is in front of a light source, absorbing specific wavelengths, whereas a continuous spectrum is observed directly from a hot, dense light source emitting all wavelengths. The positions of these observations define the observed conditions . Selecting options from set cases (1-4) identifies the physical arrangement causing each spectrum based on Wien's Law and Planck curves .

A satellite can remain stationary at Lagrange points where gravitational forces from two planets (M > m) balance. These are found by analyzing potential gravitational equilibria along the line joining the two masses . Points where net gravitational acceleration is zero, given mass distribution, indicate possible stationary locations, like L1, L2, and L3 points .

Europa's composition, similar to terrestrial planets with a presumed liquid ocean and carbon presence, indicates chemical conditions favorable for life. While its thin oxygen atmosphere is harsh, subsurface hydrothermal vents provide alkali thermal conditions protected from radiation, which could support microbial life similar to Earth's extremophiles .

The net work done on the rock going up (W_net,up) is less than the work done coming down (W_net,down) if air friction magnitude is same. This is because the work done against gravity reduces kinetic energy more than when this energy assists in motion downwards. Gravity does positive work downwards and negative work upwards, affecting W_net differently .

The work-energy theorem relates total work to changes in kinetic energy: W_total = ΔKE. For a rock of 2 kg reaching 100 m, gravitational work is W_g = -mgh = -2 kg * 6 m/s² * 100 m = -1200 J . Air friction work is W_f = -4 N * 100 m = -400 J. Using KE_initial + W_g + W_f = KE_final, and KE_final = 0 at maximum height, solve KE_initial = 1600 J to find initial velocity using KE = 0.5 * m * v^2 .

Finding carbon on Europa is significant because carbon is a fundamental building block of life, related to the chemical evolution of life from simple molecules to more complex structures. It suggests potential biogenic processes and enhances the possibility of habitability under Europa's conditions, with geothermal energy providing necessary heat for life processes .

To determine the value of the constant 'd' in the velocity function v(t) = b t^2 + c t + d, we utilize the given conditions at t = 0. The initial velocity of the car is 2 m/s, so v(0) = d = 2 m/s . This is derived by setting the function to the known initial condition and solving for 'd'.

To calculate the time for Cart 1 to slow down to 1 m/s, we use the formula of motion under constant frictional force. Frictional force is f = μmg = 0.1 * 100 kg * 10 m/s² = 100 N . Applying Newton's second law, acceleration a = f/m = 1 m/s². The change in velocity is Δv = v_final - v_initial = 1 m/s - 10 m/s = -9 m/s. Using the equation Δv = a * t, we get t = Δv/a = 9 s .

Photosynthesis utilizes 3.5 x 10^-19 J, a typical photon energy corresponding to visible light, optimal for chemical reactions in early life due to sunlight's peak power at this spectrum . This utilization aligns photosynthetic evolution with the spectrum of sunlight available during early Earth, facilitating light-driven biological processes .

The orbital speed of a planet is influenced by the gravitational force exerted by the star and its distance from the star. For the inner planet with known speed, v_1 = 50 km/s, and distance r_1 = 0.2 AU, using v^2/r = GM/r^2, we calculate the star's mass M. For the outer planet r_2 = 0.5 AU, using the mass and relation v_2 = sqrt(GM/r_2) gives the new speed v_2 .

You might also like