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Homework Set #4

This document outlines four exercises for a graduate classical mechanics homework assignment. The exercises involve: 1) Deriving and solving the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for a harmonic oscillator, 2) Obtaining the equation of motion for a damped oscillator from a Lagrangian and Hamiltonian, 3) Obtaining an integral expression for the characteristic function of a particle in a sinusoidal potential, and 4) Performing a canonical transformation to make the coordinates ignorable for a two degree of freedom Hamiltonian.

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
381 views2 pages

Homework Set #4

This document outlines four exercises for a graduate classical mechanics homework assignment. The exercises involve: 1) Deriving and solving the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for a harmonic oscillator, 2) Obtaining the equation of motion for a damped oscillator from a Lagrangian and Hamiltonian, 3) Obtaining an integral expression for the characteristic function of a particle in a sinusoidal potential, and 4) Performing a canonical transformation to make the coordinates ignorable for a two degree of freedom Hamiltonian.

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mazhari
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 210 Graduate Classical Mechanics Fall 2016

Homework Set #4.


Due Date: Final Exam

Solve the following four exercises:

1. Show that the function


mω 2
q + α2 cot(ωt) − mωqα csc(ωt)

S=
2
is a solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for Hamilton’s principal
function for the linear harmonic oscillator with
p2 + m2 ω 2q 2
H= .
2m
Show that this function generates a correct solution to the motion of
the harmonic oscillator.
2. A particle of mass m moves in one dimension q in a potential energy
field V (q) and is retarded by a damping force −2mγ q̇ proportional to
its velocity.
(a) Show that the equation of motion can be obtained from the La-
grangian  
1 2
L = exp(2γt) mq̇ − V (q)
2
and that the Hamiltonian is
p2 exp(−2γt)
H= + V (q) exp(2γt).
2m

(b) For the generating function

F2 (q, P, t) = exp(γt)qP

find the transformed Hamiltonian K(Q, P, t). For an oscillator poten-


tial
1
V (q) = mω 2 q 2
2
show that the transformed Hamiltonian yields the constant of motion
P2 1
K= + mω 2 Q2 + γQP.
2m 2
Physics 210 Graduate Classical Mechanics Fall 2016

(c) Obtain the solution q(t) for the damped oscillator from the constant
of motion in (b) in the under-damped case γ < ω.
You may need the integral
dx
Z
√ = sin−1 x.
1−x 2

3. A particle of mass m moves in one dimension subject to the potential


a
V =  .
sin2 x
x0

Obtain an integral expression for Hamilton’s characteristic function.


Under what conditions can action-angle variables be used? Assuming
these are met, find the frequency of oscillation by the action-angle
method. (Note: The integral for J can be evaluated by manipulating
the integrand so that the square root appears in the denominator.)
Check your result in the limit of oscillations of small amplitude.

4. For the point transformation in a system of two degrees of freedom,

Q1 = q12 , Q2 = q1 + q2 ,

find the most general transformation equations for P1 and P2 consistent


with the overall transformation being canonical. Show that with a
particular choice for P1 and P2 the Hamiltonian
 2
p1 − p2
H= + p2 + (q1 + q2 )2
2q1

can be transformed to one in which both Q1 and Q2 are ignorable. By


this means, solve the problem and obtain expressions for q1 , q2 , p1 and
p2 as functions of time and their initial values.

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