Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupati
Department of Physics
PH104L: Introduction to Classical Mechanics
Instructor: Dr. Kapildeb Dolui Date: 29/04/2026
Tutorial-8
1. A simple pendulum of length l oscillates under gravity without damping. Show that
for large oscillations (i.e., when Sinθ ̸= θ), the time period depends on the amplitude
and is greater than the small-angle time period.
2. A particle of mass m performs damped oscillations under a resistive force proportional
to its velocity, where the equation of motion is mẍ + 2γ ẋ + ω02 x = 0. Show that the
total mechanical energy E of the system decreases with time.
3. A particle of mass 3 units moves along the x-axis under the influence of a force
attracting it toward the origin, whose magnitude is proportional to the displacement
and given by 12x. The particle is also subjected to a damping force whose magnitude
is proportional to its instantaneous speed and given by 12ẋ.
(a) Identify the type of motion (underdamped, critically damped, or overdamped).
(b) Write down general solution of the position x(t) of the particle at any time t and
sketch x(t) when the particle is initially at x = 10 ; and has ẋ = 0 and ẋ = 2.
(c) For ẋ = 0 case in 3(b), find the times at which the energy of the system reduces
to 75%, 35%, and 15% of its initial value.
4. An electric circuit contains a resistance R, capacitance C, and inductance L, where
R, C, and L are constants and 4L > CR. Find the current when there is zero initial
current and zero initial charge, and when the driving voltage is given by,
V (t) = V0 t for t > 0.
Fig.1: LRC electrical circuit.
5. Bonus Question: A particle of mass M is suspended from a spring, which
√ has mass
M and force constant k. Show that the oscillation frequency is ω = 3ω0 /2, where
ω0 is the natural frequency if the spring has negligible mass.