What is the answer for this weird question?

Two identical blocks A A and B B of masses 300 300 k g kg and 100 100 k g kg respectively are placed on each other in two different possible ways on a mass measuring machine whose least count is 1 0 30 10^{-30} kg. In situation 1 1 , the block B B is placed on block A A . And in situation 2 2 , the block A A is placed on block B B . Let the reading of masses shown by machine in situation 1 1 be m 1 m_{1} and that in situation 2 2 be m 2 m_{2} .

Find the value of 1 0 15 × ( m 2 m 1 ) \lfloor 10^{15} \times (m_{2} - m_{1}) \rfloor .

Details and Assumptions:

  • The two masses are identical and the height of both blocks is 1 m 1m and base area is 10000 m 2 10000 m^{2} .

  • Take acceleration due to gravity equal to 10 m / s 2 10 m/s^{2} .

  • The mass measuring machine is of high accuracy. It measures the mass of objects very accurately without any error up to the limit of its least count.

  • k \lfloor k \rfloor is the greatest integer funtion. Example, 2.3 = 2 \lfloor 2.3 \rfloor = 2 .


The answer is 22.

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2 solutions

Surya Prakash
Oct 2, 2015

Before I start writing my solution, I need to give you some information regarding this problem.

Theory Of Relativity:

Albert Einstein gave many laws of motion in his theory of relativity. We are going to discuss only one particular law i.e. E = m c 2 E = mc^{2} .

Actually this is wrong... Well, I mean the way of writing the equation is wrong. Albert Einstein actually did not give that E = m c 2 E= mc^{2} . He wrote in his paper that m = E c 2 m = \dfrac{E}{c^{2}} . What does this actually mean? Suppose there is a boy whose mass is 25 k g 25 kg when weighed. What is his mass when he is moving with a velocity say 25 m / s 25 m/s ? We will make it somewhat clear by giving another example.

Actually when we switch on a flashlight, the chemical energy in the battery is converted into light energy. So, the chemical inside the battery decreases. I mean it's mass gradually reduces. Where this mass going to? This mass actually converted into light energy(Indirectly). So, what actually Einstein's Theory of Relativity says is that

m t o t a l = m a c t u a l + m e x t r a m_{total} = m_{actual} +m_{extra}

where m a c t u a l m_{actual} is the actual mass. What is this m e x t r a m_{extra} ? This extra is what Einstein is suggesting. It is the mass due to the energy possessed by it. But this m e x t r a m_{extra} is very very very small as compared m a c t u a l m_{actual} . So, it is neglected in Newtonian Mechanics. But it becomes comparable value in case of high velocity moving objects like light. It is given by m e x t r a = E c 2 m_{extra} = \dfrac{E}{c^2} , where E E is the energy of the body and c c is the speed of light.


So, How is this going to be helpful for us?

Actually, as the masses are different, the potential energy of the systems in different cases is different. But, the actual total mass is same. It can be calculated that potential energies of the systems in situation A A and B B are calculated to be 3000 J 3000 J and 5000 J 5000 J respectively (from given data). We have to calculate

m 2 m 1 = m a c t u a l 2 + m e x t r a 2 m a c t u a l 1 m e x t r a 1 m_{2} - m_{1} = m_{actual_{2}} + m_{extra_{2}} - m_{actual_{1}} - m_{extra_{1}}

where m a c t u a l j m_{actual_{j}} and m e x t r a j m_{extra_{j}} denotes the actual and extra mass in situation j j , where j = 1 , 2 j={1,2} .

But, m a c t u a l 1 = m a c t u a l i = 400 k g m_{actual_{1}} = m_{actual_{i}} = 400 kg So,

m 2 m 1 = m e x t r a 2 m e x t r a 1 m_{2} - m_{1} = m_{extra_{2}} - m_{extra_{1}}

As I had said before m e x t r a = E c 2 m_{extra} = \dfrac{E}{c^2} . But since we have got the energy of combined mass in situation 1 1 is equal to 3000 J 3000 J . So, we get m e x t r a 1 = 3000 c 2 m_{extra_{1}} = \dfrac{3000}{c^2} and similarly m e x t r a 2 = 5000 c 2 m_{extra_{2}} = \dfrac{5000}{c^2} .

So, m 2 m 1 = m e x t r a 2 m e x t r a 1 = 2000 c 2 m_{2} - m_{1} = m_{extra_{2}} - m_{extra_{1}} = \dfrac{2000}{c^2} .

Therefore, 1 0 15 × ( m 2 m 1 ) = 1 0 15 × 2000 c 2 = 22 \lfloor 10^{15} \times (m_{2} - m_{1}) \rfloor = \lfloor 10^{15} \times \dfrac{2000}{c^2} \rfloor = \boxed{22} .


Note: Speed of light = 299792458 m / s 299792458 m/s .

I thought Classical Mechanics= Newtonian Mechanics

Aakash Khandelwal - 5 years, 8 months ago

Same Method!

Aditya Kumar - 5 years, 8 months ago

Have we neglected the increase in normal reaction due gravitational force between the blocks and the weighing machine ?

Rohit Kumar - 5 years, 7 months ago

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According this solution it is neglected, but if the mass of scale was given, it would made an even more interesting problem. @Surya Prakash You should add that the special theory of relativity is used, without this problem is impossible to solve for those who haven't seen it before.

Miloje Đukanović - 5 years, 7 months ago

Its a mass measuring machine, not a weighing machine. We don't need change in Normal reactions, as that has nothing to do with mass. The Potential energy considered here is actually gravitational potential energy.

Eeshan Khan - 5 years, 6 months ago

Did the same thing. But terrific solution. An upvote from me

Pranjal Prashant - 5 years, 6 months ago

Speed of light = naruto's speed

A Former Brilliant Member - 4 years, 11 months ago
Rakshit Joshi
Dec 1, 2015

You have put this question and it has come in my one even and it was right I have also like you only .

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