PHY 301 Assignment Sheet 2

1. Two points of mass m are joined by a rigid weightless rod of length ℓ , the center of which
is constrained to move on a circle of radius a. Set up the kinetic energy in the generalised
coordinate.

2. Show that the Lagrange equations

d ∂T ∂T
( )−( ) = Qj
dt ∂ q̇j ∂qj

can be written as
∂ Ṫ ∂T
( ) − 2( )=0
∂ q̇j ∂qj

3. If L is a Lagrangian for a system of n degrees of freedom satisfying the Lagrange equations,

dF ({qi }, t)
L′ = L +
dt
also satisfies Lagrange’s equations where F is any arbitrary, but differentiable, function
of its arguments.

4. The electromagnetic field is invariant under a gauge transformation of the scalar and
vector potential given by
A → A + ∇ψ(r, t)
and
∂ψ
ϕ→ϕ−
∂t
. where ψ is arbitrary (but differentiable). What effect does this gauge transformation
have on the Lagrangian of a moving particle in the electromagnetic field? Is the equation
of motion affected?

5. Show that the geodesics of a spherical surface are great circles, i.e., circles whose centers
lie at the center of the sphere.

6. A uniform hoop of mass m and radius r rolls without slipping on a fixed cylinder of radius
R. The only external force is that of gravity. If the smaller cylinder starts rolling from rest
on top of the bigger cylinder, use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the point at
which the hoop falls off the cylinder.

7. A particle of mass m slides without friction on a wedge of angle α and mass M that can
move without friction on a smooth horizontal surface, as shown in the figure. Treating
the constraint of the particle on the wedge by the method of Lagrange multipliers, find
the equation of motion for particle and wedge. Also obtain an expression for the forces
of constraint. Calculate the work done in time t by the forces of constraint acting on the
particle and on the wedge. What are the constants of motion for the system?

8. Show that the motion of a particle in the potential field

1 Instructor: Dipanjan Chakraborty

is the same as that of the motion under the Kepler potential alone when expressed in terms
of a coordinate system rotating or precessing around the center of force. For negative total
energy, show that if the additional potential term is very small compared to the Kepler
potential, then the angular speed of precession of the elliptical orbit is
2πmh
Ω̇ =
l2 τ

9. Two particles move about each other in circular orbits under the influence of gravita-
tional forces, with a period τ . Their motion is suddenly stopped at a given instant of
time, and they are then √ released and allowed to fall into each other. Prove that they
collide after a time τ /4 2.

10. Suppose a satellite is moving around a planet in a circular orbit of radius r0 . Due to a
collision with another object, satellite’s orbit gets perturbed. Show that the radial position
of the satellite will execute simple harmonic motion with ω = l/mr02 , where l is the initial
angular momentum of the satellite.

11. A particle of mass m is moving under the central force F(r) = − rC3 r̂ with C > 0. Find
the non-zero values of angular momentum l for which the particle will move in a circular
orbit.

12. A particle of mass m is constrained to move under gravity without friction on the inside
of a paraboloid of revolution whose axis is vertical. Find the one-dimensional problem
equivalent to its motion. What is the condition on the particle’s initial velocity to produce
circular motion? Find the period of small oscillations about this circular motion.

13. a) Show that if a particle describes a circular orbit under the influence of an attractive
central force directed at a point on the circle, then the force varies as the inverse fifth
power of the distance.
b) Show that for the orbit described the total energy of the particle is zero.
c) Find the period of the motion.

14. At perigee of an elliptic gravitational orbit a particle experiences an impulse S in the radial
direction, sending the particle into another elliptic orbit. Determine the new semimajor
axis, eccentricity, and orientation of major axis in terms of the old.

15. Examine the scattering produced by a repulsive central force f = kr−3 . Determine the
differential cross section.

2 Instructor: Dipanjan Chakraborty