PHY205 Problem Set 0 Newtonian Mechanics Refresher 13 September 2017

This problem set is due on Tuesday, September 19.

Problem 1. Conservative Forces

Which of the following forces are conservative? If conservative, find the potential U (r) respon-
sible for the force (a, b and c are constants. If a force is conservative only for particular values of
a, b, c, find the potential assuming those values.).

a) F = (ayz + bx + c) i + (axz + bz) j + (axy + by) k

b) F = zex i + ln z j + (ex + y/z) k

c) F = ay i + bx j + cz k

Problem 2. Compound Pendulum

A compound pendulum is formed by a uniform thin bar of mass m and length l that rotates on
a pivot P , located 3/4 of the way from its lower end.
y

P x

g
v

a) Find the equation of motion for the pendulum, using the angle as the dynamical variable.

b) Assuming the pendulum is released from rest from an initial small angle 0  1, find an
expression (t) for the pendulums subsequent motion.

c) Find a vector expression v(t) (i.e. find vx and vy ) for the velocity of the lower end of the
pendulum given the same initial conditions as in part (b).

Problem 3. A one-dimensional force

A particle of mass m = 1 kg is subjected to a one-dimensional force F (t) = k t et/ , where

k = 1 N/s and = 2 s. If the particle is initially at rest, calculate (by hand) and plot (with a
computer1 ) a) the position, b) the speed and c) the acceleration of the particle as a function of
time, out to 20 seconds.

Problem 4. Find the Force

A particle of mass m has speed v(x) = /x, where x is its displacement. Derive the force, F (x),
that is responsible for accelerating the object.

1 Use of Mathematica is highly encouraged, but you may use any other tool if you prefer.

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PHY205 Problem Set 0 Newtonian Mechanics Refresher 13 September 2017

M R

m1
m2

Figure 1: A simple Atwoods machine.

Problem 5. Simple Atwoods Machine

Two masses, m1 and m2 , are suspended with a light line around a pulley made from a uniform
disk of mass M and radius R. This is a simple Atwoods machine, see the figure.

a) Write down the Newtons equations of motion. Use as dynamical variable the distance x between
the mass m1 and the point of contact with the pulley. Solve the equations of motion explicitly.

b) Write down the kinetic and potential energy of the system, as a function of the dynamic variable
x and its time derivatives. Verify that, when evaluated on the solution of part a), the total energy
is a constant.

Problem 6. Epsilon gymnastics

P
a) Use the ijk notation for cross products and the identity i ijk ilm = jl km jm kl to prove
the following results:

1. (~a ~b) (~c d)

~ = (~a ~c)(~b d)
~ (~b ~c)(~a d)
~

2. ~a (~b ~c) = (~a ~c)~b (~a ~b)~c

b) Show that if ~r, ~v = ~r and ~a = ~r are the position, velocity and acceleration of a particle, then

d
[~r (~v ~r)] = r2~a + (~r ~v )~v (v 2 + ~r ~a)~r
dt

Problem 7. Taylor Series

The Taylor series expansion will be very useful throughout this course (you may read appendix
A of T&M if you are not very familiar or rusty with Taylor expansions).
Using only pen and paper,
1
a) Find the general (exact) expression for the Taylor series expansion in x of 1+x , for |x| < 1.

b) Use this to calculate the definite integral

Z x
dx
0 1+x
d
for 0 < x < 1 and, given that du ln(u) = u1 , find a series expansion for ln(1 + x) (dont Taylor
expand (1 + x), just use the previous result).

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PHY205 Problem Set 0 Newtonian Mechanics Refresher 13 September 2017

R 1 x2
c) Using an appropriate Taylor series expansion, evaluate the integral 0 e 2 dx to three
decimal places. (Show all your work so that we can tell you didnt have your computer do it for
you).

d) Expand the function f (x) = sin(3x + /4) for small values of x. Showing your work, evaluate
f (x = 0.1) to three decimal places.

e) Use a Taylor series to expand sin1 (x) for small x. Verify that you did it correctly by
expanding the integral in the relation
Z x
dx
sin1 (x) = .
0 1 x2

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