Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 5

Please hand in the questions marked with (RF) to the Students Administration Office by 2pm on
Monday 14 November for marking. These questions will be covered in the Rapid Feedback session
on Friday 18 November.

1. (RF) A uniform filled cylinder of mass M and radius R rolls down a hill of slope θ with-
out slipping. Parameterising it position by a suitable generalised coordinate, write down the
Lagrangian. Derive and solve the equation of motion.

Figure 1: Setups for Questions 1 (left), 2 (centre) and 3 (right).

2. (RF) A light inextensible string passes over a light, smooth pulley, and carries a mass 4m on
one end. The other end supports a second pulley with a string over it carrying masses 3m and
m on the two ends.

(a) Using a suitable pair of generalised coordinates, write down the Lagrangian function for
the system, and derive the equations of motion. Find the downward accelerations of the
three masses.
(b) Find the tensions of the strings. Explain why the first pulley turns even though the total
mass on each side are the same.

3. A simple pendulum of mass m and length ` hangs from a trolley of mass M running on smooth
horizontal rails. The pendulum swings in a plane parallel to the rails.

(a) Using the position x of the trolley and the angle of inclination θ of the pendulum as
generalised coordinates, show that the Lagrangian may be written as [4 marks]

L= 1
2 (M + m) ẋ2 + m`ẋθ̇ cos θ + 21 m`2 θ̇2 + mg` cos θ

(b) Show that θ obeys the equation of motion [7 marks]

M + m sin2 θ `θ̈ + m`θ̇2 cos θ sin θ + (M + m) g sin θ = 0

(c) From your derivation of the equation of motion identify a conserved quantity and explain
its physical significance. [2 marks]
(d) Write down an expression for the angular frequency of oscillations of the pendulum as-
suming small amplitude and velocity. [2 marks]

1
Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 5

(e) If the system is released from rest with the pendulum inclined at 30◦ to the vertical, use
energy conservation to find the pendulum’s angular velocity when it reaches the vertical,
given that M = 2 kg, m = 1 kg and ` = 2 m. [5 marks]

[TOTAL 20 marks]