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P502: Classical Mechanics-II

Problem Set - 1 (Assignment- 1)
Problems in this set are to be answered using Euler Lagrange’s Equation.

1. A uniform ladder of length L and mass m rests on a floor, leaning against a smooth
wall. If µ is the coefficient of friction with the floor, find the angle at which the
ladder would slip. Use principle of virtual work.

2. Consider the ladder of the previous problem to be resting on a smooth floor. In

order to prevent slipping, a massless, horizontal rope is tiued to the centre C of the
ladder, the other end of the rope being fixed to a peg on the wall. Find the tension
in the rope when the end in contact with the floor is at a distance d from the wall.

A
2a
A C
L/2 ?

M
2a
L/2
B

m
O B
d

3. A rod AB of length 2a and mass M is freely hinged at A, its end B terminates in

a massless ring. A string is fixed at C which is at the same horizontal level as A
at a distance equal to 2a. The other end of the string passes smoothly through the
ring and terminates in a mass m hanging from it. If the system is in equilibrium,
determine the angle CAB. Take M = 10m.

4. A mass m slides down a right angled wedge of mass M which is kept on a frictionless
floor. Find the accelerations of the mass and of the wedge as the mass comes down
the wedge.

5. A mass m slides down the surface of a cylinder without slipping. Find the angle
(with respect to the vertical) where the mass leaves the cylinder surface. (Note:
this problem is normally done using Lagrange multiplier. However, at this stage
take the normal reaction Fc to be given a by a potential Vc (r). In fact, the mass
slightly deforms the cylinder surface and the effective potential is non zero over a
small distance having a spike at the surface.)

6. Consider a pendulum made of a spring with a mass at one end. The spring is
arranged to lie in a straight line (which can be arranged by wrapping it around a
rigid massless rod). Let L be the equilibrium length of the spring. At time t, the
length of the spring is x(t) and the angle that the spring makes with the vertical
is θ(t). If the motion takes place in a vertical plane, determine the equations of
motion for x and θ.
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7. A pendulum consists of a mass m at the end of a rigid massless rod of length L.

The support for the rod oscillates according to x(t) = A cos ωt. Find the equation
of motion for θ(t).

8. The support for the massless rod of the pendulum is connected to a horizontal spring
of spring constant k. The motion takes place in a vertical plane. Identify suitable
generalized coordinates and obtain the corresponding generalized forces. Write sown
the Euler Lagrange equations and from there obtain the equations of motion.
ω

k A
m
m
θ L

B M

9. A bead is free to slide along a frictionless ring of radius R. The ring rotates with a
constant angular speed ω about a vertical diameter. Find the equation of motion for
the bead. Find the position of equilibrium and the frequency of small oscillations.

10. The point of support for a simple pendulum of mass m and length L is moving along
a horizontal axis with a uniform speed V . Write the Lagrange equation of motion.

11. A circular disk rolls down an inclined plane without slipping. Find the acceleration
of the disk.

12. Two particles of mass m each are connected by a rigid rod of length 2L. The
centre of the system is constrained to move in a circle of radius R. Identify a set of
generalized coordinates for the system and write down the kinetic energy in terms
of the set.
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ω
m
C L
L
m
R R

O
r
z = cr 2

13. A bead slides along a smooth wire in the shape of a parabola whose equation is
given by z = cr2 , where r is the distance from the axis.. The wire is being rotated
about its vertical axis with an angular velocity ω. Write the Lagrange equation of
motion for the bead. At equilibrium, the bead rotates in a circle of radius R. Find
the constant c.

14. A spherical pendulum is like an ordinary pendulum excepting that its motion, in-
stead of being confined to the verical plane can move in three dimension. The system
has two dgrees of freedom defined by θ and ϕ. Write down the equations of motion
for the system.

15. A particle slides down a smooth elliptical wire lying in the vertical (x-z) plane,
having the equation
x2 y 2
+ 2 =1
a2 b
Define a single generalized coordinate and obtain an expression for the generalized
force corresponding to this coordinate.

16. Two masses m1 and m2 are connected by means of a massless spring of normal
length L and spring constant k. A horizontal force is applied to one of the masses
along the length of the spring. The masses move on a frictionless floor. Obtain
the equation of motion for the centre of mass of the system as well as that of the
reduced mass corresponding to the two body system.
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m1 k m2
F ω

11111111111
00000000000
00000000000
11111111111 r m

L−r

17. The masses M and m are connected by an inextensible string of length L which
passes through a hole in a frictionless table. m lies on the table while M can only
move vertically. What is the angular speed with which the mass m should move in
a circle of radius r on the table so that M does not move?

18. A particle moves in a plane under a force directed towards the origin whose magni-
tude is given by −mg − k ṙr̈ where r is the distance from the origin. Find a potential
corresponding to this force and obtain the Lagrangian for the system

19. A ladder of length 2L is held against a smooth vertical wall, the other end being in
contact bwith a smooth floor. The angle that the ladder makes in this position is
θ0 . If the ladder is now released, at what angle will it lose contact with the wall?
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
1 J
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1 2L P
0
1 θ
0
1
0
1
0
1
R
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
θ0
0000000000000
1111111111111
0
1
0000000000000
1111111111111

20. A mass m is attached to one end of a massless tape which is snugly wound around
a culinder of radius R so that the mass touches the cylinder. An instantaneous
impulse J is given to the mass in a radially outward direction as a result of which
the tape unwinds. Determine the angle θ as a function of the angle θ.