Classical Mechanics(PH508)
Problem Set 3
1. Find the force law for a central-force field that allows a particle to move in a loga-
rithmic spiral orbit given by r = keαθ , where k and α are constants.
2. A particle of mass m is constrained to move under gravity without friction on the
inside of a paraboloid of revolution whose axis is vertical. Obtain the Euler La-
grange’s equation of motion. What is the condition on the particle’s initial velocity
to produce circular motion?
3. A particle moves in a central force field given by the potential
e−αr
V = −k
r
where k and a are positive constants. Write down the Lagrangian and obtain the
equation of motion. What will be the condition for circular motion?
4. Show that if a particle describes a circular orbit under the influence of an attractive
central force directed at a point on the circle, then the force varies as the inverse
fifth power of the distance.
5. Show that the total energy of a particle moving in a circular orbit under the influence
of an attractive central force is zero.
6. For circular and parabolic orbits in an attractive 1r potential having the same angular
momentum, show that the perihelion distance of the parabola is one half the radius
of the circle.
√ Further, show that the speed of a particle at any point in a parabolic
orbit is 2 times the speed in a circular orbit passing through the same point.
7. A uniform distribution of dust in the solar system adds to the gravitational attraction
of the sun on a planet an additional force
F = −mCr
where m is the mass of the planet, C is a constant proportional to the gravitational
constant and the density of the dust, and r is the radius vector from the sun to
the planet(consider both of them as point particles). This additional force is very
small compared to the direct sun-planet gravitational force. Calculate the period of
a planet moving in circular orbit of radius r0 in this combined gravitational field.
8. The minimum and maximum velocities of the moon rotating around the Earth are
vmin = v − v0 and vmax = v + v0 . Find the eccentricity in terms of v and v0 .
9. A spacecraft is placed in a circular orbit 200 km above Earth. Calculate the mini-
mum escape speed of the spacecraft from Earth. What is the spacecraft’s trajectory
with respect to Earth?
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