Classical mechanics – Phys1.L1.
USTHB-2024/2025
Problem set # 1
(Dimensional analysis - vector calculus)
Problem.1. Check the correctness of the following equation using dimensional
analysis. S = S0 + vt + at2/2 , where S is the displacement, v is the initial
velocity, t is the time and a is the acceleration produced.
Problem.2. Using dimensional analysis method, check the correctness of the
𝟏
equation, 𝒎𝒈𝒉 = 𝟐 𝒎𝒗𝟐 .
Problem.3. Using dimensional analysis, check whether the following equation
𝒅𝒗 𝟏 𝒎𝒗𝟐
is homogeneous or not, viz., 𝒎 = 𝒎𝟐 𝒈 + .
𝒅𝒕 𝟐 𝑳
Problem.4. Find the dimensions of a and b in the Van der Waals formula, [P+
a/V2][V-b]=RT, where P is pressure and V is the volume of the gas.
Problem.5. Obtain an expression for the time period T of a simple pendulum.
The time period T depends on mass m of the bob, length l of the pendulum
and acceleration due to gravity g.
Problem.6. The force F acting on a body moving in a circular path depends
on mass of the body (m), velocity (v) and radius (r) of the circular path. Obtain
the expression for the force by way of the dimensional analysis method.
Problem.7. The discharge speed of a liquid from a container depends on the
height h and the gravitational acceleration g, i.e., 𝒗 = 𝒗(𝒉, 𝒈). Dimensional
analysis gives us, 𝒗 ∝ √𝒈𝒉 , 𝒗 ∝ 𝒈𝒉 , or, 𝒗 ∝ 𝒈/𝒉𝟐 , i.e, what is the correct
answer ?
Problem.8. Taylor expand the following functions,
a- 𝑒 𝑥 ∼ … … …., b- sin(𝑥) ∼ … … …., c- cos(𝑥) ∼ . . … …
0 0 0
Problem.9. Let be the following vectors written in terms of the standard basis
set (O,𝑖⃗,𝑗⃗),
⃗⃗ , 𝑏⃗⃗ = 4𝑖⃗ − 3𝑘
𝑎⃗ = 𝑖⃗ − 𝑗⃗ − 𝑘 ⃗⃗ and 𝑐⃗ = 𝑖⃗ − 2𝑗⃗ + 𝑘
⃗⃗.
2
1) Find 𝑎⃗ + 2𝑏⃗⃗ − 𝑐⃗ and ‖𝑎⃗ − 𝑏⃗⃗‖ .
2) Find ‖𝑎⃗‖, ‖𝑏⃗⃗‖ and 𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗⃗ . Deduce the angle between 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗.
3) Find the component of 𝑐⃗ in the direction of 𝑎⃗ and in the direction of 𝑏⃗⃗.
4) Find 𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗ and (𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗) × (𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗).
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Classical mechanics – Phys1.L1. USTHB-2024/2025
5) Find 𝑎⃗ ∙ (𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗) and (𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗) ∙ 𝑐⃗) and verify that they are equal.
Problem.10. ABCDEF is a regular hexagon with center O, which is also the
origin of position vectors.
Find the position vectors of the vertices C, D, E, F in terms of the position
vectors, 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗ of A and B.
Problem.11. Let be the vectors, 𝑉⃗⃗1 = 2(𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗), 𝑉
⃗⃗2 = −4𝑖⃗ and ⃗⃗3 = 4𝑖⃗ − 2𝑗⃗ , in
𝑉
terms of the standard basis set (O,𝑖⃗,𝑗⃗).
Compose the following vectors: 𝐴⃗ = 𝑉
⃗⃗1 + 𝑉
⃗⃗2, ⃗⃗ = 𝑉
𝐵 ⃗⃗2 et 𝐶⃗ = 𝑉
⃗⃗3 − 𝑉 ⃗⃗1 − 𝑉
⃗⃗2 + 𝑉
⃗⃗3 .
Problem.12. Let be the vectors, 𝑟⃗1 = 2𝑖⃗ + 3𝑗⃗ − 𝑘 ⃗⃗ , 𝑟⃗2 = 3𝑖⃗ − 2𝑗⃗ + 2𝑘
⃗⃗ and 𝑟⃗3 =
⃗⃗ , in terms of the standard basis set (O,𝑖⃗,𝑗⃗).
4𝑖⃗ − 3𝑗⃗ + 3𝑘
1) Find the magnitude of the vectors mentioned above.
2) Find the components as well as the magnitude of the vectors : 𝐴⃗ = 𝑟⃗1 +
⃗⃗ = 𝑟⃗1 + 𝑟⃗2 − 𝑟⃗3
𝑟⃗2 + 𝑟⃗3 et 𝐵
⃗⃗ along the vector : 𝐶⃗ = 𝑟⃗1 + 2𝑟⃗2
3) Find the unit vector 𝑈
4) Evaluate the products: 𝑟⃗2 • 𝑟⃗3 et 𝑟⃗2 × 𝑟⃗3 .
⃗⃗ , and
Problem.13. Let be the vectors, 𝐴⃗ = (𝛼 − 1)𝑖⃗ + 2𝑗⃗ + 3𝑘 ⃗⃗ ,
⃗⃗ = 3𝑖⃗ + 2𝑗⃗ − 3𝑘
𝐵
in terms of the standard basis set (O,𝑖⃗,𝑗⃗).
1) Calculate in terms of 𝛼, the magnitude of the vectors 𝐴⃗ et 𝐵⃗⃗.
2) Find in terms of α, the components of vector, 𝐶⃗ = 2𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗.
3) Calculate in terms of α, the dot product of 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵 ⃗⃗.
4) Find the value of α so the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ are perpendicular.
⃗⃗ ), one has,
Problem.14. In terms of the standard basis set (O,𝑖⃗,𝑗⃗,𝑘
V1 sin t i (cos t) j t k , and V 2 e t i 2cos3t j 2sin 3t k
d V1 d V2
Calculate, et .
dt dt
Problem.15.
⃗⃗ , where (O,𝑖⃗,𝑗⃗,𝑘
If 𝑟⃗(𝑡) = (𝑡 2 − 4)𝑖⃗ + 𝑡 4 𝑗⃗ + (𝑡 + 1)𝑘 ⃗⃗ ), is a constant standard
basis,
1) Find 𝑟̇⃗(𝑡) and 𝑟̈⃗(𝑡).
2) Deduce the time derivative of 𝑟⃗ × 𝑟̇⃗.
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