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Lagrangian Mechanics Problem Set

The document is a tutorial sheet for PHY-101, focusing on Classical, Quantum, and Relativistic Mechanics at IIT BHU for the 2024-25 semester. It includes various problems related to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, covering topics such as motion in a cone, double pendulum dynamics, and systems of particles under external forces. Each question requires the derivation of equations of motion and analysis of different mechanical systems using generalized coordinates.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
33 views1 page

Lagrangian Mechanics Problem Set

The document is a tutorial sheet for PHY-101, focusing on Classical, Quantum, and Relativistic Mechanics at IIT BHU for the 2024-25 semester. It includes various problems related to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, covering topics such as motion in a cone, double pendulum dynamics, and systems of particles under external forces. Each question requires the derivation of equations of motion and analysis of different mechanical systems using generalized coordinates.

Uploaded by

userstranger4268
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PHY-101 : Classical, Quantum and Relativistic Mechanics

Tutorial Sheet#2
2024-25, Even Semester
Indian Institute of Technology (BHU),
Varanasi - 221005, India
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1] (i) A particle of mass m is constrained to move on the inside surface of a smooth cone of half angle α. The particle is
subjected to a gravitational force. Write the Lagrangian and find the Lagrange’s equation of motion.

(ii) Consider a double pendulum made of two masses, m1 and m2, and two rods of lengths l1 and l2, see
figure . Find the equations of motion using Lagrangian.

Q.2] (i) A mass m is suspended by a massless spring of spring constant k. The suspension point is pulled upwards with
constant acceleration a0. Find the Hamiltonian of the system, Hamilton’s equations of motion and the equation of
motion.

(ii) A bead of mass m slides on a frictionless wire under the influence of gravity see figure. The shape
of the wire is parabolic and it rotates about the z− axis with constant angular velocity ω. Taking z =
ar2 as the equation of the parabola, obtain Hamiltonian of the system. Is H = E?

Q. 3] (i) Two particles of same mass ‘m’ denoted by P1 and P2 are connected by a massless
rod of length ‘a’ as shown in the figure. Mass P2 is being pulled by a time dependent
force F(t) to the right horizontally. These masses are moving away from the origin ‘O’
under the influence of F(t) along the smooth track on which P1 is sliding. Find the
generalized forces Qx and Qθ.

(ii) A block of mass ‘m’ is sliding on a right-angled wedge of mass ‘M’ with a fixed
inclination angle θ, that itself is sliding on a frictionless surface. Their configuration is
shown in the figure, where O is the reference origin. Set up the Lagrangian in appropriate
generalized coordinates and derive the equations of motion in terms of those generalized
coordinates.

Q.4] A particle of mass ‘m’ having a charge ‘q’ is moving in 3-dim. space in the presence of an electric field with a potential
given by φ(x, y, z), and a magnetic field B whose vector potential is given by A(x,y,z) . The potential term is given
by U (r ) = q - qA.v , where v is particle’s velocity.
(a) Set up the Lagrangian and derive its equations of motion.
(b) Obtain the canonical momenta conjugate to each coordinate.
(c) Obtain the Hamiltonian from the above Lagrangian.

Q.5] Three particles are connected by two rigid rods having a joint between them to
form the system shown in the figure. A vertical force ‘F’ and a moment ‘M’ are
being applied as shown in the figure. The configuration of the system can be
given by the ordinary coordinates (x1, x2, x3) or by the generalised coordinates
(q1, q2, q3) where x1 = q1+q2+q3/2, x2 = q1 − q3, x3 = q1 − q2 + q3/2, and the three
forces F1 = 3/4F, F2 = F/4 − M/l, F3 = M/l. (i) Find the generalised forces Q1, Q2
and Q3 (assuming small motions). (ii) Find the expression for kinetic energy and momenta in terms of generalised
coordinates.

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To derive the Hamiltonian for a bead of mass m sliding on a parabolic wire with equation z = ar² which rotates about the z-axis with constant angular velocity ω, we start by considering the kinetic energy T. The kinetic energy includes a rotational term due to the angular velocity and is given as T = (1/2)m(ṙ² + r²ω²), where ṙ is the radial velocity. The potential energy due to gravity is V = mgz = mga²r⁴. The Hamiltonian H is found using H = T + V (since the system is conservative), and in the rotating frame, it becomes H = (p²/2m) + mω²r²/2 + mga²r⁴, from which Hamilton's equations can be derived . The question whether H = E depends on the inclusion of time-dependent terms or dissipative forces, which are not present here, suggesting H = E for this system .

The kinetic energy for a system of connected particles can be expressed in terms of generalized coordinates by considering the transformation from Cartesian coordinates to generalized coordinates. For a specific system of three particles connected by rigid rods, the kinetic energy T can be expressed depending on the velocities and the inertia parameters related to the coordinates (q1, q2, q3). The generalized momentum p_i for a coordinate q_i is specified as p_i = ∂L/∂q_i˙, involving derivatives of the Lagrangian L with respect to the generalized velocities, transforming terms from conventional kinematic forms into the framework of the chosen coordinate system. The expressions typically contain terms of motion relations and mass properties transformed relative to q1, q2, q3 .

The Hamiltonian for a charged particle in electromagnetic fields is derived from its Lagrangian, where the Lagrangian L = T - U is given as L = (1/2)m v² - qφ + q v·A. The canonical momentum p associated with the velocity v is given by p = ∂L/∂v = mv + qA. The Hamiltonian H is then constructed by Legendre transformation: H = Σ (p_i q_i˙) - L, where the sum is over all generalized coordinates. Expressing the velocities in terms of momenta using p and substituting back into this equation gives the Hamiltonian in terms of canonical momenta. H = (p - qA)²/(2m) + qφ, which encapsulates the energy contributions from both motion and interaction with electromagnetic fields .

In a system of three particles connected by two rigid rods with applied forces and moment, the generalized forces Q1, Q2, and Q3 correspond to the work done by these forces in the generalized coordinate directions. Given the forces F1 = 3/4F, F2 = F/4 - M/l, F3 = M/l, they act on coordinates q1, q2, and q3. Using the virtual work principle combined with the system's coordinate transformations x1 = q1 + q2 + q3/2, x2 = q1 - q3, x3 = q1 - q2 + q3/2, the generalized forces are determined by projecting these applied forces onto the directions of motion defined by the coordinates q1, q2, q3 . The exact values would depend on the calculation of the work terms from these force components for given small displacements.

For a double pendulum with masses m1 and m2 and rod lengths l1 and l2, the kinetic energy T and potential energy V are computed for each mass. The total energy is then used to form the Lagrangian L = T - V. The kinetic energy, considering rotational movement, is T = 1/2 m1 (l1θ1˙)² + 1/2 m2 [(l1θ1˙)² + (l2θ2˙)² + 2l1l2θ1˙θ2˙cos(θ1 - θ2)], and the potential energy is V = -m1gl1cos(θ1) - m2g(l1cos(θ1) + l2cos(θ2)). Applying the Euler-Lagrange equation gives the system's equations of motion for θ1 and θ2 (the angles each pendulum makes with the vertical). These equations are complex coupled nonlinear differential equations and must be solved simultaneously .

The motion of a charged particle moving in the presence of electromagnetic fields is described using Lagrangian mechanics, where the Lagrangian L is given by L = T - U, with T being the kinetic energy and U being the potential energy. For a charged particle of charge q moving in an electromagnetic field, the potential energy U is expressed in terms of the scalar potential φ and the vector potential A as U = qφ - q v·A, where v is the velocity. The Lagrangian thus takes the form L = (1/2)m v² - qφ + q v·A. Using this Lagrangian, the Euler-Lagrange equation derived for a charged particle leads to the Lorentz force law equations when interpreted relative to the fields . The canonical momentum conjugate to each coordinate includes contributions from both the particle's velocity and the vector potential.

For a mass m suspended by a spring with constant k, and the suspension point having constant upward acceleration a0, the Hamiltonian can be found by first considering the Lagrangian, which is L = T - V = (1/2) m (x˙²) - (1/2) k (x - a0t)². The generalized momentum p is given by p = ∂L/∂x˙ = mx˙. The Hamiltonian H is then constructed using H = p x˙ - L. For this system, H = (p²/2m) + (1/2) k(x - a0t)². Hamilton's equations of motion are then x˙ = ∂H/∂p and p˙ = -∂H/∂x, which give the relations for motion under these conditions .

To derive the Lagrange's equation of motion for a particle of mass m constrained to move on the inside surface of a smooth cone with half-angle α, one needs to start by setting up the Lagrangian of the system. The Lagrangian L is given by L = T - V, where T is the kinetic energy and V is the potential energy due to gravity. The kinetic energy T in polar coordinates (r, θ, φ) for a conical movement is 1/2 m (r^2 sin²(α) φ˙² + r² α˙²), and the potential energy V is mgz, where z = rcos(α). The Lagrange's equation is then derived by applying the Euler-Lagrange equation: d/dt (∂L/∂q˙) - ∂L/∂q = 0 for each generalized coordinate q, which are r and φ in this case .

Canonical momenta are obtained from a given Lagrangian L by taking the partial derivative of the Lagrangian with respect to each generalized velocity. For a system described by generalized coordinates q_i and velocities q_i˙, the canonical momentum p_i conjugate to each coordinate q_i is defined as p_i = ∂L/∂q_i˙. This relationship reflects how changes in the Lagrangian with respect to velocity define the momentum, extending beyond the classical definition of momentum as mass times velocity to accommodate interactions depicted within Lagrangian mechanics. For highly dynamical or field-influenced systems, these momenta incorporate external potential influences like electromagnetic effects .

Equations of motion for a mechanical system described by a Hamiltonian are derived using Hamilton's equations, which relate the time evolution of the system's coordinate and momentum. The Hamiltonian H is a function of generalized coordinates q and canonical momenta p, and Hamilton's equations are given by q˙_i = ∂H/∂p_i and p˙_i = -∂H/∂q_i. These equations produce coupled first-order differential equations that describe the evolution of the system's state in phase space. By solving these equations, one can determine the trajectories of the system in terms of positions and momenta over time from initial conditions . This method provides a powerful and general approach to addressing complex systems, especially those with constraints or in field interactions.

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