Physics 710-712

due October 30, 2009

Problem Set 4
Problem 1: Do exercise 2.5.3 of the text.
Solution: The problem asks us to get the equations of motion using the Hamiltonian method for the system shown in Figure 1.5 (p. 46) of the text. Using x1 and x2 shown there as the generalized coordinates, the kinetic energy and potential energy are T = m 2 m 2 x + x , 2 1 2 2 V = k 2 k k x + (x1 x2 )2 + x2 , 2 1 2 2 2

so the Lagrangian is L = T V and thus the generalized momenta are p1 p2 so the Hamiltonian is H=T +V = and Hamiltons equations are x 1 x 2 = = H p1 = , p1 m p2 H = , p2 m p 1 = p 2 H = 2kx1 + kx2 , x1 H = = 2kx2 + kx1 . x2 p2 k k k 2 p2 1 2 + 2 + x2 1 + (x1 x2 ) + x2 , 2m 2m 2 2 2 = = T L = = mx 1, x 1 x 1 L T = = mx 2, x 2 x 2 p1 , m p2 x 2 = , m x 1 =

Problem 2: Do exercise 2.7.2 of the text.

Solution: (i): {qi , qj } :=
k

qi qj qi qj qk pk pk qk pi pj pi pj qk pk pk qk qi pj qi pj qk pk pk qk

=
k

qi qj 0 0 qk qk 0 pj pi 0 pk pk

=0 =0

{pi , pj } :=
k

=
k

{qi , pj } and {qi , H} :=

:=
k

=
k

(ik jk 00) = ij ,

qi H qi H qk pk pk qk pi H pi H qk pk pk qk

=
k

ik 0
k

H H 0 pk qk

H =q i , pi H =p i , qi

{pi , H} :=
k

H H ik pk qk

where in the last steps I used Hamiltons equations. 2 2 2 (ii): The Hamiltonian given is H = p2 x + py + ax + by .

If a = b, H has a

symmetry under simultaneous rotations in the x-y and px -py planes, under which generator) is conserved. Therefore { z , H} = 0. We check this as follows: { z , H} =
k

(the

z H z H qk pk pk qk

z H z H z H z H + . x px y py px x py y

But H = 2pk , pk z (xpy ypx ) = = pk pk so {

z

z z , px py

= (y , x) ,

H = xk z = qk

H H , x y z z , x y

= (2ax , 2by ) , = (py , px ) ,

, H} = py 2px + (px )2py (y )2ax x2by = 2xy (a b)

which vanishes if a = b.

Problem 3: Do exercise 2.8.1 of the text.

Solution: Since g = p1 + p2 , it generates the infinitesimal transformations g =+ , p1 g x2 = + =+ , p2 x1 = + g = 0, x1 g p2 = = 0. x2 p1 =

So, to order , these give the canonical transformations xi x i (xj , pj ) and pi p i (xj , pj ) with x 1 = x1 + , x 2 = x2 + , p 1 = p1 , p 2 = p2 ,

which is precisely a spatial translation of the whole system by an amount .