Classical Mechanics - Assignment 0

Course Instructor: Amin A. Nizami

Aug 28, 2023

Q1
Two particles 1 and 2 with initial radius vectors r⃗1 , r⃗2 move with constant velocities v⃗1 , v⃗2 .
If the particles collide after sometime, find the relations these four vectors must satisfy.

Q2
p
A particle moving in 1D decelerates with magnitude a(t) = k v(t) with constant k ∈ R+ ,
where v is the velocity of the particle. Let the initial velocity be v0 . Find the time it takes
to come to rest and distance it travels before it comes to rest.

Q3
A small disc of mass m on a frictionless table is attached to a cylinder of mass M , hanging
by a chord through a hole on the table (Figure 1) . With what speed must the disc move so
that the cylinder remains at rest?

Figure 1: Problem 2

1
Q4
Consider the elastic collision of a particle (mass m1 ) with a stationary particle of mass m2 ,
(m2 < m1 ). Find the maximum angle through which the striking particle may deviate after
the collision. (Kinetic Energy is conserved in elastic collisions)

Q5
For a rotating planet
q with uniform density ρ, show that the shortest possible period of
rotation is T = Gρ . Put ρ = 3 cmg 3 , to check how much this rate is.
3π

Q6
Two masses, both having mass ‘m’ are placed at a distance ‘l’ away from each other.
(a) Find and sketch the gravitational potential along the z-axis.
(b) A unit mass is placed on the axis of symmetry along the z direction at a distance ‘a’
from the centre of the line joining the two masses. The unit mass is initially at rest.
find the velocity of the unit mass when it passes through the origin.
(c) Now, assume that the unit mass is kept at the centre of the line joining the two masses.
It is given a small perturbation along the z-axis, find the frequency of oscillation.