2024 Spring General Physics 1 Quiz #n Section: ID Number: Name:

1. [40] points

(a) m is the mass of the orbiting object and M is the mass of the object about which it’s
orbiting. Assume here that M ≫ m, so the gravitating object can consider essentially at
rest and the orbiting object takes a circular path of radius r . Prove that its motion has
period T given by
2 3
2 4π r
T = .
GM
(G is the constant of universal gravitation). [20 points]

(b) [20 points] Now consider three identical objects,

each of mass M , form an equilateral triangle of side L.
Forces due to their mutual gravitation cause the
configuration to rotate the circular orbit. Find an
expression for the period T of their orbital motion (Do
not include ⃗
v in the result). [20 points]

Solution >

(a) From
2
GMm m v
2
= (5 points)
r r
the orbital speed is given by

v=
√ GM
r
(5 points)

In one period T , the orbiting object moves the orbital circumference 2 πr , so its speed is
v=2 πr /T (5 points)
Squaring both expression of the orbital speed gives

( )
2
2 πr GM
= (5 points)
T r
Therefore, we get
2 3
4π r
2
T =
GM

(b) . In order for the configuration to remain stable, each star must rotate with the same
speed. The centripetal acceleration is provided by gravity. Specifically, each mass is
pulled toward the two other masses. Taken separately, the magnitude of the force F ,
between to masses is F=G M 2 /L2.

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2024 Spring General Physics 1 Quiz #n Section: ID Number: Name:

Added together, the net force points toward the center of the triangle with a magnitude
of
2 ∘
∘ ∘ 2 G M cos 30
F net=F cos 30 + F cos 30 = 2
(5 points )
L
Equating this to the centripetal force
2 2 ∘
M v 2 G M cos 30
= 2
(5 points)
r L
where r is the radius of the orbit.

Substituting r =L/ √ 3 to the above equation we get

v=
√ GM
L
(5 points)

The period in the three-body system is:

T=
2 πr 2 πL
v
=
L
√3 GM
(5 points)
√
Therefore, we get
2 3
2 4π L
T =
3 GM

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2024 Spring General Physics 1 Quiz #n Section: ID Number: Name:

2. [60 points] A rocket with mass M is launched with initial velocity

1
⃗
v 0=v 0 cos θ x^ + v 0 sin θ ^y . During its motion, its fuel tank ,with mass m= M ,
3
horizontally separated from the rocket through the propulsion process and was
found at x=h 0. The fuel tank and rest part of the rocket fall on the ground
simultaneously.
(Assume that there is no air friction and the gravitational acceleration is ⃗
g=−g ^y ,
where g is constant) (propulsion : 추진)

(a) If there was no propulsion process and they are well-bonded during the motion, then
the rocket is found at x=h . Express h in terms of v 0 , g , θ. [15 points]
(b) Let the rest part of the rocket is found at x=H . Express H in terms of h 0 , h. [45
points]

Solution>
(a)
v x ( t )=v 0 cos θ ,v y ( t )=v 0 sin θ−¿(2 points) Let t h be the time when the rocket is at the
highest altitude. Then from v y ( t h )=0 ,

v 0 sin θ
t h= (3 points) So,
g
2 v sin θ 2 v 20 sin θ cos θ v 20 sin 2θ
h=v x × 2t h¿ v 0 cos θ × 0 ¿ ∨ (10 points) (Any calculation
g g g
mistake, -5 points)
(b)
2 2
By the Newton’s 2nd law for system of multi-particles, F ext =M d r cm /d t .(15 points)
(If there isn’t any explicit or implicit explanation about this, you have to give 0 for “this
problem.”)

So r cm =h because the propulsion process doesn’t take any external force. When the fuel
tank and the rest part of the rocket fall on the ground, their center of mass ⃗
r cm=(h , 0)
(15 points)
(Any explicit or implicit notice aboutr cm =h needed. Otherwise, -15 poitns.)
Since the mass ratio between the fuel tank and the rest part of the rocket is

m : M −m=1 :2(5 points )

we have
h−h0 : H−h=2 :1(5 points) (Any other consistent expression is ok.)

Therefore,
3 h−h 0
2 H−2 h=h−h 0 → H= (5 points) (Implicit means you can see the student using the
2
fact in his/her solution.)