MP350 Classical Mechanics Solutions Problem set 4

1. (a) Hamiltons equations of motion read p H = , p m(1 + a2 q 2 ) H p2 p = = 2a2 q + 2bq q 2m(1 + a2 q 2 )2 q = (b) q = (c) x = H px py = + , px m1 m3 py px H = + , y = py m2 m3 p x = H = (m1 + m2 )g , x H = (m2 m3 )g . p y = y (1.4) (1.5) H = q, p p = H = p . q (1.3) (1.1) = a2 qp2 2bq . m(1 + a2 q 2 )2 (1.2)

2. (a) With V (r) = k/r, the lagrangian is L=T V = (b) The canonical momenta are pr = L = mr , r p = L , = mr2 p = L . = mr2 sin2 (2.2) m 2 2 + r2 sin2 2 + k . r + r2 2 r (2.1)

The hamiltonian is L + p H (r, pr , , p , , p ) = pr r + p p2 p2 m p2 k p2 p2 p2 r 2 2 2 = r + 2 + + r + r sin 2 4 m mr 2 m2 2m2 r4 r mr2 sin 2mr4 sin 2 2 p2 k p pr . (2.3) + + = 2m 2mr2 2mr2 sin2 r (c) Hamiltons equations of motion are H pr , = pr m = H = p , p mr2 p = H = , p mr2 sin2 r = p2 k H p2 = 3 + , 2 r mr mr3 sin r2 p2 H cos , p = = mr2 sin3 H p = = 0. p r = (2.4) (2.5) (2.6)

3. (a) H pr , = pr m ps H = , s = ps m cos r H p2 sin r k cos r k sin r p r = = s + , 2 r 2m cos r r r2 H p s = = 0. s r = (3.1) (3.2) (3.3) (3.4)

(b) From (3.4) we see that ps is a constant of motion. The equations (3.1), (3.3) are exactly the canonical equations for particle in one dimension in a potential Ve (r) = p2 k sin r s . 2m cos r r (3.5)

i. If ps = 0 the eective potential is just the original potential, V (r) = k sin(r)/r. This goes to k as r 0, and to 0 as r . There is a maximum somewhere in the region < r < 2 , and subsequent lower maxima for larger values of r. If r < /2 initially, the motion will therefore either be bounded by the rst maximum (if k E < Vmax ) or unbounded. ii. For ps = 0, the rst term in Ve kicks in, and it diverges as r /2. Therefore, the motion will always be bounded in this case. In both cases, the system can reach (or pass through) r = 0.