Physics Guru

The Question Consider an object inside a pond full of water. At the critical angle C , the refracted ray just grazes the water-air interface. If the angle of incidence i > C , the light undergoes total internal reflection. Is the angle that the ray leaving the water-air interface makes with the upward normal a discontinuous function at i = C ? The Answer When the light grazes the water-air interface, the angle that the refracted ray makes with the upward normal is 90° . However, when the angle of incidence i is slightly greater than C , refraction ceases to occur and the light undergoes total internal reflection. The reflected ray then makes an angle of 180° − i with the upward normal. Thus, as i approaches C from below, the angle approaches 90°, whereas as i approaches C from above, it approaches 180° − C . Since these two limiting values are unequal, the angle that the ray leaving the water-air interface makes with the upw...

PHYSICS · RELATIVE MOTION The Stuntman, the Skis and the Rocket Launcher A fascinating problem in relative velocity Imagine a stuntman gliding effortlessly on skis through a frictionless region. He is carrying a rocket launcher and moving horizontally at a speed of v m/s. Suddenly, he fires a rocket with a muzzle speed of 4v . Here comes the interesting part: despite firing the rocket, the stuntman's velocity remains unchanged! THE CHALLENGE At what angle above the horizontal, measured relative to the ground, was the rocket launched? (Ignore air resistance.) Understanding the physics The key to solving this problem is to distinguish between the velocity of the rocket relative to the launcher and its velocity relative to the ground. Since the stuntman's velocity remains unchanged after firin...

Prove that, $[x] + \left[ {x + \frac{1}{n}} \right] + \left[ {x + \frac{2}{n}} \right] +$ ............... $+ \left[ {x + \frac{{n - 1}}{n}} \right] = [nx]$ Where, [ ] denotes greatest integer function. Solution Let, $x=I+f$ where I is the greatest integer part of $x$ and $f$ is the fractional part of $x$. We know that,  [{Integer + (.....)}] = Integer + [(.....)] $LHS = [I + f] + \left[ {I + f + \frac{1}{n}} \right] + \left[ {I + f + \frac{2}{n}} \right] +$ ............... $+ \left[ {I + f + \frac{{n - 1}}{n}} \right]$ $ = nI + [f] + \left[ {f + \frac{1}{n}} \right] + \left[ {f + \frac{2}{n}} \right] + $............... $+ \left[ {f + \frac{{n - 1}}{n}} \right]$ $ = nI + [f] + \left[ {f + \frac{1}{n}} \right] + \left[ {f + \frac{2}{n}} \right] + $.........$ + \left[ {f + \frac{p}{n}} \right] +$ ............$ + \left[ {f + \frac{{n - 1}}{n}} \right]$, where $p$ is min. value such that $\left[ {f + \frac{p}{n}} \right] = 1$ $ = nI + 0 + 0 + 0 + ........p$ times $+ \left[ {f + \frac{p}...

Evaluate, $I=\int\limits_{ - \infty }^\infty  {{e^{ - {x^2}}}dx}$ Solution $I=\int\limits_{ - \infty }^\infty  {{e^{ - {x^2}}}dx}=\int\limits_{ - \infty }^\infty  {{e^{ - {y^2}}}dy}$ ${I^2} = \left( {\int_{ - \infty }^\infty  {{e^{ - {x^2}}}} {\mkern 1mu} dx} \right)\left( {\int_{ - \infty }^\infty  {{e^{ - {y^2}}}} {\mkern 1mu} dy} \right) = \int_{ - \infty }^\infty  {\int_{ - \infty }^\infty  {{e^{ - ({x^2} + {y^2})}}} } {\mkern 1mu} dx{\mkern 1mu} dy$ Changing to polar co-ordinates, we have ${I^2} = \int_0^{2\pi } {\int_0^\infty  {{e^{ - {r^2}}}} } r{\mkern 1mu} dr{\mkern 1mu} d\theta  = \int_0^{2\pi } d \theta \int_0^\infty  r {e^{ - {r^2}}}{\mkern 1mu} dr$ [${x^2} + {y^2} = {r^2},dx{\mkern 1mu} dy = r{\mkern 1mu} dr{\mkern 1mu} d\theta $. The entire plane corresponds to $0\le r<\infty$ and $0\le\theta\le2\pi$.] Let $r^2=u$ ${I^2} = 2\pi \cdot\frac{1}{2}\int_0^\infty  {{e^{ - u}}} {\mkern 1mu} du = \pi \left[ { - {e^{ - u}}} ...

A satellite providing internet services revolves around Earth in a circular orbit at an altitude of $750km$. A ground station directly below the satellite transmits an electromagnetic signal to it and receives a response signal immediately after the satellite receives the original signal. Assume that the satellite is directly overhead during the communication, the signal travels at the speed of light, and processing delays and atmospheric effects are negligible. Calculate the minimum time taken by a signal to travel from the ground station to the satellite and back to the ground station. Compare this with a typical geostationary satellite explaining the justification behind using LEO in place of geostationary satellite taking into account the fact that TVs do operate well without LEOs. Solution Since the satellite is directly overhead, the signal travels vertically to the satellite and back to the ground station. $t_{LEO} = \frac {2\times 750 \times 10^3}{3.0 \times 10^8} = 5.0 ms$ A t...

Question: A balloon is in equilibrium in air while carrying a payload of mass $10m$. The mass of the balloon and the lifting gas is negligible compared with the payload. A small amount of gas is released from the balloon so that its volume decreases, while the density of the surrounding air remains constant. The payload is then reduced by releasing a mass $m$. What percentage decrease in the balloon's volume is required to maintain equilibrium after the payload is reduced? Solution Initially, the balloon is in equilibrium. Because the mass of the balloon and lifting gas is negligible, the buoyant force $B$ balances the weight of the initial payload:$$B = 10mg \quad \text{--- (1)}$$ When a mass $m$ is released from the payload, the remaining payload mass is $10m - m = 9m$. For the balloon to remain in equilibrium, the new buoyant force $B'$ must balance the weight of the remaining payload:$$B' = 9mg \quad \text{--- (2)}$$ Since the density of the surrounding air ($\rho$) rem...

Question: Assuming the existence of the compound shown, given the trivial name “Ravana,” what would its IUPAC name be? Answer: The intended IUPAC name is: 5-(2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)decane Decane: The parent chain contains 10 carbon atoms. 5-: The cyclopentyl substituent is attached to carbon 5 of the parent chain, numbered from the left in the given diagram. Cyclopentyl: The substituent is a five-membered carbon ring. 2,3,4,5-tetramethyl: The four methyl groups are attached to ring carbons 2, 3, 4, and 5, numbering the ring from its attachment carbon (carbon 1). Thus, the name describes a decane chain bearing a tetramethyl-substituted cyclopentyl group at carbon 5.