Physics Challenges for
Teachers and Students
Solutions for April 2003 Challenges
◗The Dot Com Bubble turns out that the size of the image does not depend
on the distance between the lens system and the
Challenge: A balloon is filled with helium at the
object. Find the distance x between the lenses.
atmospheric pressure P. The volume of the balloon
is V. The balloon is made of the material of mass
m and density d. After being released, the balloon Solution: Let x be the object distance for the
bursts at an altitude where the atmospheric
pressure is (P/2). Immediately before bursting, the
first lens (which has a focal length of f1 ) and
balloon has a volume of 1.25V. Find the maximum x the image distance for that lens.
stress that the balloon material can withstand. f1x x
Assume that the temperature of helium remains =.
constant, the balloon remains spherical, and the x – f1
density of the material remains virtually constant.
The magnification of the first lens is then
x f
M1 f 1x 1
Solution: Let us denote the final volume and = – = –= –.
pressure by V = 1.25V and P , respectively. x (x – f1)x (x – f1)
Taking helium to be an ideal gas, we can write The image from the first lens becomes the
that PV = P V under isothermal conditions, so object for the second lens (with focal length
that P = 0.8P. Since the external pressure is f2) and this object distance is (L – x ). Let y be
0.5P, the net outward pressure on the surface the image distance for the second lens. From
of the balloon is 0.3P. Thus the net pressure the lens equation, one gets
force on half of the balloon is 0.3P R2, where
1 1 1 1 1
R is the final radius of the balloon, given by = –= – f1x
3 y f
2 L–x f
2 L–
1.25V = 4 R /3. But this must just balance the (x – f1)
elastic force A, where A = 2 Rt is the cross- 1 (x – f1)
sectional area of the balloon material at its = – f2 L(x – f1) – f1x
mid-plane. Here t is the thickness of the
2
balloon material, obtained from d = m/(4 R t). 1 q – f2(x – f1)
Combining the equations gives =, where q L(x – f1) – f1x,
9PVd y f2q
= . 16m or f2q
y = . q – f2(x – f1)
(Contributed by Carl E. Mungan, U.S. Naval
Academy, Annapolis, MD)
The magnification of the second lens is
◗Image Is Everything
Challenge: Two converging lenses have focal lengths y y y(x – f1)
M = –= –= –
f and f . The optical axes of the lenses coincide. This 2
L–x L–
f1 x
q
lens system is used to form an image of an object. It
(x – f1)
THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 41, May 2003 A-4
M2 f2q(x – f1) f2(x – f1)
= –= –. f1 = R/(n – 1).
[q – f2(x – f1)]q [q – f2(x – f1)]
Here, R is the radius of curvature of the con-
The total magnification of the optical system is cave surface, n is the index of refraction of
M=MM f the lens, and f1 is the focal length of the lens.
–f2(x – f1) 1
= – Also, for a concave surface with radius R,
1 2
q – f2(x – f1) (x – f1) the focal length f2 can be found as:
f f
= 12
. f2 = R/2.
L(x – f1) – f1x – f2(x – f1)
dM The rays from the object are passing through
If M is a constant, then= 0 and the lens, reflecting from the convex surface,
dx and passing through the lens again to emerge
DM –f1f2[L – f1 – f2] from the flat side to form a virtual image:
== 0.
2
dx {L(x – f ) – f x – f (x – f )}
1 1 2 1 1/a – 1/b2 = 1/f1 + 1/f2 + 1/f1 = 2/f1 + 1/f2
Therefore, L = f1 + f2. = 2(n – 1)/R + 2/R = 2n/R.
When the hiker turns, the rays from the
Also, the magnification is:
ob-ject passing through the lens also form a
f virtual image:
f1f2 2
M == – .
1/a – 1/b3 = 1/f1 = (n – 1)/R.
[(f1 + f2)(x – f1) – f1x – f2x + f1f2] f1
Eliminating R from the pair of
(Contributed by Joseph L. Powlette, Moravian
equations, (n – 1)(5.00 m) = n(5/3 m), so
College, Bethlehem, PA)
n = 1.50.
◗The Eagle Has Landed
Challenge: An eagle lands on the ground a = 5.00 *Column Editor’s comment: It can be shown
m behind a hiker’s back. The hiker sees two that the rays that pass through the lens twice
images of the eagle reflecting in her glasses. One
cannot possibly form the image 5.00 m away
image appears to be b1 = 5.00 m away, and the
(calculations lead to n < 1), so the “near” sur-
other is b2 = 0.714 m away. When she turns and
looks at the eagle, still wearing glasses, the image face of the lens must, indeed, be flat.
of the eagle appears to be at a distance b3 = 2.50
m. Find the index of refraction n of the lenses. (Contributed by Art Hovey, Milford, CT)
Several other readers also sent us solutions
Solution: Let us consider the first situation.
to the April Challenges. We would like to
Since one of the images is 5.00 m away, it is
recog-nize the following contributor:
clear that one of the lens surfaces is flat*. For
rays passing through such a lens, the
John F. Goehl Jr. (Barry University, Miami
lensmak-er’s equation gives Shores, FL)
A-5 THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 41, May 2003
We appreciate your submissions and hope to – Please state your name, hometown, and
receive more solutions in the future. professional affiliation in the file, not only in
the email message.
Note to contributors: In order to facilitate the
submission process more efficiently: Many thanks!
– Please email the solutions as Word files;
– Please name the file “September03BSimpson” Please send correspondence to:
if—for instance— your name is Bart Simpson,
and you are sending the solutions to September Boris Korsunsky
2003 Challenges; 444 Wellesley St.
Weston, MA 02493-2631
[email protected]
THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 41, May 2003 A-6
