QUALIFYING EXAMINATION Classical Mechanics August 30, 2006 9 -11 am Three small beads, two of mass m and one

of mass 2m, are confined to move on a ring of radius R as shown. Each is connected to its nearest neighbors by stretched springs of spring constant k. When in equilibrium, they are symmetrically located about the ring. A. Find the frequencies of small oscillations. B. Describe qualitatively the motion that corresponds to = 0. (25 points)

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2.

If the polar ice caps were to melt, the level of the seas would rise, the increase in height being h 60m. Estimate the change that would ensue in the length of the day. Describe your simplifying assumptions.

(25 points)

Qualifying Examination ______________________________________________________Classical Mechanics Aug. 30, 2006

3.

Consider an equilateral triangle ABC made of three metallic rods, each of mass m and length a. The triangle is suspended in a horizontal plane by three inextensible strings of negligible mass, each of length l. The strings are attached at each vertex of the triangle (points A, B, and C) and are connected to fixed points (A, B, and C) lying in a plane above the triangle. The plane A BC is always parallel to the plane of the triangle. At equilibrium, each string is vertical. Consider small rotational oscillations about the z-axis (shown on the diagram), which goes through the center of the triangle (marked O). The rotation angle and the direction of gravity (vector g) are shown in the figure. (a) Find the moment of inertia of the equilateral triangle about the vertical z-axis passing through the center of the triangle. You may use without proof the result that the moment of inertia of a rod about the vertical axis passing through the center of mass of the rod and perpendicular to the rod is ma2 /12. (b) Calculate the vertical displacement z of the triangle in the case when the rotation angle is changed from zero to . (c) For small angle rotations, show that the Lagrangian for this system can be written in & 2 , and find the constants, C , C . the form L = C1 + C 2 2 + C3 2 3 (d) Using Lagranges equation (or otherwise) find the frequency of small oscillations tr of the suspended triangle in terms of the constants C2 and C3. (25 points)

Qualifying Examination ______________________________________________________Classical Mechanics Aug. 30, 2006

4.

A uniform rod of mass M and length L is held flat on a horizontal table and at right angles to an edge of the table. The center of mass C of the rod projects a distance d beyond the table edge at A. The Rod is released at rest. It starts to rotate about A and eventually slides off the table. The cocfficient of static friction is . The moment of inertia of a rod of length L and mass M about an axis perpendicular to the rod and passing through the center of mass is ML2 /12 (a) Calculate the angular velocity of the rod as a function of the rotation angle before sliding occurs. (b) The force exerted by the table edge on the rod has a component N in a direction perpendicular to the rod and the table edge. Calculate N as a function of before sliding occurs. (c) Calculate the angle 0 when sliding begins.

(25 points)