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Physics 121 Midterm - Fall 1998

1.
  [9 marks, 5 for a) and 4 for b)]

We have a beam of neutrons incident on iron shielding (Number of Fe atoms per m3 = 8.46 1028). The absorption cross section of the neutrons is 0.556 x 10-28 m2.

a)
What is the ``half-distance" for neutron absorption in Fe?

b)
If we started with 3.60 x 1012 neutrons, how many neutrons are absorbed in the final micrometer (10-6 m) of a 2.00 m thick Fe target?

2.
[9 marks, 3 marks for a) & b), 2 for c), and 1 for d)]

In outer space a stationary astronaut (mass 60 kg) sees approaching him a heavy astronaut (mass 120 kg) moving relative to him with a speed of v = 4.00 m/s and in such a direction that they would come within 30 m of each other. The stationary astronaut extends a massless 30 m rope so that the moving astronaut can grab it and hang on.




a)
Regarding the astronauts as point masses, where is the centre-of-mass of the system after the astronaut hangs on?
b)
What is the forward speed of the centre-of-mass of the system?
c)
What is the angular speed of the system about its centre-of-mass?
d)
Is any energy lost in the ``collision"? (Prove your answer.)

3.
  [9 marks, 4 for a) and 5 for b)]

You have an automobile (mass = 1.23 x 103 kg) whose speed is given by
v =1.350 t + 0.412 t3, where v is in m/s and t is in seconds.

a)
What is the force accelerating the auto at t = 3.00 sec.?
b)
How much distance does the auto cover between t = 1.12 sec. and t= 4.12 sec.?

4.
  [9 marks, 3 for each part]

We have a rotating merry-go-round which is a solid disk of radius 3.2 meters and mass 400 kg. A person (regarded as a point mass of 60 kg) is standing on the outer rim of the merry-go-round while the system (merry-go-round plus person) rotates at 0.373 revolutions per second, about an axis through the center of the merry-go-round.

a)
How much force does the person exert to remain at the rim?
b)
If the person walks to the centre of the merry-go-round, what is then the number of revolutions per second of the system?
c)
How much work does the person do in walking to the centre?


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