Classical Mechanics

M.Sc. (First Semester)

Tutorial Problem Set - 1

1. Consider two points on a plane: A (x1 , y1 ) and B (x2 , y2 ). Let’s join them by a curve
C : y=f(x). Of course, the curve will pass through the points A and B. The length of
the curve is Z B
L= ds
A

where ds2 = dx2 + dy 2 . Show that

Z x2  2 ! 12
dy
L= 1+ dx.
x1 dx

If you change the shape of the curve C keeping its end points fixed at A and B by changing
the f (x) appropriately, the value of L will change. What is the curve C (or function f (x)) for
which L will be minimum?

2. A bead of mass m is moving on a wire AB with fixed end points (A (x1 , y1 ) and B (x2 , y2 ))
under gravity. For what shape of the wire will the bead take minimum time to move from
one end to another?

Hint: Just like you calculated length of the curve in Problem 1, calculate the time taken
by the bead to move from A to B as a functional that depends on the shape of the wire, say
f (x). Then, find the f (x) for which the time taken is minimum.

3. Best shape for a skateboard/snowboard ramp

(a) A skater has to skate from the point A(h, −l) to the point B(h, l) (Fig. 1). What should
be the shape of the ramp between points A and B so that the skater takes the minimum
time to complete the journey?

Hint: This problem is a special case of Problem 2.

(b) Calculate the time taken for the shape of the skateboard you found above (it will look
like the solid line in the Fig. 1).

(c) Calculate the time taken for the journey through other two alternate paths shown in Fig.
1 as dashed and dotted lines. (In the alternate paths, you have to visualise small round
corners instead of the sharp ones shown in the figure. Why?) Convince yourself that the
path you have calculated actually takes the minimum time.

1
 4. Find the shape of the soap film trapped between to circular frames shown in Fig. 2. Remember
that the soap films contract till their surface area is minimum. Radius of the circle is R and
the distance between two circles is 2l.

5. You are travelling in a desert. It is so hot that the refractive index of air is variable along the
vertical y axis: n(x) = a + bx. In front of you at a distance d, there is a small tree of height
h, the same as your height. A ray from the top of tree travels towards you and enter your
eyes obeying Fermat’s principle. Determine its path and tell what you will see.

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