DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS

PH5030 Classical Mechanics Tutorial 2 9 August 2018

Notations: (x, y, z) is reserved for Cartesian, (ρ, φ, z) for Cylindrical

Polar and (r, θ, φ) for spherical polar coordinates.
1. Show that Z !
ṙ r ṙ r
− 2 dt = + C
r r r
where C is a constant vector.
2. Let S and S 0 be two frames in three dimensions that are rotated with
respected to each other, where S is the unrotated frame, while S 0 is the
rotated frame. Let x = (x1 , x2 , x3 ) be a vector defined in the S frame and
let x0 = (x01 , x02 , x03 ) be the same vector defined with respect to the S 0 frame.
Show that the norm of the vector is the same in the two frames.
3. Consider a particle of mass m in three dimensions. Working with spherical
polar co-ordinates, obtain an expression for the kinetic energy in terms of
the angular momentum L and ṙ.
4. A pendulum consists of a bob of mass m, suspended from a height by a rod
of length l.
(a) Set up the Lagrangian and obtain the equations of motion.
(b) Argue tht energy is conserved and using this show that the time period
of motion is: Z θ2 √
m dθ
T =2 p
θ1 2(E − V (θ))
where θ1 and θ2 are classical turning points.
(c) For small angles, obtain the time period using the integral in (4b) and
show that the time period is independent of the total energy.
5. Consider a particle in one-dimension subject to a non-linear restoring force,
F (x) = −λx3 . Sketch the phase space and argue that the motion is periodic
for any energy E. Find the time period and show that it is a function of
the energy E. How does this compare with the simple harmonic motion?
6. The brachistochrone problem: Let y1 and y2 be two points such that y1 is
higher than y2 . Consider a particle of mass m travelling from y1 to y2 under
the influence of gravity. Find the path x(y) such that the time of travel
between these two points is minimum and sketch the path.