Circle Questions Homework - Page 9 Question 12 | Physics Admissions Test

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around two problems related to circles and geometry from a physics admissions test. Participants express difficulty in solving these problems, particularly in understanding the relationships between the circles and squares involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the geometric relationships in the first problem, noting the positions of circle centers and the use of similar triangles. There are attempts to establish connections between the sides and diagonals of squares and circles.
  • In the second problem, participants explore triangle properties and relationships, particularly focusing on specific triangle types like 30-60-90 triangles, and question the correctness of their derived answers.

Discussion Status

Several participants have shared their approaches and partial results, indicating a mix of understanding and confusion. Hints and observations have been offered, particularly regarding geometric constructions and relationships, but no consensus on final answers has emerged.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention constraints such as the prohibition of calculators and express frustration over the complexity of the problems, suggesting that assumptions about the geometry may be critical to finding solutions.

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Homework Statement


page 9 question 12
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/admissions_test/tests06.pdf

page 3 question 12
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/admissions_test/tests08.pdf

The Attempt at a Solution



I really REALLY struggle with these types of question and honestly, i can't see any way to do it (in my knowledge) I think maybe it relies on certain assumptions about circles I'm not sure about but the annoying thing is I think they should be easy :(...

thanks for any help / points in the right direction, they're so annoying :/

also bear in mind a calculator isn't allowed :(
 
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Some observations on the first problem. It looks like the centers of the circle lie on the squares diagonal. The distance from the center of the large circle to the center of the small circle is known. That distance becomes the hypotenuse of a triangle that is similar to the triangle that formed by the diagonal and two sides of the square. It is aglebra from there on out.
 
Some observations on the second problem. You will need to find the length of AO and the height of triangle ABC. Set all the equal lengths to 1 unit. Make a triangle AOC. What are the interior angles of AOC? You should be able to find the length AO and the distance from O to the base of the triangle AOC if you know the side relationships of a 30-60-90 triangle.
 
Ah that's great thanks! I got the 2nd one however still having a bit of trouble with the first;

i've made the triangle with 3r diagonally and (4.5)^0.5 r on each side and like you said i know it's similar so the edge of the square must be some product of (4.5)^0.5 however I've no idea how to go about working that out >.< as soon as I know that I've got the answer...

Thanks for the help though, just need to get this :P
 
Also i got a REALLY nasty answer for the second, I know it's eight marks but I got;

( [tex]\frac{13\pi}{12\sqrt{0.75}}[/tex] + [tex]\frac{4\pi}{3}[/tex] ) : 1...um...lol which is around 8 : 1, do you reckon that's about right? I know it's meant to be a hard test, but that's ridiculous lol
 
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On the first problem, notice that you can draw an extra square with its upper left corner coinciding with the upper left corner and its lower right corner in the center of the big circle. The lengths of the sides of this square should be easy to find, as well as its diagonal. From there you can calculate the length of the diagonal of the big square and from there its sides and area.

On the second one I got a different answer, [tex](4/3 + 4/\sqrt{3})\pi[/tex]. Can you show what your approach was?
 
kanato said:
On the first problem, notice that you can draw an extra square with its upper left corner coinciding with the upper left corner and its lower right corner in the center of the big circle. The lengths of the sides of this square should be easy to find, as well as its diagonal. From there you can calculate the length of the diagonal of the big square and from there its sides and area.

that's great, genius! :P
 
For the first problem, with the square and the two circles of radii R and 2R, I have got an answer that I'm not sure about. I worked it out myself and I think I did was kanato is explaining. Can I show you my result? I think it is [tex]\frac{10\pi}{9(1 + \sqrt{2} )^2}[/tex]? But I'm not sure.
 
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Here are hints for the first problem:
n6ul4g.png


If d is the diagonal of the big square then [tex]d=r\sqrt{2}+r+\frac{r}{2}+\frac{r\sqrt{2}}{2}[/tex]

And if the side of the square is a then [tex]a=\frac{d}{\sqrt{2}}[/tex]

Regards.
 
  • #10
Here are hints for the second one:

21nqtkk.png


The area of the ring is [itex]P=(R^2-r^2)\pi[/itex]

[tex]r=\frac{2}{3}h=\frac{a\sqrt{3}}{3}[/tex]

and

[tex]a=r\sqrt{3}[/tex]

so

[tex]R=a+r=r(1+\sqrt{3})[/tex]

Now [itex]P=r^2\pi[(1+\sqrt{3})^2-1][/itex]

And the area of the spherical segment is [itex]S=\frac{R^2*\pi*120}{360}[/itex]

Finally the area of ADEC is [itex]P_{ADEC}=P-S=(R^2-r^2)\pi-\frac{R^2*\pi*120}{360}+\frac{r^2*\pi*120}{360}[/itex]

[tex]P_{ABC}=\frac{a^2\sqrt{3}}{4}[/tex]

Regards.
 
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  • #11
okay this is what I've got (i'm pretty sure about it)

[tex]\frac{2\pi}{3}[/tex] (1 + [tex]\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}[/tex]) : [tex]\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}[/tex]
 
  • #12
I came up with:

[tex]\frac{8\pi\sqrt{3}(5+2\sqrt{3})}{27}[/tex]

Regards.
 
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  • #13
mkay...i don't think that's it, firstly it's supposed to be a ratio, and secondly I've done it a couple of times and so has another guy (who's good at maths) and we both my answer... not sure though xO
 
  • #14
Chewy0087 said:
mkay...i don't think that's it, firstly it's supposed to be a ratio, and secondly I've done it a couple of times and so has another guy (who's good at maths) and we both my answer... not sure though xO

Yep, its ratio:

[tex]\frac{P_{ADEC}}{P_{ABC}}=\frac{\frac{2r^2\pi(5+2\sqrt{3})}{3}}{\frac{3r^2\sqrt{3}}{4}}[/tex]

When you divide both of them (since it is ratio) you come up with the final result.

Do you have some results so we can compare it?

Regards.
 
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  • #15
Hmm i'll write out the working and post it a bit later, this WILL be sorted! :P
 

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