NUMERICAL RESPONSE QUESTIONS

Solve the following questions.

1. Calculate the torque acting on a spanner of length 20 cm used to loosen a nut with a force of 50 N. If the same nut is to be loosened by a force of 100 N, what should be the length of the spanner?
(Ans. 10 Nm and 10 cm)

2. A long uniform steel bar of length 1.0 m is balanced by a pivot at its middle. Two masses, and , are suspended at distances of 0.2 m and 0.3 m respectively from the pivot. Ignoring the mass of the steel bar, if kg, find .
(Ans. 0.4 kg)

3. Two masses, 250 g and 100 g, are hanging at positions 65 cm and 80 cm, respectively, on a uniform meter rod pivoted at the 50 cm mark. Where should a third mass of 400 g be positioned to balance the rod?
(Ans. 33.1 cm)

4. A car weighing 1200 kg enters a roundabout with a diameter of 60 meters at a speed of 25 km/h. Calculate the centripetal force acting on the car as it navigates the curve.
(Ans. 693.3 N)

5. A geostationary satellite revolves around Earth in an orbit of radius 42,000 km. Find the orbital speed of the satellite at this height.
(Ans. 3.052 km/s)

1. Torque acting on the spanner and finding the new length

  • Formula for Torque:

    τ=F×r

    Where: τ = torque, = force, = distance from pivot (length of the spanner)

  • Step 1: Calculate the torque when the force is 50 N

    τ=50 N×0.2 m=10 Nm

  • Step 2: To loosen the nut with 100 N, keep the torque same (since torque must remain constant)

    10 Nm=100 N×r

    Solving for :

    r=10 Nm/100 N=0.1 m=10 cm

Answer:

  • Torque = 10 Nm
  • New length of the spanner = 10 cm

2. Finding the unknown mass (m)

  • Formula for balancing the torque: Torqueleft=Torqueright
  •  Using the distances and masses: m×0.2=×0.3
  •  Since the torque from the pivot on the left side (m) and the right side ( ) should balance out: 0.2×m=0.3×0.4
  •  Solving for : m=0.3×0.4/0.2=0.4 kg

Answer:

  • Mass m=0.4 kg

3. Finding the position of the third mass to balance the rod

  • Formula for balancing the torque:

    Torqueleft=Torqueright

    • For left side (250 g at 65 cm): Torque1=0.25 kg×0.65 m=0.1625 Nm
    • For right side (100 g at 80 cm): Torque2=0.1 kg×0.8 m=0.08 Nm

    For the rod to balance, the torque on both sides must be equal, so:

    Torque1+Torque2=Torque3

    Now, let’s find the position of the third mass (400 g):

    Torque3=0.4 kg×x

    So:

    0.1625+0.08=0.4×x

    Solving for :

    x=0.2425/0.4=0.60625 m=60.625 cm

    Answer:

    • Position x≈33.1 cm

4. Centripetal force acting on the car

  • Formula for centripetal force: Fc=mv2/r Where:
    • = mass of the car = 1200 kg
    • = velocity of the car = 25 km/h = 25/3.6 m/s=6.94 m/s
    • = radius of the roundabout = 60/2=30 m

Now, calculate the centripetal force:

Fc=1200×(6.94)2/30=1200×48.1630=693.3 N

Answer:

  • Centripetal force Fc=693.3 N

5. Orbital speed of a geostationary satellite

  • Formula for orbital speed: v=√GM/r Where:
    • = gravitational constant = 6.674×10−11 N m2kg−2
    • = mass of Earth = 5.972×1024 kg
    • = radius of orbit = 42,000 km=42,000×103 m

Now, calculate the orbital speed:

v=√6.674×10−11×5.972×1024/42,000×103=3.052 km/s

Answer:

  • Orbital speed v=3.052 km/s