Spring 2016 PHZ 3113 homework set #11 due Monday, April 25

(11.1) Note: This is Boas problem (10.56).]

variable r she uses replaced by ρ]. Use your result for spherical coordinates to
find
(a) The scale factors,
(b) the vector ds,
(c) the volume element,
(d) the basis vectors ar , aθ , and aϕ ,
(e) the corresponding unit basis vectors r̂ = er , θ̂ = eθ , and ϕ̂ = eϕ ,
(f) and the gij matrix.
(11.3) [Note: This is Boas problem (10.107).]
As in Boas Eq. (10.12),
∂xk ∂xℓ
Tij′ = Tkl ,
∂x′i ∂x′j
′ ′ ′
′
ijk ∂x i ∂x j ∂x k ℓmn
T = T ,
∂xℓ ∂xm ∂xn
′ ′
′ ∂x i ∂x j ∂xn ℓm
Tkij = T ,
∂xℓ ∂xm ∂x′k n
for the transformations of a second-rank covariant tensor, a third-rank con-
travariant tensor, and a third-rank mixed tensor with two contravariant indices
and one covariant index, write the transformation equations for the following
tensors:
(a) a 2nd -rank contravariant,
(b) a 3rd -rank cotravariant,
(c) and a 4th -rank mixed tensor with two two covariant and two contravariant
indices.
(11.4) [Note: This is Boas problem (11.123).]
Using Mathematica, make plots of the elliptic integrals K(k) = F (π/2, k) and
E(k) = E(π/2, k), where
∫ ϕ
dθ
F (ϕ, k) = √ ,
0 1 − k 2 sin2 θ

1
 ∫ ϕ √
E(ϕ, k) = 1 − k 2 sin2 θdθ,
0

for 0 ≤ k < 1. Also, make 3D plots of F (ϕ, k) and E(ϕ, k) for 0 ≤ k < 1
and 0 ≤ ϕπ/2 and also for 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 2π. Warning: Make sure you understand
the notation used by Mathematica, so have a look at the discussion in Boas
following Eq. (12.3).
(11.5). [Note: This is Boas problem (11.1215).]
2 √
Find the length of arc of the ellipse x2 + y4 = 1 between (0, 2) and ( 12 , 3).
Note that b > a, as opposed to the a > b case presented as example 4 on pages
556-557.
(11.6) [Note: These are Boas problems (12.141),(12.143), and (12.145)].
Using Mathematica, make plots of
(a) Jp (x) for p = 0, 1, 2, 3 and for 0 ≤ x ≤ 15.
Np (x) for p = 0 and 0 ≤ x ≤ 15 and for p = 1, 2, 3 and 1 ≤ x ≤ 15.
(b) √
(c) xJ1/2 (x) for 0 ≤ x ≤ 4π. Do you recognize the curve? See Boas problem
(12.9).
(11.7) [Note: This is Boas problem (12.2215)].
Solve the Laguerre differential equation for y(x),

x2 y ′′ + (1 − x)y ′ + py = 0

using a power series. Show that if p is an integer, the series truncates (or is a
finite sum). Thus, for each integer n, the differential equation has one solution
that is polynomial of degree n. These polynomials with the zeroth term a0 in
the series are the Laguerre polynomials Ln (x). Find the forms of Ln (x), for
n = 0, 1, 2, 3. Plot them using Mathematica for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2.
(11.8) [note: This is similar to Boas problem (13.45), but with DIFFERENT
initial conditions.] For the full string of length ℓ initially pulled a height h in its
midpoint, so that the initial displacement y(x, 0) is given as sketched in Fig. 1
(a), find the displacement y(x, t) assuming the string obeys the wave equation

∂2y 1 ∂2y
− = 0.
∂x2 v 2 ∂t2
Using separation of variables, find the Fourier series for y(x, t). Assuming v =
1 = ℓ (in the appropriate units) and h = 0.01, make plots at the times t =
0, 1, π/2, π, 3π/2, and 2π.
(11.9) [Note: This is Boas problem (13.514)]. Find the steady-state heat dis-
tribution in a circular annulus (the shaded area) of the figure in Boas (13.514)
on page 644. Take the inner radius to be 1 and the outer radius to be 2, and
take the initial temperature on the inner and outer radii to be 0◦ C and 100◦
C. Hint: Don’t forget the ρ solutions corresponding to k = 0.
(11.10) [Note: This is Boas problem (13.61)]

2
Figure 1: Two plucked strings initial displacements y(x, 0). (a) String held fixed
at x = 0, ℓ and pulled a height h at its middle. (b) The same string held fixed
at x = 0, ℓ/2 and pulled a height h at x = ℓ/4.

(a) Find the fundamental modes of vibration of a circular membrane (such as a

1 ∂ 2 f (ρ, θ, t)
∇2 f (ρ, θ, t) − = 0 (1)
v2 ∂t2
in polar coordinates. Using separation of variables, as outlined in Boas chapter
13 section 6, solve for the spatial modes at time t = 0 for n = 0, 1, 2 and
m = 0, 1, 2, 3. Using Mathematica, make a contour plot of the modes at the
initial time t = 0.
(b) Now assume that v = 1, take account of the time dependence of the modes,
and make contour plots at the times t = 0.1, 1, 2, 3, 4 for the (2,0) and (1,1)
modes sketched in the upper right and lower left parts of Figure 6.1 of Boas on
page 646.
(11.10) [Note: This is Boas problem (13.81)]
Show that the gravitational potential V (r) = −Gm/r satisfies Laplace’s equa-
tion. That is, show that ∇2 V (r) = 0, where r2 = s2 +y 2 +z 2 ̸= 0. Hint: Choose
the appropriate coordinates.
(11.11). [Note: This is Boas problem (14.79)]
Use contour integration methods to solve analytically the integral I1 ,
∫ 2π
dθ
I1 = ,
0 1 + sin θ cos α
where α is a real constant. Use Mathematica to check your result.
(11.12) [Note: This is Boas problem (14.720)]
Use contour integration methods to solve analytically the integral I2 ,
∫ ∞
cos xdx
I2 = .
0 (1 + 9x2 )2
Use Mathematica to check your result.