Problem set-IA

1. Find the frequency of oscillations of a particle of mass 𝑚 which is free to

move along a line and is attached to a spring whose other end is fixed at
a point A in the figure below at a distance 𝑙 from the line. A force 𝐹 is
required to extend the spring to length 𝑙.

2. The same problem as above, but for a particle of mass 𝑚 moving on a circle
of radius 𝒓.

3. A bead of mass m is constrained to move on a hoop of radius 𝑅. The hoop

rotates with constant angular velocity𝜔 around the vertical diameter. (i) Set up the Lagrangian
of the system (ii) Find the equation of motion of the bead. (iii) Find the critical angular velocity 
below which the bottom of the hoop provides a stable equilibrium position. (iv) Find the stable
equilibrium position for 𝜔 > .
4. Find the path of a particle in central field 𝑈(𝑟) = 𝑘𝑟 (𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟)
5. Determine the normal modes of a system with two degrees of freedom whose Lagrangian is
𝐿 = (𝑥̇ + 𝑦̇ ) − 𝜔 (𝑥 + 𝑦 ) + 𝛼𝑥𝑦.