Mechanics Set 12

1.A planet of mass m is initially orbiting a star with mass M. As a simplifying assumption, you may neglect
the motion of the star. A)Initially the planet is orbiting the star along a circular orbit of radius R. Determine
the period of revolution of the planet. B)The star suddenly explodes. A large fraction of the stellar material is
ejected radially and escapes the system but the planet survives the explosion intact. The stellar remnant is
spherical, has mass $6 and uniformly distributed on a sphere with radius R where 0 N $, O N 1. For a fixed
value of O determine for what value, values, or range of values of $ (if any) will the planet end up with i. an
orbit that collides with the stellar remnant; ii. a circular orbit; iii. a complete elliptical orbit; iv. a parabolic
orbit; and v. a hyperbolic orbit. You may assume in your analysis that $6 ? so that the motion of the
stellar remnant can still be neglected. C)Determine the period of revolution of the planet around the stellar
remnant of mass $6 if the resulting orbit is an ellipse.
2. A few years ago a video of charged water droplets orbiting a charged knitting needle in the International
Space Station became viral. Let us consider a simplified model of the phenomenon by replacing the water
droplet with a point charge with mass m, and the knitting needle with a very long uniformly charged rod, and
restricting the motion of the droplet to a single plane (the x-y plane). In this case the force on the water droplet
Q
can be written as ) = L  where C is a constant that is dependent on the charge of the droplet and the
needle. Assume that the rod is perpendicular to the xy plane and passes through the origin. A)Show that the
potential energy of the system can be written as "() = C R
(/5 where 5 is a constant. B)Write a
differential equation involving the inverse radius u = 1/r and the angular coordinate  that will give the shape
of the droplets orbit. (Do not solve the differential equation just set it up). C)Denote the angular momentum
of the droplet by L and suppose the droplet is in a circular orbit. Determine the radius  of the circular orbit,
expressing the final answer in terms of m, L, and C only. D) The droplet mentioned in Part C is now given a
small radial kick. Determine the period of the resulting radial oscillation and the precession rate of the
resulting orbit.
,

3.An object with mass m is constrained to move along the x-axis in a potential "
  >
 ' where k

&
and A are positive constants. At time t=0, the position and velocity of the object are
and  (both positive),
determine the position as a function of time x(t). Do not assume small oscillations.

4.Two identical springs and identical masses m1 = m2 =m are attached

to a wall as shown in the Figure. Denote the displacement from
equilibrium of the left and right mass as x and y respectively where
the positive direction is towards the right. A.Determine the normal
mode frequencies and the normal modes. B.At t=0, the masses are at equilibrium and the left mass is given a
kick to the left while the right mass is given a kick to the right with the result that both masses acquire
identical initial speeds v0. Determine x(t) and y(t). C. Determine the normal coordinates

5 .(Refer to the figure on the left) Determine the normal mode frequencies of
a coplanar pendulum consisting of masses ?, and ? and light rigid rods
with lengths =, and = as shown on the right. Assume that the oscillation
amplitudes are small.