Arts and Science 2D06 - 2019/20
Suggested Chapter Problems

It helps to study physics by doing as many sample problems as possible. Here are recommended problems taken from each chapter of the text relevant to our curriculum. Most are the odd-numbered ones, so you can check your answer in the back of the book.

Notice the chapter problems come in two types: conceptual Questions that usually involve descriptive reasoning; and quantitative Problems that involve calculations. The Questions are just as important as the Problems at probing your understanding of the key concepts in the chapter ... do both types. And do as many as you have time for. The suggested lists below may look quite long -- but that's just to give you a lot to choose from; a quick reading of each problem may tell you right away whether it will tell you something new or not. Enjoy!

If you get stuck with finding the right method or setting up the problems -- please don't hesitate to get help from either me or your TA. We're available!

More problems will be added as we get farther into the term. Do not bother to work too far ahead of lectures -- it may be counterproductive.

• Chapter 2:
  Questions 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18
  Problems 7, 11, 18, 24, 32, 35, 39, 45, 49, 55, 61, 76, 81
  


• Chapter 3:
  Questions 2, 6, 13, 15, 18, 20
  Problems 5, 9, 13, 17, 18, 21, 29, 31, 35, 43, 45, 81
  


• Chapter 4:
  Questions 5, 6, 14, 20, 24
  Problems 3, 11, 24, 33, 49, 51, 63, 68, 74
  


• Chapter 5:
  Questions 1, 16, 17, 19, 20
  Problems 3, 7, 11, 14, 17, 28, 35, 49, 50, 53, 79
  


• Chapter 7:
  Questions 6, 7, 9, 11, 13
  Problems 3, 14, 15, 17, 23, 35, 43, 55, 65, 66, 77, 79, 81
  


• Chapter 8:
  Questions: 5, 9, 12, 18
  Problems 1, 2, 8, 11, 13, 19, 25(a-d), 31, 35, 41, 80, 85
  


• Chapter 6:
  Questions: 1, 9, 17
  Problems: 1, 3, 7, 27
  


• Chapter 10:
  Questions: 8, 10, 11, 12
  Problems: 2, 7, 8, 9, 70, 71, 83, 94a
  


• Chapter 9:
  Questions: 3, 4, 7, 14, 19
  Problems: 3, 9, 11, 13, 23, 34, 37, 46, 98, 113
  


• Chapter 36:
  Study sections 1 - 11 (that is, the shorter versions of them covered in lectures - no need to study the derivations).
  
  Questions: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 20
  Problems: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 21, 23, 26, 40, 41, 44, 47, 69, 79
  
  Extra relativity problems on Lorentz transformations:
  
  (1) Reference frames (xy) and (x'y') coincide at t = t' = 0, and (x'y') is moving to the right at v = 0.8 c. At t' = 0.01 sec and x' = 400 km, a light goes on. Where and when did this event occur in the "lab" frame (xy)?
  (answer: x = 4676 km, t = 0.018 sec)
  
  (2) A light goes on at (x=0, t=0), and a bit later on a second light goes on at (x = 90 km, t = 0.00016 sec). Now suppose that a second reference frame (x'y') travels to the right at speed v. What is the necessary speed v for which these two events are simultaneous as seen from (x'y')?
  (answer: v = 0.53 c)
  
  (3) A spaceship travelling at v = 0.9 c fires a light beam straight ahead, directly towards a mirror that is 300,000 km away (as seen from the "outside" laboratory frame). The light beam reflects off the mirror and goes straight back towards the ship. Where does the beam meet up with the ship (as measured from its original position), and how long does it take?
  (answer: x = 285,000 km, t = 1.05 sec)
  As measured from within the ship, where and when does the beam meet up with it?
  (answer: x' = 0, t' = 0.45 sec)


• Chapter 13:
  Questions: 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 20
  Problems: 3, 5, 9, 15, 18, 23a, 27, 29, 31, 45, 49, 51, 52, 55
  


• Chapter 14:
  Questions: 5, 8, 9, 11, 12
  Problems: 1, 3, 9, 10, 15, 17, 27, 43, 45, 47, 85
  


• Chapter 15:
  Questions: 2, 14, 16
  Problems: 1, 12, 25, 27, 29, 42, 44, 49, 75
  


• Chapter 34:
  Question: 6, 7
  Problems: 3, 9, 12
  (NB: in problem 12, it asks what wavelength of visible light would have a minimum at the same location. Visible light is between 400 and 800 nm.)
  
  Supplementary problem: Light of wavelength 627 nm illuminates a pair of slits 1000 nm apart. What is the smallest angle (theta) at which the light intensity of the fringe pattern is 1/4 of the central maximum? (ans: 0.211 radian)


• Chapter 35:
  Question: 4, 10
  Problems: 2, 3, 15
  


• Chapter 37:
  Questions: 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25
  Problems: 6, 9, 40, 45, 54, 55, 59, 72
  


• Chapter 38:
  Questions: 2, 4, 8, 14 ((NB: what question 14 means is that the wave function is zero at some points in the box, where the nodes are. Can the particle travel "through" a node?)
  Problems: 1, 3, 9, 10, 13(a,b), 21, 22, 23, 25, 29, 53
  


• Chapter 39:
  Questions: 1, 2, 3
  Problems: 15