ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION

AL PHYSICS
Structural Question

1. A space shuttle crew is sent to service the Hubble Space Telescope H which is in a
circular orbit 6.0 105 m above the earths surface. The crew succeed in moving
the space shuttle S into the same orbit as H and its thrust rockets are shut down.
The telescope is positioned a few kilometres in front as shown in Figure 1.1. Let
G be the gravitational constant and ME the mass of the earth.
(Given: radius of the earth = 6.4 106 m)

Figure 1.1 earth

(a) What is the apparent weight of an astronaut of mass 70 kg inside the shuttle?
(1 mark)

(b) (i) Calculate the value of the gravitational field strength in the orbit.
(3 marks)

(ii) Calculate the speed and period of the shuttle in the orbit. (4 marks)

(c) (i) Show that the total mechanical energy of the shuttle is proportional to
1
, where r is the radius of its orbit. (2 marks)
r

(ii) In order to overtake the telescope, the shuttle must first spiral into an orbit
of a smaller radius in which it would have a larger angular speed. Using
the result in (c)(i), determine whether the shuttle should increase or
decrease its original speed so that it can get into a lower orbit. Explain
your answer. (2 marks)
2. A boy of mass 50 kg performs a bungee jump from a bridge 40 m above a river.
An elastic rope of unstretched length 15 m is tied round his legs at one end while
the other end is fixed on the bridge at A. The boy then drops off the bridge and
reaches the lowest point D just clear of the water surface. Assume that the rope
obeys Hookes law throughout the motion. (Neglect the air resistance, the size of
the boy and also the mass of the rope.)

bridge A

water D
(a) (i) Find the elastic potential energy stored in the rope when the boy is at D.
(2 marks)
(ii) What is the force constant of the rope? (2 marks)

(b) The variation of the speed of the boy, v, with the distance fallen, s, is shown
below. The boy attains his greatest speed at point C.

v /ms -1

C
20
B

15

10

A D

0 10 20 30 40 s/m

(i) Comment on the force(s) acting on the boy while he is in motion between
AB, BC and CD. (3 marks)

(ii) The motion of the boy can be considered as simple harmonic once the
rope is stretched, and down to the lowest point D. How far is his
equilibrium position from the bridge? Find his amplitude of oscillation.
(2 marks)
(iii) Calculate the time taken for the boy to go from C to D. (3 marks)