BSc/MSci EXAMINATION

PHY-304 Physical Dynamics

Time Allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes

Date: 28th May 2009

Time: 10:00

Instructions: Answer ALL questions in section A. Answer ONLY TWO ques-

tions from section B. Section A carries 40 marks, each question
in section B carries 30 marks. An indicative marking-scheme is
shown in square brackets [ ] after each part of a question.

COMPLETE ALL ROUGH WORKINGS IN THE ANSWER BOOK

AND CROSS THROUGH ANY WORK WHICH IS NOT TO BE
ASSESSED.

NUMERIC CALCULATORS ARE PERMITTED IN THIS EX-

AMINATION.

Data: A formula sheet containing mathematical results that may be of

help in various questions is provided at the end of the examination
paper.

Examiners: Dr G Travaglini (CO)

Prof WJ Spence (DCO)

YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO START READING THIS QUESTION PAPER

UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY AN INVIGILATOR

c Queen Mary, University of London 2009

�
SECTION A: Answer ALL questions in this section

A1.

Consider a system of n particles of masses mi , i = 1, . . . , n which are subject to external and

(e)
internal forces; let Fi be the external force acting on particle i, and Fji the internal force due
to particle j on particle i.

(i) Define what is the coordinate R of the centre of mass. [3]

(ii) Show that the motion of the centre of mass of the system is the same as that of a pointlike
� � (e)
particle of mass M := ni=1 mi subject to a total force equal to ni=1 Fi . Assume that the
weak form of the action and reaction principle holds, i.e. that Fij = −Fji . [4]

(iii) Show that the total kinetic energy of the system can be rewritten as
1
T = M Ṙ2 + T � ,
2
where T � is the relative kinetic energy. [6]

A2.

Consider the three-dimensional system described by the Lagrangian

m 2
L = (ẋ + ẏ 2 + ż 2 ) − V (x, y, z) .
2
In each of the following cases, discuss what is the most general form of the potential V such
that the physical quantities listed are conserved, and explain what are the Noether symmetries
responsible for their conservation.

(i) The ŷ-component of the momentum, py . [3]

(ii) The three components of the angular momentum of the particle, L. [3]

(iii) The ẑ-component of the angular momentum of the particle, Lz . In this case the potential
is also such that the Lx and Ly components are not conserved. [4]

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A3.

Consider the motion of a particle with one degree of freedom parameterised by a coordinate q,
in a potential V (q). The mass of the particle is m.

(i) Define the action of the particle in terms of the Lagrangian L(q, q̇), and state the principle
of least action. [4]

(ii) Using the principle of least action, derive the Lagrange equations for the particle. [6]

(iii) Let E be the total energy of the system. Explain why no motion is possible for E < V (q).
[3]

(iv) Show that the energy E(q, q̇) := (1/2) m q̇ 2 + V (q) is conserved if V (q) is independent of
time. [4]

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SECTION B: Answer ONLY TWO QUESTIONS from this section

B1.

A particle of mass m is free to slide on a plane without friction, and attached to one end of
a light string of length l. The other end of the string is passed through a small, frictionless
hole O and is attached to a mass M that hangs below the hole and can move only vertically.
We also assume that the string remains taut at all times. Gravity acts as usual in the vertical
direction.

(i) How many degrees of freedom does the system have? [3]

(ii) Choosing an appropriate set of generalised coordinates, write down the Lagrangian of the
system and the Lagrange equations. [8]

(iii) Determine the conserved quantities and write down expressions for them. What are the
Noether symmetries associated to their conservation? [6]

(iv) Use the Lagrange equations to prove that there is a solution of the motion where the particle
m moves at a constant distance R from the hole O, while the mass M is at rest. Determine
what is the angular velocity of the mass m for this case, as well as the value of the conserved
quantities for the system. [7]

(v) Calculate the frequency of the small oscillations around the solution discussed in point (iv)
as a function of m, M , the constant distance R, and the gravity acceleration g. [6]

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B2.

A pointlike particle of mass m1 is constrained to move on a circle of radius R1 and centre at

the origin O of an inertial system (x̂, ŷ, ẑ). The circle is contained in the (x̂, ŷ) plane. A second
pointlike particle of mass m2 is constrained to move on a second circle, with radius R2 and
centre at the point (0, 0, h); this second circle is contained in the plane z = h. A spring of
elastic constant k connects the two particles, so that the system has a potential V = (1/2) k d2 ,
where d is the distance between the two particles (see Figure below). The system is not subject
to gravity.

(i) How many degrees of freedom does the system have? [3]

(ii) Choosing appropriate generalised coordinates, write down the Lagrangian and the Lagrange
equations. [8]

(iii) Explain what are the Noether symmetries of the problem, and write down the explicit
expressions for the corresponding conserved quantities in terms of the generalised coordinates.
Interpret the physical meaning of these conserved quantities. [6]

(iv) Find a stable equilibrium position for the system, and determine the frequency of the small
oscillations around this equilibrium position. [9]

(v) The second circle is now displaced so that its new centre is at point (a, b, h), where a
and b are arbitrary constants. The second circle is still contained in the plane z = h. Without
performing any calculations, discuss the symmetries of the problem in this new setup; from this,
determine which of the conserved quantities found in the setup of part (iii) above (i.e. when
the centre of the second circle was at (0, 0, h)) are still conserved, and which are not. [4]






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B3.

Consider a square made of four identical rigid rods of length l and mass m. The mass per unit
length of each rod is constant. The square can move in the vertical plane (x̂, ŷ), with one of its
corners fixed at point O, so that the square can oscillate freely in the vertical plane about the
point O. Gravity acts as usual in the vertical direction.

(i) How many degrees of freedom does the system have? [3]

(ii) Calculate the moment of inertia of the square with respect to an axis orthogonal to the
(x̂, ŷ) plane and passing through the centre of mass of the square. Use the parallel axis theorem
to calculate the moment of inertia of the square with respect to an axis orthogonal to the (x̂, ŷ)
plane and passing through the fixed point O. [8]

(iii) Choosing appropriate generalised coordinates, write down the Lagrangian of the system
and the Lagrange equations. [7]

(iv) Determine the frequency of small oscillations around the equilibrium position. [3]

(v) Consider now the case where the square has a constant mass per unit area σ equal to
σ = 4m/l2 . Calculate the new frequency of small oscillations about the stable equilibrium
position. Will the system oscillate more rapidly in this situation, or in the situation considered
previously where the mass of the square is concentrated along the edges, with constant mass
per unit length? [9]

 

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B4.

Consider the motion of a single particle of mass m subject to a generic potential V (r), where
r := (x, y, z) is the position vector of the particle in an inertial system (x̂, ŷ, ẑ) with origin at
O.

(i) Write down the Hamiltonian H of the system and the Hamilton equations. [4]

(ii) Given a physical observable O(r, p), prove that the time evolution of O is described by the
equation
Ȯ = {O , H} ,
where
∂A ∂B ∂A ∂B
{A, B} := −
∂xn ∂pn ∂pn ∂xn
is the Poisson bracket of A with B (a sum over n is understood), and p is the momentum of
the particle. [6]

(iii) Prove that the vector A defined by

r
A := p × L − m k ,
r
and the angular momentum L are orthogonal. k denotes a positive constant. [4]

(iv) Consider now the case where V is a central potential, V = V (r), where r := |r|. Explain
why the orbits are planar, and why the vector A is parallel to the plane containing the orbit.
[6]

(v) Consider now the case where V is the gravitational potential V = −k/r. Using the result
in part (ii) above, prove that A is a conserved quantity, i.e. calculate explicitly the Poisson
bracket {A, H} and show that {A, H} = �0. [10]

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 FORMULA SHEET

Plane polar coordinates:

r := r r̂ ,
ṙ = ṙ r̂ + r φ̇ φ̂ ,
ṙ2 = ṙ2 + r2 φ̇2 .

Cylindrical coordinates:

r := r r̂ ,
ṙ = ρ̇ ρ̂ + ρ φ̇ φ̂ + ż ẑ ,
ṙ2 = ρ̇2 + ρ2 φ̇2 + ż 2 .

Vector algebra identity:

a × (b × c) = b (a · c) − c (a · b) .

End of Examination Paper

Dr G Travaglini

c Queen Mary, University of London 2009

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