1. A particle moves under the influence of the potential V (x) = A/x 2 − B/x.

Find the frequency of

small oscillations around the equilibrium point.

2. A particle moves under the influence of the potential V (x) = (k/2)x 2 + mgx (that is, it is a mass
hanging from a spring). Find the frequency of small oscillations around the equilibrium point.

3. A central force is defined to be a force that points radially, and whose magnitude depends on only
r. That is, F(r) = F (r)rr
. Show that a central force is a conservative force, by explicitly showing that
∇ × F = 0.

4. (a) Show that F = (2x y + z 2 ) î + x 2 ĵ + x yz kr, is a conservative force field.

(b) Find the scalar potential.
(c) Find the work done in moving a unit mass in this field from the point (1, 0, 1) to (2, 1, −1).

5. Find the angle between the surfaces x2 + y2 + z2 = 1 and z = x2 + y2 − 1 at the point (1, +1, −1).

6. A mass M moves with speed V . An explosion divides the mass in half, giving each half a speed v
in the CM frame. Calculate the increase in kinetic energy in the lab frame. (Assume all motion is
confined to one dimension.)

7. A bead, under the influence of gravity, slides along a frictionless wire whoseheight is given by the
function y(x). Assume that at position (x, y) = (0, 0), the wire is vertical, and that the bead passes
this point with a given speed V , downward. What should the shape of the wire be (that is, what is y
as a function of x) so that the vertical speed remains V at all times?