Homework №1 B

Deadline: Saturday, 06.04.2024

Problem 1: Equations of motion in non-inertial reference frame

1. (2 points) A small pointlike mass m may slide without friction along
the rigid rail AB in the homogeneous gravitational field, as shown in the
Figure. The length of the rail is ℓ0 . One of the extremes of the rail (A)
is fixed, whereas the other extreme (B) moves along the circumference of
radius R < ℓ with constant angular acceleration Ω̇ = α = const (so the
angular velocity Ω grows linearly as a function of time, Ω = αt).

.
• (1 point) Write out the lagrangian of the system and the correspond-
ing Euler-Lagrange equations of motion in the laboratory frame.
• (1 point) Working in the (non-inertial) rest frame of the rail,
identify all the forces which act on the mass, and write out the
Newtonian equations of motion. Demonstrate that they agree with
Euler-Lagrange equations found in the previous item. Find explicitly
the reaction force N which acts on the mass m in the point of contact.

Problem 2: Motion of rigid bodies (introduction)

2. (3 points) Assume that You have a thin disk of mass M , radius R and
thickness h. The axis ẑ of the disk points in direction of the symmetry axis
of the disk in the laboratory frame, as shown in the Figure.
• (1 point) Find the tensor of inertia Iij of the disk, assuming that the
disk rests in the lab frame.
• (1 point) Assume that the disk rotates with constant angular velocity
.
Ω around the axis n, whose components in the laboratory frame are
given by (0, − sin α, cos α). What will be the moment of inertia In for
rotations of the disk around this axis?
• (1 point) Assume that the disk rotates around axis n defined in pre-
vious item. Find the components of angular momentum M of the disk
in the laboratory frame and in the rest frame of the disk. Check if
direction of M coincides with direction of angular velocity Ω.