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1 The 2-Body Problem: Classical Mechanics Homework

1. The document discusses the 2-body problem in classical mechanics. It shows that the problem can be reduced to that of a single particle moving under a central force by introducing the relative position q and reduced mass m. 2. It then introduces Poisson brackets and shows that they satisfy the properties of a Lie algebra: antisymmetry, bilinearity, and the Jacobi identity. 3. Additionally, it shows that Poisson brackets together with ordinary multiplication of functions make the space of smooth functions on phase space into a Poisson algebra, satisfying the Leibniz identity relating brackets and products.

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12 views2 pages

1 The 2-Body Problem: Classical Mechanics Homework

1. The document discusses the 2-body problem in classical mechanics. It shows that the problem can be reduced to that of a single particle moving under a central force by introducing the relative position q and reduced mass m. 2. It then introduces Poisson brackets and shows that they satisfy the properties of a Lie algebra: antisymmetry, bilinearity, and the Jacobi identity. 3. Additionally, it shows that Poisson brackets together with ordinary multiplication of functions make the space of smooth functions on phase space into a Poisson algebra, satisfying the Leibniz identity relating brackets and products.

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Classical Mechanics Homework

January 29, 2008


John Baez

1 The 2-Body Problem


The goal of this problem is to understand a pair of particles interacting via a central force such as
gravity. Well reduce it to problem youve already studied the case of a single particle in a central
force.
Suppose we have a system of two particles interacting by a central force. Their positions are
functions of time, say q1 , q2 : R R3 , satisfying Newtons law:
q1 q 2
m1 q1 = f (|q1 q2 |)
|q1 q2 |
q2 q 1
m2 q2 = f (|q2 q1 |) .
|q2 q1 |
Here m1 , m2 are their masses, and the force is described by some smooth function f : (0, ) R.
Lets write the force in terms of a potential as follows:
dV
f (r) = .
dr
Using conservation of momentum and symmetry under translations and Galilei boosts we can
work in coordinates where
m1 q1 (t) + m2 q2 (t) = 0 (1)
for all times t. This coordinate system is called the center-of-mass frame.
We could use equation (1) to solve for q2 in terms of q1 , or vice versa, but we can also use it to
express both q1 and q2 in terms of the relative position

q(t) = q1 (t) q2 (t).

This is more symmetrical, so this is what we will do. Henceforth we only need to talk about q. Thus
we have reduced the problem to a 1-body problem!

Now heres where you come in:

1. Show that q(t) satisfies the equation


q
m
q = f (|q|)
|q|
where m is the so-called reduced mass
m1 m2
m= .
m1 + m 2
Note that this looks exactly like Newtons second law for a single particle!

2. Recall that the total energy E of the 2-particle system is the sum of the kinetic energies of
the particles plus the potential energy. Express E in terms of q and the reduced mass. Show that
1 2
E= m |q|
+ V (|q|)
2

1
Note that this looks exactly like the energy of a single particle!

3. Let J be the total angular momentum of the 2-particle system. Show that

J = mq q

Note that this looks exactly like the angular momentum of a single particle!

At this point were back to a problem youve already solved: a single particle in a central force.
The only difference is that now q stands for the relative position and m stands for the reduced mass!

So, we instantly conclude that two bodies orbiting each other due to the force of gravity will
both have an orbit thats either an ellipse, or a parabola, or a hyperbola... when viewed in the
center-of-mass frame.

2 Poisson brackets
Let R2n be the phase space of a particle in Rn , with coordinates qi , pi (1 i n). Let C (R2n )
be the set of smooth real-valued functions on R2n , which becomes an commutative algebra using
pointwise addition and multiplication of functions.

We define the Poisson bracket of functions F, G C (R2n ) by:

Xn
F G G F
{F, G} = .
i=1
p i qi pi qi

4. Show that Poisson brackets make the vector space C (R2n ) into a Lie algebra. In other
words, check the antisymmetry of the bracket:

{F, G} = {G, F }

the bilinearity of the bracket:

{F, G + H} = {F, G} + {F, H}

{F + G, H} = {F, H} + {G, H}
and Jacobi identity:
{F, {G, H}} = {{F, G}, H} + {G, {F, H}}
for all F, G, H C (R2n ) and , R.

(Note the Jacobi identity resembles the product rule d(GH) = (dG)H + GdH, with bracketing by
F playing the role of d. This is no accident!)

5. Show that Poisson brackets and ordinary multiplication of functions make the vector space
C (R2n ) into a Poisson algebra. This is a Lie algebra that is also a commutative algebra, with
the bracket {F, G} and the product F G related by the Leibniz identity:

{F, GH} = {F, G}H + G{F, H}.

(Again this identity resembles the product rule!)

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