Community of Physics

Classical Mechanics
Homework Problems
Course Code: CM03/2017
Question Set: CM03HW001
Full Credits: 0.5
1. A linear combination of x and y would be any expression of the form ax +
by, where a and b are constants. In a vector space, a set of vectors is said to
be linearly dependent if one of the vectors in the set can be defined as a
, are three vectors such as 3 +
linear combination of the others. Like ,
= , so they are linearly dependent.
2

Similarly, if no vector in the set can be written in this way, then the vectors
are said to be linearly independent. Example: we cant construct = 2
= and = 3 + . So any linear combination of them is
3 using
+ 0.
never zero- +

a) Show that 2 3 is a linear combination of + and + 2. [0.025]

b) Show that 5 3 is a linear combination of 2 and 2. [0.025]

2. In particle physics and physical cosmology, Planck units are a set of units
of measurement defined exclusively in terms of five universal physical
constants, in such a manner that these five physical constants take on the
numerical value of 1 when expressed in terms of these units. These are
called natural units because the origin of their definition comes only from
properties of nature and not from any human construct. The five universal
constants that Planck units, by definition, normalize to 1 are:

the speed of light in a vacuum, c

the gravitational constant, G
the reduced Planck constant,
the Coulomb constant, 1/4o
the Boltzmann constant, kB

Each of these constants can be associated with at a fundamental physical

theory or concept: c with special relativity, G with general relativity, with
quantum mechanics, o with electric charge (electromagnetism), and kB with
the notion of temperature (statistical mechanics and thermodynamics).
Given[

1
4

] = 3 2 2

[ ] = 2 2 1
[ ] = 1
[] = 2 1
[ ] = 1 3 2

a) Find the expressions for Planck length [L] , time [T], mass [M], charge
[Q] and temperature [] using dimension analysis.
[0.125]
b) Find their value in SI units from their expressions.

[0.05]

3. There are other quantities which are derived from these base Planck units
such as Planck area, Planck volume (square and cube of Planck length
respectively), Planck momentum, Planck energy, Planck force, Planck
angular frequency and so on. Find the expressions and values for Planck
energy (Ep), Planck force (Fp), Planck angular frequency (p).
[0.09]

4.

Let AB, AC, AD are three sides of a parallelepiped where

= 3 + 3 2

= 2 4 +

= 5 + +
Find the volume of the parallelepiped.
[Hint: Triple scalar product!]

[0.05]

5. Let DE be the height (E lies on the plane) on AB-AC plane of the

parallelepiped of previous problem.
a) Find the length of DE.
b) What is the angle between DE and AD?

[0.06]
[0.075]