PHYS620 Fall 2018 Homework 2 problems.

1. (a) Write down the Lagrangian L ( x1 , x2 , x1 , x2 ) for two particles of equal mass m,
confined to the x axis and connected by a spring with potential energy U =kx 2 . [Here x is
the extension of the spring, x = x1 − x2 − l , where l is the spring’s relaxed length and mass
1 remains to the right of mass 2 at all times.]
1
(b) Rewrite L in terms of the new variables=
X ( x1 + x2 ) and x, and write down the
2
two Lagrange equations for X and x.

(c) Solve for X(t) and x(t) and describe the motion.

2. The figure shows a crude model of a yoyo. A massless string is

suspended vertically from a fixed point and the other end is x
wrapped several times around a uniform cylinder of mass m and
radius R. When the cylinder is released it moves vertically down, ω
rotating as the string unwinds. Write down the Lagrangian using
the distance x as your generalized coordinate. Find the Lagrange
equation of motion and show that the cylinder accelerates
downward with  x = 2 g 3.

3. A smooth wire is bent into the shape of a helix, with cylindrical polar coordinates
ρ = R and z = λφ , where R and λ are constants, and the z-axis is vertically up (and
gravity vertically down). Using z as your generalized coordinate, write down the
Lagrangian for a bead of mass m threaded on the wire. Find the Lagrange equation and
hence the bead’s vertical acceleration z. In the limit R → 0, what is z? Does this make
sense?

4. The figure shows a simple pendulum (mass m, length ω

l) whose point of support P is attached to the edge of a P
wheel (center O, radius R) that is forced to rotate at
fixed angular velocity, ω. At t = 0 the point P is level O
with O on the right. Write down the Lagrangian and
find the equation of motion for the angle φ . Check that
your answer makes sense in the special case that ω = 0.
ϕ
5. A simple pendulum (mass M and length L) is
x
suspended from a cart (mass m) that can oscillate
on the end of a spring of force constant k.
m
k
(a)Write the Lagrangian in terms of the two
generalized coordinates x and φ , where x is the ϕ
L
extension of the spring from its equilibrium
length. Find the two Lagrange equations.
M
(b) Simplify the equations to the case that both x and φ are small.

6. The figure is a bird’s eye view of a smooth horizontal

wire hoop that is forced to rotate at a fixed angular B
velocity ω about a vertical axis through the point A. A
bead of mass m is threaded on the hoop and is free to
move around it, with position specified by the angle φ
that it makes at the center with the diameter AB. Find the ω
Lagrangian for this system using φ as the generalized A
coordinate. Use the Lagrange equation of motion to
show that the bead oscillates about the point B exactly
like a simple pendulum. What is the frequency of these
oscillations if their amplitude is small?