Selection Test 4

8 March, 2014
Total: 100 marks (20 marks for each question), Time allowed: 180 minutes

Answer all questions.

1. A capacitor consists of parallel plates A and B, each of area S and they are separated by a vacuum
gap of width D. For (a)-(e), suppose the capacitor is charged up by a battery with voltage V. The
capacitor is then isolated from the battery.
考慮一個由平行板A和B組成的電容器。每塊平行板面積為S，兩塊板被一個寬度為D的真空
間隙所隔開。在(a)-(e)，假設該電容器被電壓為V的電池完全充電，然後與電池隔離。
(a) What is the charge density on each plate?
每塊板上的電荷密度是甚麼？
(b) What is the electric field near plate A due to plate B?
在板A附近，由板B所產生的電場是甚麼？
(c) What is the force of attraction between the two plates?
兩塊板之間吸引力是甚麼？
(d) What is the electrical field energy in the gap?
間隙之間的電場能量是甚麼？
(e) What is the mechanical work done by the electrical force when the gap separation is reduced from
D to D/3?
如果間隙的距離由D減少至D/3，由電力所作的機械功是甚麼？
(f) Suppose the capacitor is charged up by a battery with voltage V. With the battery remains
connected, the gap separation is reduced from D to D/3. What is the mechanical work done by the
electrical force?
假設電容器被電壓為V的電池完全充電。當電容器與電池仍保持連接時，間隙距離由D減少
至D/3，電力所作的機械功是甚麼？
(g) Explain whether the results in (e) and (f) are the same or different. Support your argument with
calculations of energy terms.
試解釋(e)和(f)的結果是相同抑不同。以計算各項能量來支持你的論點。

2. As shown in the figure, the vacuum is enclosed between two parallel metal plates normal to the x
axis representing the cathode and anode. They are separated by distance s. The potential difference
generates an electric field E in the negative x direction. A magnetic field B is applied in the z
direction. Electrons are emitted from the cathode at the position (x, y, z) = (0, 0, 0) with effectively
zero initial velocity. The mass and electric charge of an electron are denoted as m and −e
respectively. Derive the trajectory of the electrons in the following steps.

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 如下圖所示，兩塊垂直於x軸的平行金屬板，分別為陰極和陽極。它們之間的距離為s。電勢
差所產生的電場為E，方向為負x。在z方向施加一個磁場B。電子由陰極上的位置(x, y, z)=（0,
0, 0）射出，其有效初始速度為零。電子的質量和電荷分別為m和-e。試透過以下步驟，推導
出電子的軌跡。

B cathode anode

electron
emitter
z
y
E
x
s


(a) Consider a particle whose velocity v in the xy plane is described by the vector equation

dv  
= ω×v
dt

ω is a vector independent of position and time, and is perpendicular to the xy plane. What is the

trajectory of v in the xy plane? What is the period in time, if the trajectory is periodic?
  
考慮速度為 v 的粒子，速度 v 處於xy平面上。 v 滿足以下向量公式

dv  
=ω×v
dt
 
ω 是一支與位置和時間無關的向量，並且垂直於xy平面。 v 在xy平面上的軌跡是甚麼？如果
該軌跡是週期性，週期是甚麼？
(b) Now consider the trajectory of electrons in the figure. Using (a), describe the trajectory of the
 
vector v × B in the xy plane that satisfies the initial condition of zero velocity. Sketch the
trajectory in your answer book with the x and y axes labeled. What is the period in time, if the
trajectory has a periodic component?
 
現考慮圖中電子的軌跡。利用(a)，描述滿足初始條件為零，向量 v × B 於xy平面上的軌跡。
將軌跡畫在答題簿，並註明x軸和y軸。如果該軌道含有週期性的分量，週期是甚麼？
 
(c) Denote the unit vector along the z axis as k̂ . Given the vector v × kˆ and that the velocity v lies

in the xy plane, what is the magnitude and direction of the vector v ? Hence describe the trajectory

of the vector v in the vxvy plane that satisfies the initial condition of zero velocity. Sketch the
trajectory in your answer book with the x and y axes labeled.
  
以 k̂ 表示沿z軸的單位向量。給定向量 v × kˆ 和速度 v 都是處於xy平面上， v 的長度和方向是

甚麼？由此，描述滿足初始速度為零的向量 v 在vxvy平面上的軌跡。將軌跡畫在答題簿，並
註明x軸和y軸。

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(d) Sketch the trajectory of the electron in the xy plane with the x and y axes labeled. What is the
radius of the circular motion component? What is the displacement along the y direction if the
electron hits the cathode again?
將電子的軌跡畫在答題簿，並註明x軸和y軸。考慮作圓周運動的分量，其半徑是甚麼？如果
電子再次碰到陰極，在y方向的位移是甚麼？
(e) What is the minimum potential difference V between the cathode and anode for the electrons to
reach the anode? What is the displacement along the y direction when it hits the anode at this
voltage V?
若電子可以到達陽極，陰極和陽極間需要最小的電勢差V是甚麼？在此電壓V的情況下，電子
碰上陽極時，沿y方向的位移是甚麼?

3. As shown in the following figure, two parallel metal rails, connected to the two terminals of an
ideal battery E, are aligned in vertical direction. The rails are at a distance L from each other. A
metal rod with mass m and resistance R can move freely along the rails without any friction. The
gravitational force G on the metal rod is parallel to the rails along the downward vertical direction.
A homogeneous magnetic field of magnitude B points perpendicularly into the page. The electrical
resistance of the rails can be neglected. The metal rod is released from rest at time t = 0.
如下圖所示，兩塊垂直排列的平行金屬導軌，連接到一個理想電池E的兩端。導軌之間的距
離為L。一條質量為m，電阻為R的金屬棒可以沿導軌自由移動。金屬棒和導軌之間沒有任何
摩擦力。作用於金屬棒上的重力G是平行於垂直向下的導軌。一個強度為B的均勻磁場垂直
插入頁面。導軌的電阻可忽略不計。在t = 0時，金屬棒從靜止釋放。

ε
metal rod

z
L

(a) At t = 0, what is the emf ε1 of the battery that is just enough to create a force canceling the
gravitational force? Express your answer as a function of G, B, R and L.
在t = 0時，由電池產生的力剛好抵銷重力，電池的電動勢是甚麼？答案以G, B, R及L表示。

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(b) Now we reduce the emf of the battery to ε = ε1/3. The metal rod starts to slide downwards. What is
the maximum speed vm the rod can reach?
現在，我們將電池的電動勢減至ε = ε1/3。金屬棒開始向下滑落。金屬棒可以達到的最大速度
vm是甚麼？
(c) At time t, the velocity of the metal rod is given by v(t) = vm[1 − exp(−λt)]. What is the expression
for λ? When will the velocity reach vm/2?
在時間t，金屬棒的速度為v(t) = vm[1 − exp(−λt)]。λ的表達式是甚麼？速度何時會達至vm/2？
(d) After the rod reaches its maximum speed, what is the thermal power dissipated from the resistance
of the rod? What is the output power of the battery? What is the power provided by the
gravitational force?
當金屬棒達到其最大速度，從金屬棒的電阻耗散的熱功率是甚麼？電池的輸出功率是甚麼？
由引力提供的功率是甚麼？
(e) Following (d), explain whether the law of energy conservation is upheld.
根據(d)，解釋能量守恆定律是否被滿足。

4. As shown in the figure, a circular coil with radius a and center at O is held in a vertical plane. A
current I flows in the coil. OP is a line through O and is normal to the plane containing the circular
ring. The length of OP is h. A small metal ring is placed at P, with the center of the ring located at
P. The radius b of the ring is much smaller than a and h. The plane of the ring is also normal to
OP, that is, the planes of the circular coil and the small ring are parallel.
如下圖所示，一個半徑為a，中心為O的線圈保持在垂直平面。線圈中的電流為I。直線OP通
過O，並垂直於圓環的平面。OP的長度為h。一個小金屬環放置在P，而其中心正正在P上。
小環的半徑為b，並遠小於a和h。環面也是垂直於OP，也就是線圈平面和小環平面互相平行。

I ω
a
b
O h P

(a) Find the magnetic field at point P.

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For (b)-(d), the current I in the circular coil is constant, and the small ring rotates about the vertical axis
through P at an angular velocity ω. The electrical resistance of the small ring is R, and its
self-inductance is negligible.
在(b)-(d)，線圈內的電流I是常數。小環繞着通過P的垂直軸轉動，角速度為 ω。小環的電阻為R，
而它的自感可以忽略。
(b) Find the induced current in the small ring.
求小環內的感應電流。
(c) Find the external torque exerted on the small ring that maintains its angular velocity at a constant.
求作用於小環的外加力矩，令小環的角速度維持固定。
(d) Find the mutual inductance between the circular coil and the small ring, and the induced emf
experienced by the circular coil from the small ring.
求線圈和小環之間的互感，和由小環產生在線圈上的感生電動勢。

5. The tunnel paradox is often raised to ridicule the prediction of length contraction in special
relativity. According to the paradox, a train travels through a tunnel with a natural length shorter
than that of the train. However, according to a ground observer, the train can just fit the tunnel due
to length contraction. Suppose the front and back gates of the tunnel close at the instant when the
train just fits into the tunnel, and then open immediately. Then there are no collision events
between the train and the tunnel gate.
隧道悖論往往被用作譏諷狹義相對論對長度收縮的預測。根據悖論，一列車通過一條靜止長
度比列車的靜止長度較短的隧道。根據地面上的觀測者，由於長度收縮，列車可以剛好藏於
隧道內。假設當列車剛剛藏於隧道的一刻，隧道的前閘門和後閘門關上，然後立即打開。列
車和閘門之間應該不會產生任何碰撞。
However, according to an observer on the train, the tunnel is shorter than the train due to length
contraction. So when the front and back tunnel gates close, the gates are expected to collide with
the train!
然而，根據在火車上的觀察者，隧道會因為長度收縮而比火車短。因此，當隧道前閘和後閘
關上時，列車應該會興閘門碰撞！
In this problem, we will resolve this paradox, assuming that: (1) the natural lengths of the train and
the tunnel are 100 m and 60 m respectively, (2) the train travels at 0.8c, where c is the speed of
light, (3) the reference frames on the ground and the train are (x, ct) and (x’, ct’) respectively, (4)
when the train starts to enter the tunnel, the clock on the train and the clock on the ground are
synchronized to ct = ct’ = 0, and the coordinates of the tunnel entrance gate are set to x = x’ = 0.
在這問題中，我們將解決這個悖論。假設:（1）列車和隧道的靜止長度分別是100米和60米，
（2）列車的行駛速度為0.8c，其中c是光速，（3）在地面上和列車上的參考系統是分別是(x,
ct)和(x', ct')，（4）當列車開始進入隧道時，在列車上和在地面上的的時鐘皆同步至ct = ct'=
0，並且在隧道入口處的坐標被設置為x = x'= 0。

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(a) According to the ground observer, what are the lengths of the tunnel and the train?
根據地面上的觀測者，隧道和火車的長度是甚麼？
(b) According to the train observer, what are the lengths of the tunnel and the train?
根據列車上的觀測者，隧道和列車的長度是甚麼？
(c) Draw a diagram with axes x and ct. On the diagram, draw the world lines of the tunnel and the
train, and the following 4 events:
(1) P: the front end of the train enters the tunnel,
(2) Q: the front end of the train exits the tunnel,
(3) R: the back end of the train enters the tunnel,
(4) S: the back end of the train exits the tunnel.
繪畫一幅含有x軸和ct軸的圖。在圖中，畫出隧道、列車、以及以下四件事件的世界線：
(1) P:列車前端進入隧道，
(2) Q:列車前端離開隧道，
(3) R:列車後端進入隧道，
(4) S:列車後端離開隧道。
(d) According to the ground observer, what are the coordinates of the events P, Q, R and S?
根據地面上的觀測者，事件P、Q、R和S的座標是甚麼？
(e) Draw a diagram with axes x’ and ct’. On the diagram, draw the world lines of the tunnel and the
train, and the events P, Q, R and S.
繪畫一幅含有x’軸和ct’軸的圖。在圖中，畫出隧道、列車、以及事件P、Q、R和S的世界線。
(f) According to the train observer, what are the coordinates of the events P, Q, R and S?
根據列車上的觀測者，事件P、Q、R和S的座標是甚麼？
(g) Explain why the tunnel paradox can be resolved.
解釋為什麼這個隧道悖論可以被解決。

THE END
全卷完