Take Home Assignment of MEOW: PHY F111

1. Consider two masses m1 and m2 are connected by a spring of spring constant K. The system is free to oscillate
along x-axis (axis of the spring) on a frictionless horizontal x-y plane. Apply an external periodic force
F(t)=F0cos ωt on the mass m1 along the x-axis. (a) Calculate the instantaneous displacements x1(t) and x2(t)
of the masses m1 and m2 respectively. (b) Sketch a graph of the dependence of the amplitude A(ω) of motion
of m1 vs. frequency ω. (6+4)
2. An elastic string of negligible mass, stretched so as to have a tension T, is attached to fixed points A and B,
a distance 4L apart, and carries three equally spaced (L) particles of mass M, as shown in figure below.

(a) Suppose that the particles have small transverse displacements y1, y2 and y3 respectively, at some instant.
Derive the differential equations of motion for each particle. (b) The appearance of the normal modes can
be found by the sine curves that pass through A and B. Find the ratios A1:A2:A3 in each of the possible modes
of the system. (c) Find the angular frequencies of all the possible modes. (3+3+4)
3. Consider a particle of mass M is attached to a spring of spring constant k executing a simple harmonic motion
x(t) = A sin(ωt+δ) with A = 0.32 m. At t = 0, it is at x = −0.07m and a velocity −2.0m/s. The total energy is
5.6J. Find (i) δ, (ii) the frequency f (not ω), (iii) k and (iv) M. (2+2+3+3)

Instructions

1. Students should submit their own hand written assignment to the respective MEOW section instructors via e-mail as a
single pdf file (maximum 6 pages and less than 6MB size). Printed version is not acceptable.
2. Please use the following format of the assignment file name: ID_SectionNo_MEOW. As example, if the ID of a student
is 2019A7PS007P registered in MEOW section 5, the assignment file name should be 2019A7PS007_5_MEOW.pdf (all
are in capital letters). If there is something wrong in the file name, it won’t be considered as a valid file and will be
rejected.
3. Maximum time duration to submit the assignment is 2 days. You have to submit the assignment via e-mail to your
respective MEOW section instructor by 14th May 2020 night 10 PM.
4. After 2 days (as mentioned), one-day late submission (till 15th May 10PM) will be accepted with a penalty of 5 marks.
After 15th May 10PM, no further submission will be accepted.
5. In case of any kind of duplicate submission, only 1 st submission will be considered.
6. The assignment is compulsory for all and there is no make-up for this component.
7. Do not leave any blank space in your assignment.
8. Use the following format to write your Name, ID etc at the top of the 1st page. Use max. 6 pages. Write the final
answers of all questions at the end of the last page of your assignment. If you can complete the assignment within 5
pages, write the answers at the end of the 5th page. As example:
Name:___________________ID:____________Sec._____Sign:________

1st Page 2nd Page 3rd Page 4th Page 5th Page 6th Page

Answers Answers

Ans.Q.1.( a ) __( b ) __ ; Ans.Q.2.( a ) __( b ) ___( c ) __ Ans.Q.3.( i ) __( ii ) __( iii ) __( iv ) __
IC, on behalf of MEOW Team, Department of Physics, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus.

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