DP Physics (last assessment 2024)

Question 17N.2.HL.TZ0.f.i

Date	November 2017	Marks available	[Maximum mark: 3]	Reference code	17N.2.HL.TZ0.f.i
Level	HL	Paper	2	Time zone	TZ0
Command term	Estimate	Question number	f.i	Adapted from	N/A

f.i.

[Maximum mark: 3]

17N.2.HL.TZ0.f.i

There is a proposal to power a space satellite X as it orbits the Earth. In this model, X is connected by an electronically-conducting cable to another smaller satellite Y.

The cable acts as a spring. Satellite Y has a mass m of 3.5 x 10² kg. Under certain circumstances, satellite Y will perform simple harmonic motion (SHM) with a period T of 5.2 s.

Estimate the value of k in the following expression.

T = $2\pi \sqrt {\frac{m}{k}}$

Give an appropriate unit for your answer. Ignore the mass of the cable and any oscillation of satellite X.

[3]

Markscheme

use of k = « $\frac{{4{\pi ^2}m}}{{{T^2}}} =$ » $\frac{{4 \times {\pi ^2} \times 350}}{{{{5.2}^2}}}$