PHY301 : Assignment 4

1. Brachistochrone problem : Find the curve joining two points in a uniform grav-
itational field such that the time required for a particle, starting from rest, to
slide along the curve from the upper point to the lower is a minimum. Note
that the curve of minimum distance is, of course, the straight line connecting
the points, but this is not necessarily the curve of minimum time. To solve the
problem it would be useful to prove the Beltrami identity : for a function f
satisfying the E-L equation
 
f d f
= 0,
y dx y

and f /x = 0, it follows that

f
f y =C
y

where C is a constant. Note that y = y/x.

2. (Calkin 3.08) Using spherical polar coordinates (r, , ) defined by

x = r sin cos , y = r sin sin , z = r cos ,

write down the Lagrangian and find the explicit Lagranges equations of motion
for a particle of mas m moving in a central potential V (r).

3. (Calkin 3.13) Consider the motion of a free particle

1
L = m(x2 + y 2 + z 2 ),
2
as viwed from a rotating coordinate system

x0 = x cos + y sin , y 0 = x sin + y cos , z0 = z

where the angle = (t) is some given function of time.

(a) Show that in terms of these coordinates the Lagrangian takes the form
1
L0 = m[(x02 + y 02 + z 02 ) + 2(x0 y 0 y 0 x0 ) + 2 (x02 + y 02 )]
2
where = d/dt is the angular velocity.
(b) Write down the Lagranges equations of motion, and show that they look
like those for a particle which is acted on by a force. The part of the
force proportional to is called the Coriolis force, that proportional to
2 is called the centrifugal force, and that proportional to d/dt is called
the Euler force. Identify the components of these forces.

1
4. (Calkin 4.11) Jacobis principle states that a particle of mass m and energy E in
a potential V (x, y, z)
R travels from one point to another
p along a trajectory which
makes the integral p(x, y, z)ds where p(x, y, z) = 2m(E V (x, y, z)) is the
magnitude of the momentum, stationary. Consider projectile motion in the
(x, y) plane with x horizontal and y vertical, and with potential V = mgy where
g is the (constant) gravitational field. Write down the Euler-Lagrange equation
which results from Jacobis principle, and integrate to obtain the equation for
the trajectories.

5. A particle of mass m and charge q moves in a magnetic field. This field is due
to an infinite current carrying straight wire. The wire lies along the z axis. The
vector potential A of the magnetic field induced is given by
 
0 I
Ar = A = 0, Az = ln r,
2

where r, , z are cylindrical polar coordinates. Find the Lagrangian of the par-
ticle. What can you say about the coordinates and z ? What about the
corresponding momenta ?