British Physics Olympiad 2018-19

A2 Challenge - Mark Scheme

September/October 2018
Instructions Give equivalent credit for alternative solutions which are correct physics.
Generally allow leeway of ±1 significant figure.
This is not a tight marking scheme of a competitive exam paper. It is to allow students to engage in
problem solving and develop their physics by working through problems requiring explanations, and
developing ideas or models. Mark generously to encourage ideas, determination and the willingness to
have a go.

1. (i) E = I(R + r) !
(ii) Rearrange to R = EI − r. Plot R (ordinate, y-axis) vs I −1 !
gradient is E and intercept −r !
(iii) Either quote ”maximum power theorem” !
Or any correct proof (several possibilities shown as (a) to (e) below) !!!
[6]

Suggestions for determining the value of R when maximum power is dissipated in the external
resistor:

E2
(a) By calculus (product/quotient rule): power dissipated in R is P = I 2 R = (r+R)2
R
dP −2V 2 R V2 dP
Differentiate w.r.t. R; dR = (r+R)3
+ (r+R)2
and with dR = 0 at the maximum.
−2V 2 R V2 2R
So (r+R)3
+ (r+R)2
= 0 which simplifies to r+R = 1, so R = r.

(b) Calculus (simple differentiation); potential across the terminals (or across R) is V = E −Ir
Multiply through by I, so that V I = P = EI − I 2 r, plotted in Figure 1a.

P EI
= + 1/
Pmax
=
0
I 2
EI-I R

-I 2R
= 1/

(a)
x
(b)

Figure 1

But E and r are constants, so max power here is given by dP

dI = E − 2Ir = 0
Therefore I = E/2r at maximum external power dissipated.

1
 But we know that I = E/(R + r)
so equating the two expressions for I, we have E/(r + R) = E/2r, and hence R = r

(c) Non calculus; the resultant power graph shown in Figure 1a, from V = E − Ir and
P = V I, to give P = −I 2 R + EI, can be written as P = −I(Ir − E).
The graph is symmetric about a vertical line; the solutions for P = 0 are I = 0 and
I = E/r. So at Pmax , I = E/2r. Hence we can use the result quoted above, that given
also I = E/(r + R), then R = r.

To show that the graph is symmetric, about a vertical line I = E/2r, substitute into the
expression for P , I = I 0 + E/2r to shift the graph along the x-axis by −E/2r. This gives
P = −(I 0 + E/2r)((I 0 + E/2r)r − E) = −(I 0 + E/2r)(I 0 r − E/2) =
−r(I 0 + E/2r)(I 0 − E/2r), with solutions I 0 = ±E/2r, indicating that the maximum of
P is halfway between the two zeros of P .

E 2
(d) Non calculus; power dissipated in R is P = I 2 R = (r+R)2R

Max of P corresponds to minimum of reciprocal, i. e. min of (r + R)2 )/R, which is

minimum of r2 /R + 2rR/R + R2 /R = r2 /R + 2r + R

So we want the minimum of r2 /R + R (as the 2r term is a constant) or, by factoring out
an r, min of r/R + R/r, which is the min of 1/x + x. Sketching a graph (Figure 1b), the
symmetry about the y = x line shows that the minimum of 1/x + x is when x = 1/x, or
in our case, r/R = R/r so that R = r.

(e) Graphically; sketch V against I as shown in Figure 2. The value of a potential, V , and a
current I are some point on the sloping line. Power is max area under the graph, and if the
scales are chosen for equal height and width, that max area will be a square (the line is a
45◦ diagonal). The is V = E/2 and I = E/2r.
So if V = E/2, half the emf is across the external resistor, and half dropped across the
internal resistor. So they must be the same value of resistance.
E
V=E-Ir
V

I E/r

Figure 2

6 marks

2
2. a) (i) 40 km h−1 !
(ii) the higher speed is maintained for a shorter time owtte !
(The total length of the journey here does not make any difference provided that the outward
and return journey are the same distance).
[2]

b) (i) bullet falls under gravity !

(ii) Time of flight 0.25 s → svert = 21 gt2 = 0.5 × 9.81 × 0.252 = 0.31 m below target !
(iii) symmetric curve !
horizontal

Figure 3

(iv) vv = at = g × 12 total travel time = 9.81 × 0.125 = 1.226 = 1.23 m s−1 !

(v) Aim up at angle θ. vv = v sin θ and v = 400 m s−1 ,
so sin θ = 1.226/400, and thus θ = 0.176◦ = 0.18◦ !
(the small vertical component here means that we have detracted from the 400 m s−1
horizontal velocity by an insignificant amount; vh ≈ v because θ is a small angle.)

(vi) Exactly at the target as the target and bullet fall at the same rate !
(this is the well known monkey and hunter problem).
[6]
c) (i) vv = v sin θ and vh = v cos θ
time of flight, t = time to go up + time to go down = 2 × v sin
g
θ
!
Range, R = vh × flight time.
So R = v cos θ × t = v cos θ × 2 × v sing
θ 2
= v sin
g
2θ
(using hint) !
Students may have seen other approaches in maths;
vertically up, s = vv t − 21 gt2 with t = vh cos
R
θ . Going up and down, s = 0 and so
R 1 R 2
0 = v sin θ. v cos θ − 2 g v 2 cos2 θ
gR2
Thus 0 = R tan θ − 2v 2
. sec2 θ. Multiple through by 2 cos2 θ
2 2
R2 cos θ sin θ − gR . Using the hint, we get R = vg


Then 0 = v2
sin 2θ.

(ii) This maximises at 2θ = 90◦ (i. e. sin 2θ = 1) !

So Rmax = v 2 /g = 302 /9.81 = 91.7 = 92 m !
Hence shot always falls short of target

(iii) θ = 21 sin−1 ( Rg
v2
) = 21 sin−1 ( 100×9.81
4002
) = 0.18◦ !
above the horizontal (agrees well with earlier approximate calculation)
(there is an alternative angle of θ = 89.82◦ , which when plugged into the sin2θ gives the
same range. However, this is almost vertically upwards, the bullet would therefore be in the
air for about 80 s and is not the likely angle of fire. It does not correspond to a small angle
away from the target either).
[5]

13 marks

3
3. a) (i) 16 N mc !
(ii) 31 N mc !
(iii) a/c !
(iv) F = ∆(mc)/∆t !
= 13 N mc/(a/c) = 31 N mc2 /a !
(v) p = F/A = 13 N mc2 /a3 !
i.e. pV = 31 N mc2
(vi) 12 mc2 = 3RT /2NA which leads to pV = N RT /NA !
(vii) as n = N/NA , !
→ pV = nRT
[8]

b) (i) volume of 18 g is 1.8 × 10−5 m3 !

so ratio is 1.8 × 10−5 /0.024 = 1 : 1333 !
(ii) linear ratio is cube root of volume ratio (approx), so 1 : 11.0 !
(iii) Assuming Boyle’s Law still holds
√3
!
V decreases by a factor 100, separation decreases by 100 i.e. 4.64,
so answer becomes 1 : 2.37 !
(iv) Again, 1333 atmospheres !
If Boyle assumed (but of course spherical or other shaped molecules won’t tessellate,
so this must be an approximation) owtte !
(v) 8 × 4πr3 /3 = 32πr3 /3 !
(vi) 16πr3 /3 owtte !
(vii) Number of molecules is nNA , so b = nNA × 16πr3 /3 = 16πNA r3 /3 !
[10]

c) (i) It eventually condenses. !

(ii) (p + ∆p)(V − b) = nRT !
andfor + sign (the measured pressure p is less, so add the term a/V 2 to
obtain the ideal pressure for the ideal gas equation/behaviour) !
(iii) both inversely proportional to V !
(iv) ∆p = a/V 2 !
(v) (p + a/V 2 )(V − b) = nRT !
[6]

24 marks

4. (i) V I !
(ii) System above room temperature hence losses. !
Energy loss rate, L, depends on the temperature differences and the excess
temperature, which are set to be the same. owtte !
(iii) mc∆θ = V I − L !
(iv) m1 c∆θ = V1 I1 − L !
m2 c∆θ = V2 I2 − L (no suffix on L, c, ∆θ !
(v) (m1 − m2 )c∆θ = (V1 I1 − V2 I2 ) !
the subtraction has eliminated the systematic error represented by L
[7]

7 marks

END OF SOLUTIONS