Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad

Assignment: Engineering Physics [Section: A]

Instructor: Dr. Srijit Bhattacharjee

[1] A free particle is moving in D-dimensional space. Write down the generalised coordinates
by specifying constraints on the system. Mention the number of degree of freedom for the
same problem in three dimensional case. Construct the Lagrangian and determine the equa-
tions of motion. Also establish the expression for Hamiltonian.

[2] Consider a unit mass object which is moving under the central force described by the
potential V(r) around the Sun of mass M. The motion lies in x-y plane. Mention the gen-
eralised coordinates of the system. Construct the Lagrangian and determine the equations
of motion in a suitable coordinate system. Write down the expression for Hamiltonian. Can
you find conserved quantities associated with the motion?

[3] Consider the problem of 2-pendulums in vertical x-y plane as shown in the figure be-
low i.e. two particles of mass m1 and m2 are attached at the end of the inextensible strings or
massless rod of lengths l1 and l2 respectively. The second rod is attached to the first particle
m1 . Specify the type of constraint by writing down the constraint relation. Establish the
Lagrangian of the system and find the equation of motion for two particles. Find out the
Hamiltonian of the system.

[4] Consider a particle of mass m is constrained to move along a wire which makes an angle
φ with respect to the upward vertical axis. The wire is rotating about the vertical axis with
angular velocity ω as shown in the figure. Construct the Lagrangian of the problem and find
the equation of motion.

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[5] A mass m connected to spring is moving in horizontal x-y plane. The spring constant of
the spring is k. Write down the Lagrangian in both Cartesian and Polar coordinates. Find
the equations of motion for both.

[6] A block of mass m freely slides on a inclined plane as shown in the figure. The mass M
is free to move on a horizontal table. The generalised coordinates are x of the plane and the
distance s of the block from the beginning of the plane. Construct the Lagrangian and find
the equations of motion for both.

[7] A particle of mass m is rolling due to gravity in a frictionless cone. The half angle of the
cone is α and r is the radii of the dotted lower circle which will be changing according to
motion of the particle, can be seen in the figure below. Construct the Hamiltonian and find
the Hamilton’s equations.

[8] An object of mass m is restricted to move on a cylindrical surface defined by x2 +y2 =R2 .
The particle is experiencing a force towards the origin defined by F =-kr. Using cylindrical
co-ordinates (z,R,φ), Find out the Hamilton’s equations of motion.

[9] For a sphere of radius R, the infinitesimal length element on the surface is given by
ds2 = dx2 + dy 2 + dz 2 . Write down this infinitesimal length in spherical polar coordinates.
Considering the calculus of variation, determine the Lagrangian function in terms of θ and
0
φ = dφ
dθ
. Solve the equation of motion using above details.

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[10] Two masses m at position B and C are attached to the double spring system as shown
in the figure. The ends at A and D are fixed. The spring constant for AB and CD is k and
0 0
natural length is a whereas for spring CD the spring constant is k and natural length is a .
Assume the condition that the length between the fixed points l is greater than the total
0
natural length of springs i.e. l > 2a + a . Construct Lagrangian for two coordinates x1 and
x2 . Find the equation of motion from the Lagrangian.