Oxbridge Physics Prelims Revision

well that's the bit which was baffling me, because the question asks: Prove by (course of values) induction [which is strong induction in your terminology] that all natural numbers >= 2 can be represented as product of primes
And then as the second part of the question, it says: Prove by course of values induction that all natural numbers >= 2 can be uniquely represented as product of primes.

That's what's throwing me, I dont see how it's related to induction either! How do you show uniqueness based on all smaller natural numbers being uniquely representable?

Reply 463

RichE

15

Willa

That's what's throwing me, I dont see how it's related to induction either! How do you show uniqueness based on all smaller natural numbers being uniquely representable?

well it may be amenable to induction - sounds like it - will have a think :confused:

Reply 464

OP

Riteeeeeeeeee I have a lovely special relativity question I'm stuck with AGAIN.

====
In collisions between electrons and positrons B+ and B- mesons are produced with equal and opposite momenta in the lab. The B+ and B- undergo decays with mean lives of 1.6x10^-12s in their rest frames. Given that the momentum of each of the B particles is 20GeV/c and their masses are 5279MeV/c^2, calculate the mean distance that a B particle travels before decay as observed in the lab.
====

I was thinking that the way to approach it is with the following method:

1. Fing gamma and the speeds (each travelling in opposite direction, therfefore use addition of velocities formula with the speed of the actual frame.
2. Calculate the mean time from the mean Proper time given and the gamma just calculated
3. Use the speed of each with the mean time to calculate the distance travelled by each particle.
4. Then find the average value.

The problem is I'm not sure how to find the gamma.... :confused:

Reply 465

well for this one I would start with: momentum = gamma*mv = mv/root(1-v^2/c^2)

then i'd try rearranging that a bit: (m/momentum)^2 = = (1 - v^2/c^2)/v^2 = 1/v^2 - 1/c^2

so v = 1/root((m/momentum)^2 + 1/c^2)

that gives you your v (and hence your gamma). Try going from there. I would do it a slightly different way I think, but since you asked how to find gamma, there you go...i think that's right!

Reply 466

The trick, as usual, with these relativity questions, is just always to think: "What do I want to know? And what do I already know!?". You want Gamma, so you essentially want v. You have momentum and you have mass. That should SCREAM at you p = Gamma*mv!

Reply 467

OP

Willa

The trick, as usual, with these relativity questions, is just always to think: "What do I want to know? And what do I already know!?". You want Gamma, so you essentially want v. You have momentum and you have mass. That should SCREAM at you p = Gamma*mv!

Good point! I was too busy thinking about invariants and energy when it's clearly v.obvious! Thanks!

Reply 468

Hoofbeat

Good point! I was too busy thinking about invariants and energy when it's clearly v.obvious! Thanks!

oh no i shouldn't have told you that! These questions are my only source of mechanics and relativity revision so far! I always lack the motivation to do practice questions myself, but I dont mind helping other people - so it's a good way for me to revise. So errrr.....keep up your struggling with physics for as long as possible, cos it's helping me out at the same time! :smile:

Reply 469

can someone please calculate the moment of inertia of carbon monoxide given carbon RAM = 12, Oxygen RAM = 16, and seperation = 1.128E-10

I get something of the order 10^-46.....that sound correct? (it doesnt match the answers given but the answers given have been wrong in the past!)

Reply 470

OP

Willa

can someone please calculate the moment of inertia of carbon monoxide given carbon RAM = 12, Oxygen RAM = 16, and seperation = 1.128E-10

I get something of the order 10^-46.....that sound correct? (it doesnt match the answers given but the answers given have been wrong in the past!)

How do you calculate the moment of inertia of an element :confused:

Reply 471

Hoofbeat

How do you calculate the moment of inertia of an element :confused:

errrrrrrrrrrrrr dont you guys do any rotational mechanics at oxford!? If so then...OH...MY....GOD! (Moment of Intertia = Sum of mr^2 for all particles in a body...and is the equivilent of mass but for rotation)

Reply 472

OP

Willa

errrrrrrrrrrrrr dont you guys do any rotational mechanics at oxford!? If so then...OH...MY....GOD! (Moment of Intertia = Sum of mr^2 for all particles in a body...and is the equivilent of mass but for rotation)

Lol! No we do do rotational dynamics...but never even thought that you could calculate the MoI of a particle.

Reply 473

Hoofbeat

Lol! No we do do rotational dynamics...but never even thought that you could calculate the MoI of a particle.

well it's a diatomic! Two particles!

Reply 474

Bezza

2

The question doesn't tell you what axis it wants the MoI around :confused:

Are you supposed to use the centre of mass or something?

Reply 475

Bezza

The question doesn't tell you what axis it wants the MoI around :confused:

Are you supposed to use the centre of mass or something?

yeah i presume so

Reply 476

shiny

12

*eats curried noodles*

*looking bored*

:rolleyes:

Reply 477