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Problems On Classical Mechanics IIT Madras

This document contains problems for a classical mechanics tutorial covering various topics: 1) Deriving and interpreting the equations of motion for a particle falling under gravity. 2) Obtaining an expression for kinetic energy of a particle in spherical coordinates in terms of angular momentum and radial velocity. 3) Setting up the Lagrangian and deriving equations of motion for a simple pendulum, and using energy conservation to calculate its time period. 4) Analyzing the phase space and periodic motion of a particle under a nonlinear restoring force. 5) Finding the brachistochrone curve for minimum time travel of a particle between two points under gravity. 6) Setting up the Lagrangian for a coplanar double pendulum

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Chashan Deep
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194 views1 page

Problems On Classical Mechanics IIT Madras

This document contains problems for a classical mechanics tutorial covering various topics: 1) Deriving and interpreting the equations of motion for a particle falling under gravity. 2) Obtaining an expression for kinetic energy of a particle in spherical coordinates in terms of angular momentum and radial velocity. 3) Setting up the Lagrangian and deriving equations of motion for a simple pendulum, and using energy conservation to calculate its time period. 4) Analyzing the phase space and periodic motion of a particle under a nonlinear restoring force. 5) Finding the brachistochrone curve for minimum time travel of a particle between two points under gravity. 6) Setting up the Lagrangian for a coplanar double pendulum

Uploaded by

Chashan Deep
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS

PH5030 Classical Mechanics Tutorial 2 8 August 2019

1. The Newton’s equation for a particle falling in a gravitational field can be


written as:
dx(t)
= v(t),
dt
dv(t)
= −g.
dt
Sketch the phase trajectory and interpret the motion.

2. Consider a particle of mass m in three dimensions. Working with spherical


polar co-ordinates, obtain an expression for the kinetic energy in terms of
the angular momentum L and ṙ.

3. A pendulum consists of a bob of mass m, suspended from a height by a rod


of length l.

(a) Set up the Lagrangian and obtain the equations of motion.


(b) Argue tht energy is conserved and using this show that the time period
of motion is: Z θ2 √
m dθ
T =2 p
θ1 2(E − V (θ))
where θ1 and θ2 are classical turning points.
(c) For small angles, obtain the time period using the integral in (??) and
show that the time period is independent of the total energy.

4. Consider a particle in one-dimension subject to a non-linear restoring force,


F (x) = −λx3 . Sketch the phase space and argue that the motion is periodic
for any energy E. Find the time period and show that it is a function of
the energy E. How does this compare with the simple harmonic motion?

5. The brachistochrone problem: Let y1 and y2 be two points such that y1 is


higher than y2 . Consider a particle of mass m travelling from y1 to y2 under
the influence of gravity. Find the path x(y) such that the time of travel
between these two points is minimum and sketch the path.

6. Set up the Lagrangian for a coplanar double pendulum and find the equa-
tions of motion.

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