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PS5_2025 (1)

This document is a tutorial for a physics course at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, covering various topics including spherical polar coordinates, Lagrangian mechanics, and dynamics of systems with multiple masses. It includes problems related to the motion of beads on rods, double Atwood machines, pendulums, and systems of blocks connected by strings. The tutorial emphasizes the use of generalized coordinates and the application of Lagrange's equations to derive equations of motion.

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anshulgodbole2306
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25 views2 pages

PS5_2025 (1)

This document is a tutorial for a physics course at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, covering various topics including spherical polar coordinates, Lagrangian mechanics, and dynamics of systems with multiple masses. It includes problems related to the motion of beads on rods, double Atwood machines, pendulums, and systems of blocks connected by strings. The tutorial emphasizes the use of generalized coordinates and the application of Lagrange's equations to derive equations of motion.

Uploaded by

anshulgodbole2306
Copyright
© © 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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DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS


PH1010 Physics I Tutorial 5

1. (a) Show that the basis vectors in the spherical polar coordinate system are related
to Cartesian basis as follows:
êr = sin θ cos ϕ êx + sin θ sin ϕ êy + cos θ êz
êθ = cos θ cos ϕ êx + cos θ sin ϕ êy − sin θ êz
êϕ = − sin ϕ êx + cos ϕ êy .
(b) The basis vectors in spherical polar coordinates change with position. Write down
all the nine partial derivatives of êr , êθ , êϕ with respect to r, θ, ϕ. You must express
your answers in terms of (êr , êθ , êϕ ) and not (êx , êy , êz ).
(c) Hence, obtain the expression for the line-element δ~r in spherical polar coordinates
using
∂~r ∂~r ∂~r
δ~r = δr + δθ + δϕ .
∂r ∂θ ∂ϕ
2. The center of a long frictionless rod is pivoted at the origin, and the rod is forced
to rotate in a horizontal plane with constant angular velocity ω. Write down the
Lagrangian for a bead threaded on the rod, using r as your generalized coordinate,
where r, φ are the polar coordinates of the bead. (Notice that φ is not an independent
varianble as it is fixed by the rotation of the rod to be φ = ωt.) Solve Lagrange’s
equation for r(t). What happens if the bead is released from any point r0 > 0. (Same
problem as from tutorial 2).
3. Consider a double Atwood machine constructed as follows: A mass 4m is suspended
from a string that passes over a massless pulley on frictionless bearings. The other
end of this string supports a second similar pulley, over which passes a second string
supporting a mass of 3m at one end and m at the other. Using two suitable gener-
alized coordinates, set up the Lagrangian and use the Lagrange equations to find the
acceleration of the mass 4m when the system is released.
4. A simple pendulum (mass M and length L) is suspended from a cart (mass m) that
can oscillate on the end of a spring of force constant k, as shown in the figure. Write
the Lagrangian in terms of the two generalized coordinates x and φ, where x is the
extension of the spring from its equilibrium length. Find the two Lagrange equations.
Simplify the equations to the case that both x and φ are small.

1
5. Consider a region of space divided by a plane. The potential energy of a particle in
region 1 is U1 and in the region 2 is U2 . If a particle of mass m and with speed v1 in
region 1 passes from region 1 to region 2 such that its path makes an angle θ1 with the
plane of separation and an angle θ2 with the normal while in region 2, show that
r
sin θ1 U1 − U2
= 1+ . (1)
sin θ2 T1

Here, in the equation above T1 = 1/2mv12 . Can you think of an optical analog of this
problem.

6. Two blocks each of mass M are connected by an extensionless, uniform string of length
`. One block is placed on a smooth horizontal surface and the other block hangs over
the side with string passing over a frictionless pulley. Describe the motion of the system
when

• When the mass of the string is negligible.


• When the string has a mass m.

7. A block of mass m slides without friction down a wedge of mass M (angle α) which
in turn is connected by a spring of stiffness k and natural length L0 , to a wall. The
wedge can slide without friction on a horizontal surface.

• Using the indicated q1 and q2 as generalized coordinates, write the Lagrangian of


the system.
• Using the Euler-Lagrange equations, find the equations of motion for the above
system.

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