fiziks

Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
CLASSICAL MECHANICS SOLUTIONS
GATE- 2010
Q1. For the set of all Lorentz transformations with velocities along the x -axis consider the
two statements given below:
P: If L is a Lorentz transformation, then, L1 is also a Lorentz transformation.
Q: If L1 and L2 are Lorentz transformations, then L1 L2 is necessarily a Lorentz

transformation.
Choose the correct option
(a) P is true and Q is false (b) Both P and Q are true
(c) Both P and Q are false (d) P is false and Q is true
Ans: (b)
1 2  3
Q2. A particle is placed in a region with the potential V x   kx  x , where k ,   0 .
2 3
Then,
k
(a) x  0 and x  are points of stable equilibrium

k
(b) x  0 is a point of stable equilibrium and x  is a point of unstable equilibrium

k
(c) x  0 and x  are points of unstable equilibrium

(d) There are no points of stable or unstable equilibrium
Ans: (b)
1 2 x 3 V k
Solution: V  kx    kx  x 2  0  x  0, x  .
2 3 x 
 2V
  k  2x
x 2
 2V k  2V
 At x  0,   ve (Stable) and at x  ,  ve (unstable)
x 2  x 2

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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
Q3. A  meson at rest decays into two photons, which moves along the x -axis. They are
0

both detected simultaneously after a time, t  10 s . In an inertial frame moving with a

velocity v  0.6 c in the direction of one of the photons, the time interval between the two
detections is
(a) 15c (b) 0 s (c) 10 s (d) 20 s
Ans: (a)
Solution:
v v
1 1
t1  t 0 c  10 1  0.6  10  2  20sec t  t c  10 1  0.6  10  1  5sec
,
1  0.6 1  0.6
2 0
v v 2
1 1
c c
 t1  t 2  15sec

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 4 and 5:

ml   mgl 1  cos  
1 2 2
The Lagrangian for a simple pendulum is given by L 
2
Q4. Hamilton’s equations are then given by
p p
(a) p   mgl sin  ;   2 (b) p   mgl sin  ;   2
ml ml
p g p
(c) p   m;    (d) p     ;  
m l ml
Ans: (a)
P2 H H P
Solution: H   mgl 1  cos      P  P  mgl sin  ;       2 .
2ml 2
 P ml

Q5. The Poisson bracket between  and  is

 
(a)  ,  1   1
(b)  ,  2
ml

 
(c)  , 
1
m
 
(d)  , 
g
l
Ans: (b)

   P  P 1   
Solution:  ,   ,  2  where    2  2  
 P  1 1
  1  2  0  2 .
 ml  ml ml   P P   ml ml

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
GATE- 2011
1  q
Q6. A particle is moving under the action of a generalized potential V q, q   . The
q2

magnitude of the generalized force is

21  q  21  q  2 q
(a) (b) (c) (d)
q3 q3 q3 q3

Ans: (c)
d  V  V 2
Solution:    Fq  Fq  3
dt  q  q q
Q7. Two bodies of mass m and 2m are connected by a spring constant k . The frequency of
the normal mode is
(a) 3k / 2m (b) k/m (c) 2k / 3m (d) k / 2m

Ans: (a)
Solution: m 2m
k

k k 3k 2mm 2m
   where reduce mass    .
 2m 2m 2m  m 3
3
Q8. Let  p, q  and  P, Q  be two pairs of canonical variables. The transformation

Q  q  cosp  , P  q  sinp 

is canonical for
1 1
(a)   2,   (b)   2,   2 (c)   1,   1 (d)   ,   2
2 2
Ans: (d)
Q P Q P
Solution:    1
q p p q

 q  1 cosp   q   cosp   q    sin p   q  1 sin p   1

q 2 1  cos 2 p  sin 2 p   1  q 2 1  1    ,   2 .

1
2

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
Q9. Two particles each of rest mass m collide head-on and stick together. Before collision, the
speed of each mass was 0.6 times the speed of light in free space. The mass of the final
entity is
(a) 5m / 4 (b) 2m (c) 5m / 2 (d) 25m / 8
Ans: (c)
Solution: From conservation of energy
mc 2 mc 2 2mc 2
  m1c 2   m1c 2
2 2 2
v v v
1 1 1
c2 c2 c2

Since v  0.6c  m1  5m / 2

GATE- 2012
Q10. In a central force field, the trajectory of a particle of mass m and angular momentum L in
plane polar coordinates is given by,
1 m
 1   cos  
r l2
where,  is the eccentricity of the particle’s motion. Which one of the following choice
for  gives rise to a parabolic trajectory?
(a)   0 (b)   1 (c) 0    1 (d)   1
Ans: (b)
1 m
Solution:  1   cos  
r l2
For parabolic trajectory   1 .
Q11. A particle of unit mass moves along the x-axis under the influence of a potential,
V  x   x x  2 . The particle is found to be in stable equilibrium at the point x  2 . The
2

time period of oscillation of the particle is

 3
(a) (b)  (c) (d) 2
2 2
Ans: (b)
V 2
Solution: V  x   x  x  2     x  2   2 x  x  2   0  x  2, x 
2 2

x 3

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
V
2
V
2
 2  x  2  2  x  2  2x  2  2 2  4
x 2
x x  2

 2V 2
     2 T 
x 2 x 2
T

Q12. A rod of proper length l0 oriented parallel to the x-axis moves with speed 2c / 3 along the

x -axis in the S -frame, where c is the speed of light in free space. The observer is also
moving along the x -axis with speed c / 2 with respect to the S -frame. The length of the
rod as measured by the observer is
(a) 0.35l0 (b) 0.48l0 (c) 0.87 l0 (d) 0.97 l0
Ans: (d)

u2x
Solution: l  l0 1   0.97 l0
c2
Q13. A particle of mass m is attached to a fixed point O by a weightless z
inextensible string of length a . It is rotating under the gravity as
 O
shown in the figure. The Lagrangian of the particle is
a
 
L ,    ma 2  2  sin 2  2  mga cos  where  and  are the polar
1
2 m

angles. The Hamiltonian of the particles is g

1  2 p2  1  2 p2 
(a) H   p    mga cos  (b) H   p    mga cos
2ma 2  sin 2
  2ma 2  sin 2
 
   

(c) H 
1
2 ma 2
 
p2  p2  mga cos  (d) H 
1
2ma 2
 
p2  p2  mga cos 

Ans: (b)
1
 
Solution: H  P  P  L  P   P   ma 2  2  sin 2  2  mga cos 
2
L P L P
 P  ma 2  P     2 and P    ma 2 sin 2    
 ma  ma sin 2 
2

Put the value of  and 

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
1 2   P   
2

2
P P P
H  P  2  P  2 2  ma   2   sin   2 2    mga cos 
2

ma ma sin  2   ma   ma sin   


P2 P2 P2 P2

H     mga cos
ma 2 2ma 2 ma 2 sin 2  2ma 2 sin 2 

1  2 P2 
H  P  2   mga cos 
2ma 2  sin  

Statement for Linked Answer Questions 14 and 15:

Q14. A particle of mass m slides under the gravity without friction along the parabolic path
y  ax 2 , as shown in the figure. Here a is a constant.
y

x
The Lagrangian for this particle is given by

(a) L 
1
2
mx 2  mgax 2 (b) L 
1
2
 
m 1  4a 2 x 2 x 2  mgax 2

(c) L 
1
2
mx 2  mgax 2 (d) L 
1
2
 
m 1  4a 2 x 2 x 2  mgax 2

Ans: (b)

m  x 2  y 2 
1
Solution: Equation of constrain is given by y  ax 2 , K .E., T 
2

m  x 2  4a 2 x 2 x 2   mx 2 1  4ax 2 
1 1
y  2axx  T 
2 2

V  mgy  mgax 2 .

m 1  4a 2 x 2  x 2  mgax 2
1
 L  T V  L 
2

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
Q15. The Lagrange’s equation of motion of the particle for above question is given by
(a) x  2 gax (b) m 1  4a 2 x 2  
x  2mgax  4ma 2 xx 2

 
(c) m 1  4a 2 x 2 x  2mgax  4ma 2 xx 2 (d) x  2 gax
Ans: (b)
d  dL  dL
Solution:    mx 1  4a 2 x 2   4ma 2 xx 2  2mgax
dt  dx  dx

GATE- 2013
Q16. In the most general case, which one of the following quantities is NOT a second order
tensor?
(a) Stress (b) Strain
(c) Moment of inertia (d) Pressure
Ans: (b)
Solution: Strain is not a tensor.
Q17. An electron is moving with a velocity of 0.85c in the same direction as that of a moving
photon. The relative velocity of the electron with respect to photon is
(a) c (b)  c (c) 0.15c (d)  0.15c
Ans: (b)
Q18. The Lagrangian of a system with one degree of freedom q is given by L  q 2  q 2 ,
where  and  are non-zero constants. If p q denotes the canonical momentum

conjugate to q then which one of the following statements is CORRECT?

(a) p q  2  q and it is a conserved quantity.

(b) p q  2  q and it is not a conserved quantity.

(c) p q  2 q and it is a conserved quantity.

(d) p q  2q and it is not a conserved quantity.

Ans: (d)
L L
Solution: As,  pq but  0 . Thus, it is not a conserved quantity.
q q

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
Q19. The relativistic form of Newton’s second law of motion is

mc dv m c 2  v 2 dv
(a) F  (b) F 
c 2  v 2 dt c dt

mc 2 dv c 2  v 2 dv
(c) F  (d) F  m
c 2  v 2 dt c2 dt
Ans: (c)
mv dP dv 1  1 1 2v dv
Solution: P  F m   mv      2
 2   v2 
3/ 2
v2 dt dt v2 c dt
1 1 2  1  2 
c2 c  c 

   
 v 2 
2  v2 2 
1 
F m
dv 1  1
1 c   m dv  2c 
 
v  2 1  v   dt   v 2  3 2
2
dt 2

1  2   
2 
c   c   1  c 2  
  
  1  v2 / c2  
1/ 2
2
dv    mc dv
m
dt  1  v 2 / c 2 1  v 2 / c 2    c  v  dt
1/ 2 2 2
 
Q20. Consider two small blocks, each of mass M, attached to two identical springs. One of the
springs is attached to the wall, as shown in the figure. The spring constant of each spring
is k . The masses slide along the surface and the friction is negligible. The frequency of
one of the normal modes of the system is,

3 2 k
(a)
2 M

3 3 k
(b)
2 M
k k
3 5 k M M
(c)
2 M

3 6 k
(d)
2 M
Ans: (c)

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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
1 1
Solution: T  mx12  mx 22 ,
2 2

V 
2 2
2

2 2
  1
2

kx1  k  x 2  x1   kx12  k x 22  x12  2 x 2 x1  k 2 x12  x22  2 x2 x1
1 2 1 1 1

m 0   2k k 
T  ; V   
 0 m  k k 

2k   2 m k 3 5
 0   2 k   2 m  k   2 m   k 2  0   
k
k k  m2
2 m

GATE- 2014
Q21. If the half-life of an elementary particle moving with speed 0.9c in the laboratory frame is

5  10 8 s, then the proper half-life is _______________ 10 8 s. c  3  10 8 m / s 
Ans: 2.18
t0 v2
Solution: t  , t0  t  1  2
 5 108  0.19  2.18 108 s
v2 c
1
c2
Q22. Two masses m and 3m are attached to the two ends of a massless spring with force
constant K . If m  100 g and K  0.3 N / m , then the natural angular frequency of
oscillation is ________ Hz .
Ans: 0.318
1 k m .m 3m.m 3m 4k
Solution: f  ,  1 2   ,   2  f  0.318 Hz
2  m1  m2 4m 4 3m
Q23. The Hamilton’s canonical equation of motion in terms of Poisson Brackets are
(a) q  q, H ; p  p, H  (b) q  H , q; p  H , p

(c) q  H , p; p  H , p (d) q  p, H ; p  q, H 

Ans: (a)
df f q f p f
Solution:  .  . 
dt q t p t t
df f H f H f df f
 .  .     f , H 
dt q p p q t dt t
dq dp
 q, H  and   p, H 
dt dt

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Q24. A bead of mass m can slide without friction along a massless rod kept at 45 o with the
vertical as shown in the figure. The rod is rotating about the vertical axis with a constant
angular speed  . At any instant r is the distance of the bead from the origin. The
ẑ
momentum conjugate to r is

(a) mr
1
(b) mr
2
1 m
(c) mr
2
45 o
(d) 2mr r
Ans: (a) x̂
1
Solution: L  m(r 2  r 2 2  r 2 sin 2  2 )  mgr cos 
2

Equation of constrain is   and it is given   
4
1 1 1
L m(r 2  r 2 2 )  mgr
2 2 2
L
Thus the momentum conjugate to r is p r   pr  mr
r
Q25. A particle of mass m is in a potential given by
a ar 2
V  r     03
r 3r
where a and r0 are positive constants. When disturbed slightly from its stable
equilibrium position it undergoes a simple harmonic oscillation. The time period of
oscillation is
3 3
mr03 m r0 2m r0 mr03
(a) 2 (b) 2 (c) 2 (d) 4
2a a a a
Ans: (a)
a ar 2
Solution: V  r     03 ,
r 3r
V a 3ar02
For equilibrium    0 , r   r0
r r 2 3r 4
 2V 2a 4ar02 2a 4ar02 2a
      5  3
r 2 r3 r5 r r03 r0 r0
0

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 2V
r 2 mr03
  T  2
r0

m 2a
Q26. A planet of mass m moves in a circular orbit of radius r0 in the gravitational potential

V r    , where k is a positive constant. The orbit angular momentum of the planet is

k
r
(a) 2r0 km (b) 2r0 km (c) r0 km (d) r0 km

Ans: (d)
J2 k dVeffect J2 k
Solution: Veffctive  2
    3
 2  0 at r  r0
2mr r dr mr r
so J  r0 km

Q27. Given that the linear transformation of a generalized coordinate q and the corresponding
momentum p , Q  q  4ap, P  q  2 p is canonical, the value of the constant a is ____
Ans: 0.25
Q P Q P
Solution: .  .  1  1 2  4a  1  1  a  0.25
q p p q

p2  q2
Q28. The Hamiltonian of particle of mass m is given by H   . Which one of the
2m 2
following figure describes the motion of the particle in phase space?
(a) p (b) p

q q

(c) p (d) p

q q

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Ans: (d)
GATE- 2015
Q29. A satellite is moving in a circular orbit around the Earth. If T ,V and E are its average
kinetic, average potential and total energies, respectively, then which one of the
following options is correct?
(a) V  2T ; E  T (b) V  T ; E  0
T T  3T T
(c) V   ;E  (d) V  ;E 
2 2 2 2
Ans.: (a)
n 1
Solution: From Virial theorem T  V where V  r n 1
2
k 1
V   V   n  2  V  2 T
r r

Q30. In an inertial frame S , two events A and B take place at ct A  0, rA  0  and
ct B  0, rB  2 yˆ  , respectively. The times at which these events take place in a frame
S  moving with a velocity 0.6c yˆ with respect to S are given by
3
(a) ct A  0; ct B   (b) ct A  0; ct B  0
2
3 1
(c) ct A  0; ct B  (d) ct A  0; ct B 
2 2
Ans.: (a)
Solution: Velocity of S ' with respect to S is v  0.6c
v
tA  y
t A'  c2
v2
1 2
c
For event A, t A  0, y  0 . So ct A'  0

v
tB  y
t B'  c2
v2
1 2
c

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3
For event B, t B  0, y  2 . So ct B'  
2

 
Q31. The Lagrangian for a particle of mass m at a position r moving with a velocity v is given
m  
by L  v 2  Cr .v  V r  , where V r  is a potential and C is a constant. If pc is the
2
canonical momentum, then its Hamiltonian is given by
1 
(a)  pc  Cr 2  V r  (b)
1 
 pc  Cr 2  V r 
2m 2m
pc2
 V r  pc  C 2 r 2  V r 
1 2
(c) (d)
2m 2m
Ans.: (b)
m 2 
Solution: L  v  Cr.v  V  r  where v  r
2
H   r pc  L  rp
 c L

L p  Cr
  pc   mr  Cr   r  c
r m

 p  Cr  m  pc  Cr   pc  Cr 
2

 H  c  pc     cr   V r 
 m  2 m   m 

 p  Cr  m  pc  Cr 
2

 H  c   pc  Cr     V r 
 m  2 m 

 p  Cr   p  Cr 
2 2
1
H  c  c V r  H   pc  Cr   V  r 
2

m 2m 2m
 
Q32. The Hamiltonian for a system of two particles of masses m1 and m2 at r1 and r2 having
  1 1 C  
velocities v1 and v2 is given by H  m1v12  m2 v22    2 zˆ   r1  r2  , where C is
2 2  r1  r2 
constant. Which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) The total energy and total momentum are conserved
(b) Only the total energy is conserved
(c) The total energy and the z - component of the total angular momentum are conserved
(d) The total energy and total angular momentum are conserved
Ans.: (c)

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 
Solution: Lagrangian is not a function of time, so energy is conserved and component of  r1  r2 

is only in ẑ direction means potential is symmetric under  , so Lz is conserved.

Q33. A particle of mass 0.01 kg falls freely in the earth’s gravitational field with an initial

velocity 0  10ms 1 . If the air exerts a frictional force of the form, f   kv , then for

k  0.05 Nm 1 s , the velocity (in ms 1 ) at time t  0.2 s is _________ (upto two decimal

places). (use g  10 ms 2 and e  2.72 )

Ans.: 4.94
u 0.2
dv dv k dv dv
Solution: m  mg  kv  g v   dt     dt
dt dt m k k
g v 10 g v 0
m m

m   10k  
u
m  k  k  
   ln  g  v    t 0    ln  g  u    ln  g 
0.2
   0.2
k   m  10 k   m   m 

m  0.05   .05  
 ln 10  u   ln 10  10     0.2
k  0.01   .01  


m
k
ln 10  5u   ln  40   0.2
 8  0.2k  8  0.2k 8
ln    ln    e
u2 m u2 m u2
8
 u   2  4.94 m / s
e
Q34. Consider the motion of the Sun with respect to the rotation of the Earth about its axis. If
 
Fc and FCo denote the centrifugal and the Coriolis forces, respectively, acting on the Sun,

then
     
(a) Fc is radially outward and FCo  Fc (b) Fc is radially inward and FCo  2 Fc
     
(c) Fc is radially outward and FCo  2 Fc (d) Fc is radially outward and FCo  2 Fc
Ans.: (b)
Q35. A particle with rest mass M is at rest and decays into two particles of equal rest masses
3
M which move along the z axis. Their velocities are given by
10

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   
(a) v1  v 2  0.8c zˆ (b) v1  v 2  0.8c zˆ
   
(c) v1  v 2  0.6c zˆ (d) v1  0.6c zˆ; v 2   0.8c zˆ
Ans.: (b)
3 3
Solution: M M M
10 10
From momentum conservation
   
0  P1  P 2  P1   P 2  P1  P2
From energy conservation
E  E1  E2

3 Mc 2 3 Mc 2 3 Mc 2
 Mc 2    Mc 2 
10 v 2 10 v2 5 v2
1 2 1 2 1 2
c c c
 v2  9 v 2 16
 1  2 
    v  0.8c
 c  25 c 2 25

GATE-2016
Q36. The kinetic energy of a particle of rest mass m0 is equal to its rest mass energy. Its

momentum in units of m0 c , where c is the speed of light in vacuum, is _______.

(Give your answer upto two decimal places)
Ans. : 1.73
Solution: m0c 2  E  m0c 2  E  2m0 c 2

m0 c 2 3
  2m0c 2  v  c
v2 2
1
c2

 E 2  p 2 c 2  m02 c 4  4m02 c 4  m02 c 4  p 2 c 2  p  3m0 c  1.732m0 c

Q37. In an inertial frame of reference S , an observer finds two events occurring at the same
time at coordinates x1  0 and x 2  d . A different inertial frame S  moves with velocity
v with respect to S along the positive x -axis. An observer in S  also notices these two

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events and finds them to occur at times t1 and t 2 and at positions x1 and x2 respectively.
1
If t   t 2  t1 , x   x 2  x1 and   , which of the following statements is true?
v2
1 2
c
d
(a) t   0, x   d (b) t   0, x  

 vd  vd d
(c) t   , x   d (d) t   , x  
c2 c 2

Ans.: (c)
 vx   vx 
 t2  22   t1  21 
Solution: t2  t1   c  c   t   t   vx
 v2   v2  c2
 1  2   1  2 
 c   c 
It is given, t  0, x  d
 vx  vd
 t    2

c c2
   
   
x  vt2    x1  vt1
x2  x1   2
    x    x  vt 
 v2   v2 
 1  2   1  2 
 c   c 
 x   d .
Q38. The Lagrangian of a system is given by

L
1 2 2
2
 
ml   sin 2  2  mgl cos  , where m, l and g are constants.

Which of the following is conserved?

 
(a)  sin 2  (b)  sin  (c) (d)
sin  sin 2 
Ans.: (a)
L
Solution: As  is cyclic coordinate, so  p  ml 2 sin 2  , is a constant since m, l and g are


constants. Thus  sin 2  is conserved.

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Q39. A particle of rest mass M is moving along the positive x -direction. It decays into two
photons  1 and  2 as shown in the figure. The energy of  1 is 1 GeV and the energy of
GeV
 2 is 0.82 GeV . The value of M (in units of ) is ________. (Give your answer
c2
1
upto two decimal places)

M 450
600

2
Ans.: 1.44

Solution: p 2 c 2  M 2 c 4  E1  E2  1.82GeV

E1 E 1GeV 1 0.82GeV 1 1.11GeV

p cos 1  2 cos  2   
c c c 2 c 2 c

 p 2 c 2  m 2c 4  3.312  m 2 c 4  3.312  1.23  2.08

 m  2.076  1.44
GATE- 2017
2
1  dq  1  dq 
Q40. If the Lagrangian L0  m    m 2 q 2 is modified to L  L0   q   , which one
2  dt  2  dt 
of the following is TRUE?
(a) Both the canonical momentum and equation of motion do not change
(b) Canonical momentum changes, equation of motion does not change
(c) Canonical momentum does not change, equation of motion changes
(d) Both the canonical momentum and equation of motion change
Ans. : (b)
2
1  dq  1
Solution: For Lagrangian L0  m    m 2 q 2 canonical momentum is p  mq and
2  dt  2

d  L   L 
       0  mq  m q  0
2
equation of motion is given by
dt  q   q 

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2
 dq  1  dq  1
For Lagrangian L  L0   q    L  m    m 2 q 2   qq
 dt  2  dt  2
Canonical momentum is p  mq   q
Equation of motion is,
d  L   L 
      0  mq  m q  0
2
dt  q   q 
Q41. Two identical masses of 10 gm each are connected by a massless spring of spring
constant 1 N / m . The non-zero angular eigenfrequency of the system is…………rad/s.
(up to two decimal places)
Ans. : 14.14

k m 10 1
Solution:   , where     and k  1N / m ,   14.14
 2 2 1000 200
Q42. The phase space trajectory of an otherwise free particle bouncing between two hard walls
elastically in one dimension is a
(a) straight line (b) parabola (c) rectangle (d) circle
Ans. : (c)
p2
Solution: E  , p   2mE
2m
Q43. The Poisson bracket  x, xp y  ypx  is equal to

(a)  x (b) y (c) 2 px (d) p y

Ans. : (b)
Solution:  x, xp y  ypx    x, xp y    x, ypx   0  y  x, px   y

c
Q44. An object travels along the x -direction with velocity
in a frame O . An observer in a
2
c
frame O sees the same object travelling with velocity . The relative velocity of O
4
with respect to O in units of c is…………….. (up to two decimal places).
Ans. : 0.28

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c c
u '
 v 
c c 2c
Solution: u x'  , v  , u x  x '  2 4   0.28c
2 4 uxv 1  c . c . 1 7
1 2
c 2 4 c2
Q45. A uniform solid cylinder is released on a horizontal surface with speed 5 m / s without
any rotation (slipping without rolling). The cylinder eventually starts rolling without
slipping. If the mass and radius of the cylinder are 10 gm and 1cm respectively, the final
linear velocity of the cylinder is…………… m / s . (up to two decimal places).
Ans. : 3.33
1 v 3 2 10
Solution: mvr  mvcm r  I cm  mvcm r  mr 2 cm  v  vcm  vcm  v   3.33m / sec
2 r 2 3 3
Q46. A person weighs wp at Earth’s north pole and we at the equator. Treating the Earth as a

perfect sphere of radius 6400 km , the value 100 

w p  we 
is………….. (up to two
wp
decimal places). (Take g  10 ms 2 ).
Ans. : 0.33
w  we  2 R
Solution: g p  g , ge  g   2 R  100  p 
wp g
Now, g  10 m / sec2 and R  6400 103 m
2 2
  
T 24  3600

wp  we
Then 100   0.33
wp

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GATE - 2018
Q47. In the context of small oscillations, which one of the following does NOT apply to the
normal coordinates?
(a) Each normal coordinate has an eigen-frequency associated with it
(b) The normal coordinates are orthogonal to one another
(c) The normal coordinates are all independent
(d) The potential energy of the system is a sum of squares of the normal coordinates with
constant coefficients
Ans. : (b)
Solution: Normal co-ordinate must be independent. It is not necessary that it should orthogonal.
Q48. A spaceship is travelling with a velocity of 0.7 c away from a space station. The
spaceship ejects a probe with a velocity 0.59 c opposite to its own velocity. A person in
the space station would see the probe moving at a speed Xc , where the value of X is
___________ (up to three decimal places).
Ans.: 0.187 c
Spacestation
Spaceship
Solution:   0  7c , ux  0  59 c , Prob
  0  7c
ux  u x  0.59 c
ux 
u
1 x
c2
0  59c  0  7c 0.11c 0.11c
ux     0.187 c
1  0  7  0  59 1  0.413 0.587
Q49. An interstellar object has speed v at the point of its shortest distance R from a star of
much larger mass M . Given v 2  2GM / R , the trajectory of the object is
(a) circle (b) ellipse (c) parabola (d) hyperbola
Ans. : (c)
J2 GMm
Solution: At shortest distance E  2

2mR R
Since, mvR  J  J 2  m 2 v 2 R 2
2GM
Now, J 2  m2 2GMR  2GMm2 R (Given that v 2  )
R

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2
2GMm R GMm GMm GMm
E    0
2mR 2 R R R
For Kepler’s potential, if energy is zero, then the shape is parabola.
Q50. A particle moves in one dimension under a potential V  x    x with some non-zero

total energy. Which one of the following best describes the particle trajectory in the phase
space?
p p

(a) (b)
x x

p p

(c) (d)
x x

Ans.: (a)
p2 V  x
Solution: E   x
2m
p2 x
For x  0 , E   x
2m
 p 2  2m  E   x 
px
p2
For x  0 , E   x x
2m
 p 2  2m  E   x 

Q51. If H is the Hamiltonian for a free particle with mass m , the commutator  x,  x, H  is

(a)  2 / m (b)   2 / m (c)   2 /  2m  (d)  2 /  2m 

Ans. : (b)
Solution: For free particle, potential is zero.
Px2
H 
2m

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 P  2i
2
Now,  x, H    x, x   Px
 2 m  2 m

2i i 2
 x,  x, H    x  
x , P  i   
2m m m
Q52. For the transformation
Q  2q e 1 2 cos p, P  2q e  1 sin p

(where  is a constant) to be canonical, the value of  is _________.

Ans. : 2
Solution: Q  2qe 1 2 cos p, P  2qe  1.sin p

Since, Q, P   1

Q P Q P
  1
q p p q

1 
 
1
 2  12  .1
 2q 2 .e 1 2 cos p  2qe  1 cos p  2qe 1 2   sin p  . q e sin p  1
2  2

 e  2 . cos 2 p  sin 2 p   1  e0

  2
Q53. A uniform circular disc of mass m and radius R is rotating with angular 
speed  about an axis passing through its centre and making an angle


  300 with the axis of the disc. If the kinetic energy of the disc is
 m 2 R 2 , the value of  is__________ (up to two decimal places).
Ans. : 0.21
Solution: The kinetic energy of the disc is,
1 
T L 
2

Where L is angular momentum and  is angular velocity

1   1 3 1  mR 2  2 3
T  L  cos 30  I   
0
   
2 2 2 2 2  2
3
T m 2 R 2  0.21 m 2 R 2   m 2 R 2  0.21 m 2 R 2
8
Hence,   0.21

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GATE-2019
Q54. Consider a transformation from one set of generalized coordinate and momentum ( q, p )
to another set ( Q, P ) denoted by,

Q  pq s ; P  qr
where s and r are constants. The transformation is canonical if
(a) s  0 and r  1 (b) s  2 and r  1
(c) s  0 and r  1 (d) s  2 and r  1
Ans. : (b)
Q P Q P
Solution: .  .  1  0  q s rq r 1  1
q p p q

rq r  s 1  1  s  2 and r  1

p2
Q55. The Hamiltonian for a particle of mass m is H   kqt where q and p are the
2m
generalized coordinate and momentum, respectively, t is time and k is a constant. For
the initial condition, q  0 and p  0 at t  0, q  t   t  . The value of  is ________

Ans. : 3
H p
Solution:  q  ....(1)
p m

H kt 2
  p  kt  p   ….(2)
q 2

dq kt 2 kt 3
 q q  t3 so   3
dt 2 6

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Q56. A ball bouncing of a rigid floor is described by the potential energy function
mgx for x  0
V  x  
 for x  0
Which of the following schematic diagrams best represents the phase space plot of the
ball?
(a) (b)
 2mE  2mE
E E
mg mg
x x

 2mE  2mE

(c)
 2mE
(d)  2mE
E E E

mg mg mg
x x

 2mE
 2mE
Ans. : (b)
p2
Solution: E   mgx  p 2  2m  E  mgx  which is equation of parabola
2m
ap 2 q 4 
Q57. Consider the Hamiltonian H  q, p    2 , where  and  are parameters with
2 q
appropriate dimensions, and q and p are the generalized coordinate and momentum,

respectively. The corresponding Lagrangian L  q, q  is

1 q 2  1 q 2  1 q 2  1 q 2 
(a)  (b)  (c)  (d)  
2 q 4 q 2 2 q 4 q 2  q4 q2 2 q 4 q 2
Ans. : (a)
ap 2 q 4 
Solution: L  pq  H  pq   2 from Hamiltonian equation of motion
2 q
H q
 q  p  4
p aq
H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
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1 q 2

L  2
2 q 4
q

Q58. A projectile of mass 1kg is launched at an angle of 300 from the horizontal direction at

t  0 and takes time T before hitting the ground. If its initial speed is 10 ms 1 , the value

of the action integral for the entire flight in the units of kgm 2 s 1 (round off to one

decimal place) is___________. [Take g  10 ms 2 ]

Ans. : 33.3
2v sin 
Solution: T   1sec
g

L
1
2

m x 2  y 2  mgy
x  v cos   5 3ms 1 y  v sin   gt  5  10t
1 1 1 1
y  ut  gt 2  v sin  t  gt 2  10. t  10t 2  5t  5t 2
2 2 2 2

L  1 5 3
1
  
  5  10t    1 10  5t  5t 2 
2 2

2  

L  100t 2  100t  50

 
T 1
A   Ldt   100t 2  100t  50 dt  33.3
0 0

Q59. Two spaceships A and B , each of the same rest length L , are moving in the same
4c 3c
direction with speeds and , respectively, where c is the speed of light. As
5 5
measured by B , the time taken by A to completely overtake B [see figure below] in
units of L / c (to the nearest integer) is _____________
(i) (ii)

A 4c / 5 A 4c / 5

B 3c / 5 B 3c / 5

Ans. : 5

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4 3 c
c c
5
Solution: u A, B  5 5  5  c
4 3 1 13 13
1  c. c. 2
5 5 c 25
Kinematic equation is given by

5 25 5L
c  t  L 1 Lt    5
13 169 c
Q60. Two events, one on the earth and the other one on the Sun, occur simultaneously in the
earth’s frame. The time difference between the two events as seen by an observer in a
spaceship moving with velocity 0.5 c in the earth’s frame along the line joining the earth
to the Sun is  t , where c is the speed of light. Given that light travels from the Sun to

the earth in 8.3 minutes in the earth’s frame, the value of  t in minutes (rounded off to

two decimal places) is____________

(Take the earth’s frame to be inertial and neglect the relative motion between the earth
and the sun)
Ans. : 4.77
Solution: t2'  t1'  0 x2'  x1'  8.3  3 108  60 v  0.5c

 vx '   vx '   
 t2'  22
t  t2  t1   c
  t1'  21
 c
  ' '
   t2  t1

 
x'  x'
  v 2 1  4.77 min
 v2   v2   v2  c2 v2
 1  2   1  2   1  2  1 2
 c   c   c  c

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