Intermediate Classical Mechanics

Charles B. Thorn1
Institute for Fundamental Theory
Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611

Abstract

E-mail address: thorn@phys.ufl.edu

c
2013
by Charles Thorn

Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Newtons Three Laws of motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 Vector notation, algebra, and calculus
2.1 Vector notation . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2 Addition of two vectors . . . . . . . . .
2.3 Scalar product of two vectors . . . . .
2.4 Vector product of two vectors . . . . .
2.5 Some force laws in vector notation . . .
2.6 Differentiating vectors . . . . . . . . .
2.7 Momentum Conservation . . . . . . . .
2.8 Inertial Frames of Reference . . . . . .
2.9 Coordinate Systems . . . . . . . . . . .
2.10 Polar coordinates in a plane . . . . . .
2.11 Newtonian Dynamics . . . . . . . . . .
2.12 The Value of New Formulations . . . .

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3 Simple motions in one and two dimensions

3.1 Projectile motion without air resistance . . . . .
3.2 Air resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.3 Linear air resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.4 Millikan oil drop measurement of electric charge.
3.5 Quadratic air resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.6 A charged particle in a uniform magnetic field .

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4 Momentum and Angular Momentum

4.1 Momentum Conservation . . . . . . .
4.2 Rockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.3 The Center of Mass Coordinate . . .
4.4 Angular Momentum . . . . . . . . .
4.5 Systems of several particles . . . . . .

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5 Energy
5.1 Conservative forces and potential energy
5.2 Stokes Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.3 Potential energy examples . . . . . . . .
5.4 One dimensional systems . . . . . . . . .
5.5 Central forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.6 Energy of systems of particles . . . . . .

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c
2013
by Charles Thorn

6 Oscillations
6.1 Descriptions of Simple Harmonic Motion
6.2 2 and 3 dimensional oscillations . . . . .
6.3 Damped Oscillations . . . . . . . . . . .
6.4 Driving oscillations . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.5 Resonance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.6 Fourier Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.7 RMS Displacement, Parsevals Theorem

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35
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7 Variational Principles
7.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.2 Calculus of Variations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.3 Nonmechanics applications of the calculus of variations. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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8 Hamiltons Principle of Least (Stationary)

8.1 Generalized coordinates . . . . . . . . . .
8.2 The Action and Hamiltons Principle . . .
8.3 Changing Coordinates in the Lagrangian .
8.4 The energy from the Lagrangian . . . . . .
8.5 The simple pendulum . . . . . . . . . . . .
8.6 Constraints in general . . . . . . . . . . .
8.7 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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c
2013
by Charles Thorn

Introduction

The subject of mechanics deals with the motion of material bodies in three dimensional
space. The bodies might be fundamental particles like the electron, or extended objects
like baseballs, planets, or stars. We usually distinguish material bodies from other physical
entities such as electromagnetic or gravitational fields, whose description goes beyond the
mechanics we study in this course.
The subject of this course is classical mechanics which neglects quantum effects. In
other words we pretend that Plancks constant ~ = h/2 is zero. This is a very good
approximation for all of the everyday physics we encounter around us. Quantum effects
become important only when we delve into atomic and molecular scales. For the most part,
in this first semester, we also assume that all speeds are much smaller than c the speed of
light, so that the modifications of mechanics required by Einsteins theory of relativity can
also be neglected. Relativistic physics will be deferred to the second semester of the course.
Thus in this first semester we will be studying the application of Newtons laws of motion,
which have been in place since the seventeenth century.

1.1

Newtons Three Laws of motion

We start with an idealization: we imagine that we can isolate a material body from all
external influences (we say that no forces act on the body). In the real physical world
this idealization is never exactly realized but it can be approached by gradually reducing
frictional forces and for example restricting motion near the earths surface to a horizontal
plane. Newtons first law then describes the bodys motion in this idealized situation:
1st Law: In the absence of forces a body moves with uniform velocity.
It is important to note that the velocity is a vector quantity having a direction as well as
magnitude (speed). Thus the isolated body is either at rest or moves in a straight line at
constant speed. The first law is the least specific of the three laws, and in fact is valid
for relativistic mechanics and even in quantum mechanics, to the extent allowed by the
uncertainty principle (i.e. the isolated particles wave function is a plane wave!).
The second law begins to pin down the effect of forces on a body:
2nd Law: ma = F .
Here a is the vector acceleration of the body, which has a clear meaning. The mass m is
an attribute of the body that quantifies its resistance to the action of the force. A heavier
body accelerates less than a lighter one if subjected to the same force. The force is not
an attribute of the body, but quantifies the interaction of the body with its environment.
Although not explicit in the second law there is the promise that the force is a cogent way
of characterizing the bodys interaction with its environment.
The third law puts an important constraint on the nature of forces.

c
2013
by Charles Thorn

3rd Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Quantitatively it means that if body 1 exerts a force F on body 2, then of necessity body 2
exerts a force F on body 1. It is important to appreciate that Newtons formulation of the
constraint is specific to Newtonian mechanics which includes forces which act instantaneously
at a distance. Indeed such forces violate the causality of special relativity which requires that
influences can not travel faster than the speed of light. As we shall see, the third law implies
the conservation of momentum which will hold in general, if all the momentum is accounted
for. For example, the electromagnetic field can carry momentum, and two charged bodies
can give up some of their momentum to the field. Thus the third law applied to the two
bodies would fail but momentum would still be conserved.

Vector notation, algebra, and calculus

One of the objectives of this intermediate course on mechanics is to get beyond the oversimplifications that were made in the introductory course (PHY2048). We want to be able to
describe more complicated motions that involve all three dimensions of space. The concept
of vectors is a valuable tool for this task.
The motion of a point mass can be specified by giving its location at each time t. To
do this we establish a Cartesian coordinate system with three perpendicular coordinate axes
intersecting at the origin O of the system. Any point in space can be located by its three
coordinates x, y, z. The trajectory of a point particle is then specified by the three functions
x(t), y(t), z(t).

2.1

Vector notation

Next we introduce vector notation. We are familiar with geometric notion of a vector as an
arrow that points in the direction of the vector and whose length is the magnitude of the
vector. We denote a vector in the text by a bold face v. On the blackboard I will frequently
use instead an over arrow ~v . We can multiply vectors by numbers cv. Multiplying by a
negative number reverses the direction of the vector.

2.2

Addition of two vectors

The sum of two vectors v 1 + v 2 is given geometrically by the parallelogram rule. But a
more efficient procedure, especially when several vectors are to be added, is to resolve the
vector into its components along the coordinate axes. To do this we introduce unit vectors
, j = y
, k = z
, pointing in the positive x, y, and z directions respectively. Then the
i=x
components of v are such that
v vx i + vy j + vz k = (vx , vy , vz )

(1)

Using component notation we then have for the sum v 1 + v 2 = (v1x + v2x , v1y + v2y , v1z + v2z )
5

c
2013
by Charles Thorn

With this notation we can now think of the coordinates of a point in space as the position
vector:
r xi + yj + zk = (x, y, z)

(2)

The position vector differs from a true vector in that it depends on the origin of coordinates.
But the notation is nonetheless extremely useful. Examples of true vectors are the velocity
and acceleration of a particle as well as the force. Thus Newtons second law F = ma is an
equation between two true vectors. If we have two points specified by position vectors r 1
and r 2 the displacement d12 = r 2 r 1 is a true vector, since it doesnt depend on the origin
of the coordinates system.

2.3

Scalar product of two vectors

Geometrically the scalar product of two vectors A, B is defined as A B = |A||B| cos

where is the angle between the two vectors. In terms of components it is given by
A B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz =

3
X

Ai Bi = Ai Bi

(3)

i=1

where the last equality invokes the summation convention that repeated indices are always
summed. In the summation we identify x 1, y 2, z 3. Along with this labeling, it
is also convenient to similarly label the basis vectors:
i = (1, 0, 0) e1 ,
j = (0, 1, 0) e2 ,
(
0 j 6= k
ej ek = kj
1 j=k

i = (0, 0, 1) e3

(4)
(5)

Then we can write any vector

A =

Ai ei = Ai ei ,

Ai = ei A

(6)

Notice that the scalar product is distributive (A + B) C = A C + B C. Note also that

A A = |A|2 .

2.4

Vector product of two vectors

We have seen that the scalar product of two vectors is a number. In contrast the vector
product of two vectors A, B is a vector. Its magnitude is |A||B| sin , and its direction is
perpendicular to both A and B, in the sense of the right hand rule. In terms of components
we have
(A B)z = Ax By Ay Bx ,

(A B)y = Az Bx Ax Bz ,
6

(A B)x = Ay Bz Az By
c
2013
by Charles Thorn

By introducing the antisymmetric symbol ijk , the relation of components can be more
succinctly written
(A B)i = ijk Aj Bk

(7)

where the summation convention is in force. ijk is antisymmetric under the interchange of
any pair of indices: ijk = jik = ikj = kji , and therefore vanishes unless i, j, k are all
different. By convention 123 = +1. Using ijk we see that
A (B C) = ijk Ai Bj Ck = kij Ai Bj Ck = (A B) C

(8)

The fundamental identity

ijk klm = il jm im jl

(9)

is easily proven: just put (i, j) = (1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 1) in turn. This identity implies the triple
vector product identity
[A (B C)]i = ijk Aj (B C)k = ijk Aj klm Bl Cm = (il jm im jl )Aj Bl Cm
= Aj Bi Cj A BCi = A CBi A BCi
(10)
where the last form is true if B and C commute.

2.5

Some force laws in vector notation

Newtons inverse square force law for gravitational systems can be written:
F Grav
= mk
k

X Gmj (r k r j )
j6=k

|r k r j |3

(11)

where we have several particles present. The vector notation makes Newtons third law
evident:
F kj =

Gmk mj (r k r j )
= F jk
|r k r j |3

(12)

which has no dependence on the velocities of the particles. Newton didnt know about
magnetic forces, which were understood much later. A particle of charge q moving in an
electromagnetic field experiences a force
F EM = q [E(r, t) + v B(r, t)]

(13)

The existence of magnetic forces means that we have to allow for velocity dependent forces
to hope to describe all phenomena. Note that the 3rd law has no obvious interpretation in
this formula since the fields which exert the force on the charged particle are not themselves
material bodies. When the sources of the fields are included in the dynamics, however,
momentum conservation will be valid with an appropriate identification of the momentum
carried by the fields.
7

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by Charles Thorn

2.6

Differentiating vectors

When we describe the trajectory of a particle as a time dependent position vector r(t), we
can obtain the velocity and acceleration of the particle as first and second derivatives:
dr
dv
d2 r
,
a = v =
= r = 2
(14)
dt
dt
dt
where we have introduced the dot notation for time derivatives.
The time derivative of a vector is defined in parallel to the time derivative of a scalar
function:
v = r =

A(t + ) A(t)
dA
lim
(15)
0
dt

Since the Cartesian unit vectors i, j, k are independent of time, it is cleat that the components of dA/dt are simply (A x , A y , A z ). In other words the Cartesian components of the
time derivative of a vector are simply the time derivatives of the Cartesian components of
the vector.
Spatial derivatives of vector functions of the coordinates can have several manifestations.
The gradient operator is defined by


f f f
f
(16)
,
,
x y z
For example the divergence and curl of a vector function A(r) are given by
X Ai
Ai
Ak
=
,
( A)i = ijk
A =
xi
xi
xj
i

(17)

where the summation convention has been used. Notice that the meaning of the dot and
cross products here are exactly those already defined.
For completeness we mention the integral theorems of Gauss and Stokes:
Z
I
Z
I
dV E =
dS E,
dS E = dl E
(18)
familiar from electromagnetic theory.

2.7

Momentum Conservation

We have mentioned that momentum conservation is a consequence of Newtons third law.

Let us first consider two particles. According to the 3rd law if particle 2 exerts a force F 12
on particle 1, then particle 1 exerts a force F 21 = F 12 on particle 2. Then the second law
reads
dp1
dp2
= F 12 ,
= F 21 = F 12
(19)
dt
dt
d
(p + p2 ) = F 12 + F 21 = 0
(20)
dt 1
8

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by Charles Thorn

That is, P = p1 + p2 is a constant. If we have more particles exerting pairwise forces on

each other, the second law reads for particle k
X
dpk
=
F kl
(21)
dt
l6=k
Summing over all particles gives
XX
X
X
X
X
dP
d X
=
pk =
F kl =
F kl +
F kl =
F kl +
F lk = 0
dt
dt k
k l6=k
k<l
k>l
k<l
l>k

(22)

by the third law.

2.8

Inertial Frames of Reference

Inertial frames are those in which the first law holds. By implication this implicitly carries
the assumption that we know all of the forces. If all the known forces are zero, but an
unknown force is not zero we would judge the frame to be non-inertial. Once we have found
one inertial frame, any frame of reference moving at constant velocity relative to it will also
be an inertial frame.

2.9

Coordinate Systems

We have used vector notation to express the second law concisely p = F . But to deal
with the equations mathematically it is usually best to write out the components of the
vector equation. In Cartesian coordinates, the basis vectors are fixed once and for all so
that applying time derivatives to the position vector r = (x, y, z) simply means applying the
derivatives to the components: r = (
x, y, z). For the case where F is a constant vector the
differential equation of motion is solved by two integrations. A familiar example is gravity
near the surface of the earth, which exerts a force mg
z on a particle of mass m. Then the
force only enters the z component:
1
z = g,
z = gt + v0 ,
z(t) = gt2 + v0z t + z0
(23)
2
meanwhile x(t) = v0x t + x0 and y(t) = v0y t + y0 . In these solutions the 6 integration constants
(v0x , v0y , v0z ), (x0 , y0 , z0 ) are given by the initial conditions.
A more complicated uniform force problem is the classic freshman physics problem of
a block sliding down an inclined plane in the presence of friction. In this problem it is
convenient to pick the x-axis of the Cartesian system parallel to the inclined plane, so
motion is only in the x coordinate. Then the three forces are gravity that points vertically
down mg(sin , cos , 0), the normal force N (0, 1, 0) exerted by the plane, and the frictional
force (N, 0, 0). Since there is no motion in the y coordinate, Fy = N mg cos = 0.
Then Fx = mg sin N = mg(sin cos ) determines the acceleration down the inclined
plane. then x(t) is given by
g
x(t) =
(sin cos )t2 + v0 t + x0
(24)
2
9

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by Charles Thorn

2.10

Polar coordinates in a plane

For something a little different lets consider how the equations look in polar coordinates on
the xy-plane (z = 0).
x = r cos ,

y = r sin ,

r = (r cos , r sin , 0)

(25)

Now take derivatives of r to obtain the velocity and acceleration:

v = r = r(cos

, sin , 0) + r(
sin , cos , 0)
(26)
2
a = v = r(cos , sin , 0) + (2r + r)(

sin , cos , 0) r (cos , sin , 0)

2
= (
r r )(cos , sin , 0) + (2r + r)(

sin , cos , 0)
(27)
Now we can recognize r = (cos , sin , 0) as the unit vector pointing in the direction of r,
as the unit vector pointing in the direction of increasing at fixed r. So we can write
and
more compactly:
r = r
r,

a = (
r r 2 )
r + (2r + r)

v = r
r + r ,

(28)

of the polar
The reason for these complicated formulas is that the unit basis vectors r ,
coordinate system are not constant in time:

d
=
r
dt

d
r

= ,
dt

(29)

As a consequence, Newtons second law in polar coordinates is a bit complicated: write

and find
F = Fr r + F ,
m(
r r 2 ) = Fr ,

m(2r + r)
= F

(30)

The oscillating skateboard on a half pipe in the text is essentially the same as a pendulum
consisting of a point mass attached to a massless rod of length R. The mass point feels
and the normal force N = N r .
the downward force of gravity mg = mg(cos
r sin )
Since the rod is a constant length r = r = 0, so the second law reads:
mR 2 = N + mg cos ,

mR = mg sin

(31)

the first equation determines N = m(R 2 +g cos ), which is precisely the force of constraint
keeping the bob moving in a circle. The important difference between the pendulum and
the skateboard on a half pipe is that the normal force exerted by the rod can be in either
direction, whereas the half pipe requires N > 0. We see that if > /2 and is small
enough, N has to be negative to keep the mass moving in a circle! The second equation
determines the motion of the pendulum
=

g
sin
R
10

(32)
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This differential equation determines (t), however not in terms of elementary functions.
when 1 the right side can be approximated sin and the equation linearizes,
reducing to the equation of motion for a simple harmonic oscillator:
g
=
R

(33)

Since the diff eq is linear with constant coefficients we can always find solutions of the form
ert , becausepthen each derivative gives a factor of r and the equationpreduces to r2 = g/R
or r = i g/R. The angular frequency of the oscillator is g/R and the general
solution is
(t) = Aeit + Beit = (A + B) cos t i(A B) sin t

(34)

Since (t) is a real function, we must require B = A . A can be determined by initial

conditions on :
(0)

sin t.
(35)

p
The motion is periodic with period T = 2/ = 2 R/g.
What can we say if is not small? We can find an energy conservation law by multiplying
the equation by :



d 1 2 g
g
cos
(36)
0 = + sin =
R
dt 2
R
1 2 g
cos = C
(37)
2
R
(t) = (0) cos t +

which we can solve for :

p
d
d
dt = p
=
2C + 2 2 cos ,
dt
2C + 2 2 cos
Z (t)
d
p
t =
2C + 2 2 cos
(0)

(38)

The integral on the right is known as an elliptic integral which can not be expressed in
terms of elementary functions. We will return to its study later on when we come to a more
systematic discussion of energy. For small oscillations the integral can be done
t

(t)

d
p

2C +

2 2

2 2

(t)
1
arcsin

2C + 2 2

(39)

recovering simple harmonic oscillations.

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2.11

Newtonian Dynamics

Classical mechanics has not really changed, in substance, since the days of Isaac Newton.
The essence of Newtons insight, encoded in his second law F = ma, is that the motion of
a particle r(t) is determined once its initial position and velocity are known. His famous
equation relates the acceleration d2 r/dt2 to the force on the particle, which is implicitly
assumed to depend only on the positions, and possible the velocities of the particles in the
system. Consider a system of N particles, whose trajectories are described by 3N coordinates
r k (t), k = 1, . . . , N . Then Newtons laws of motion take the mathematical form of 3N second
order differential equations in time:
mk

d2 r k
= F k ({r i }, {r i })
dt2

(40)

This is the general framework, but of course for each dynamical system we also need to know
the force law. Newton also didnt know about Einsteins relativity, but his law of motion,
appropriately modified carries over to this domain as well. The necessary modification is to
replace ma with dp/dt, where p is the relativistic momentum of the particle:
p p

mv
1 v 2 /c2

(41)

We see that for particles moving slowly compared to the speed of light v c, the momentum
goes approximately to its Newtonian expression p mv, so p ma. But even for fully
relativistic motion the basic structure of Newtonian dynamics holds.

2.12

The Value of New Formulations

The previous subsection contains everything you need to know about Newtonian dynamics
once you solve the equations there is nothing more to say. However, there are other ways
to look at the dynamics that reveal features of the motion that brute force solution of the
equations might leave obscure. For example in elementary physics we learn how to exploit
energy conservation when the force is the gradient of a potential F = V . Then instead
of working with the second order differential equations we can use energy conservation
E =

1
mv 2 + V (r) = Constant
2

(42)

to immediately read off the speed of the particle in terms of its location and total energy E.
In one dimensional motion the potential energy curve tells us a lot about the types of
motion that will occur. A horizontal line of height E intersects V (x) at the turning points
where the particle comes to rest. Points where dV /dx = 0 tell where a particle feels zero
force. A particle placed there at rest will stay at rest: we spot the static solutions by looking
for the maxima and minima of the potential. A minimum is stable equilibrium, whereas a
maximum is unstable equilibrium.
12

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For motion in one dimension, energy conservation implies Newtons equations



V
V
dE
= mx
x + x
= x m
x+
=0
dt
x
x

(43)

so as long as x 6= 0, Newtons equation holds. But in two or more dimensions energy

conservation only tells us
x (m
x + V ) = 0

(44)

For example the magnetic force

which only implies that m
x + V is perpendicular to x.
might or might not be present:
m
x = V + q x B

(45)

In the second semester of this course the ideas of Lagrange, Hamilton, and Jacobi will be
used to interpret general nonstatic solutions in terms of maxima or minima of an energy-like
quantity called the action. Since a nonstatic solution is a curve in space rather than simply
a point, we have to study the action as a function of curves, which requires the concepts of
the calculus of variations, which we will develop near the end of this semester.
A great advantage of the action is that by construction it is an invariant under the
symmetries of the dynamical system. It is a scalar functional of the coordinates qk (t) and
velocities qk (t). It therefore summarizes the dynamical content of a system in a compact
and transparent way. As we shall see, it also greatly simplifies the problem of imposing
constraints on the dynamical variables.

Simple motions in one and two dimensions

To gain some experience with solving Newtons equations we go beyond uniform forces by
considering velocity dependent forces that are independent of position. In such situations,
Newtons laws are first order differential equations for the velocity, which makes them relatively easy to solve. Examples of velocity dependent forces are air resistance in projectile
motion and magnetic forces in a uniform magnetic field.

3.1

Projectile motion without air resistance

When we ignore air resistance, projectile motion near the earths surface is governed purely
by a uniform gravitational force mg
z . The trajectory stays in the plane determined by the
z-axis and the initial horizontal velocity. We choose coordinates so that this is the xz-plane.
Take the initial time to be t = 0, the initial location of the particle to be x = y = 0 and
+ Vz z
. Then we have
z = h, and the initial velocity to be v 0 = Vx x
1
z(t) = h + Vz t gt2
(46)
2
For example the range of the projectile is the horizontal distance traveled when z returns to
its initial value. This happens at the time t = 2Vz /g, so the range is 2Vx Vz /g.
x(t) = Vx t,

13

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3.2

Air resistance

To add a little realism to projectile motion (and make the equations of motion a little less
trivial!) Lets consider adding the effect of air resistance. We will assume the force of air
resistance depends only on the velocity, and is directed oppositely to the velocity (i.e. it
must tend to slow the speed!). We also make the simplifying assumption that its magnitude
is at most quadratic in v:
f bv cvv

(47)

This should be a good approximation if v is not too large. The coefficients b, c depend on the
properties of the medium as well as the geometry of the projectile. Assuming the projectile
is a sphere of diameter D, then b = D and c = D2 , and , depend on the medium. For
air at STP = 1.6 104 Ns/m2 and = 0.25Ns2 /m4 . What this means for the relative size
of the two terms is
fquad
Dv
1600 2
flin
1m /s

(48)

which means that for normal projectiles the quadratic term dominates. This is unfortunate,
because the linear term is so much easier to deal with!

3.3

Linear air resistance

The equation of motion for a projectile with linear air resistance is

m

dv
= mg
z bv,
dt

dv
= bv ,
dt

v = v 0 ebt/m

(49)

where we temporarily defined v v + (mg/b)

z . Going back
v(t) = (mg/b)
z (1 ebt/m ) + v 0 ebt/m

(50)

We see that in characteristic time = m/b, v(t) approaches the terminal velocity v ter =
. It is interesting to note that the time and hence the terminal velocity depends on
g z
the mass of the object, since b depends only on the shape of the object. So unlike motion
in a gravitational field in vacuum, the effects of air resistance are different for varying mass.
Clearly heavier particles are less affected by air resistance than lighter ones. For objects of
the same composition (density ) and different size (diameter D) the mass is proportional
to D3 . For linear air resistance b D, so D2 : larger drops fall faster.
By a simple integration of v(t), we find the trajectory, with initial position at the origin
(0, 0, 0),
r(t) = (g )
z (t (1 et/ )) + v 0 (1 et/ )
x(t) = v0x (1 et/ ),
z(t) = (g )(t (1 et/ )) + v0z (1 et/ )
14

(51)
(52)

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To get the shape of the trajectory, we need to eliminate t in favor of x in the expression for
z:


x
x
t/
e
= 1 x ,
(53)
t = ln 1 x
v0
v0


x
v0z + g
v0z + g
2
=
g
ln
1

+
x
(54)
z(x) = g t + x
v0x
v0x
v0x
Notice that z when x v0x , meaning that x will never reach that value. Thus v0x
is an upper limit on the possible range of motion.
If air resistance is a small effect = m/b is large and it is reasonable to expand the
logarithm in a Taylor series:
ln(1 a) = a

a2 a3

2
3

(55)

Putting a = x/(v0x ), we see that the first term cancels and we get


2x2
gx2
gx3
v0z
gx
2v0x v0z
z x2
+ x x = x2 x +

2v0
3 v0x3
v0
2v0
3 v0x
g

(56)

The range R is the value of x where the right side is 0:

2
2v0x v0z
2v0x v0z 8v0x v0z2
2v0x v0z
2

=
R
R
g
3 v0x
g
3 g 2
g

4v0z
1
3vter

(57)

The factor in parentheses multiplies the range in vacuum, i.e. no air resistance. This factor
is clearly smaller than one, but close to one in the approximation used to obtain the result.

3.4

Millikan oil drop measurement of electric charge.

The formula for the terminal velocity vter = mg/b gets modified in the presence of an electric
field to vter = (mg qE)/b in the presence of an electric field. Thus one can turn a careful
measurement of the terminal velocity a charged particle into a measurement of the particles
charge q. Looking back to the value of b = D, with 1.6 104 , the terminal velocity
of a spherical drop of oil with density at zero electric field is
vter =

V g
4 D2
9.8 840 1012 m
m
=

2.7 105
4
D
3 8
6
1.6 10
s
s

(58)

for a one micron oil drop of density 840kg/m3 = 0.840g/cm3 . This is so slow that it can
be directly measured by time of flight with the aid of a microscope. For example one can
fine-tune the electric field to cancel the gravitational force, and then get q = mg/E. By
measuring lots of different drops of the same size one learns that q is an integer multiple of
a fundamental unit of charge. Incidentally the time it takes to reach this terminal speed is
= vver /g 3 106 s, which is virtually instantaneous!.
15

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3.5

Quadratic air resistance

Now lets consider the case where the linear resistance force is utterly negligible, so the
quadratic force must be used. Then we need to deal with the 2nd law
dv
c
cq 2
vx + vy2 + vz2 v
(59)
= g
z vv = g
z
dt
m
m

For projectile motion we can assume vy = 0, but then we still have a hard mathematical
problem. To see this resolve into components:
dvx
cp 2
=
vx + vz2 vx ,
dt
m

cp 2
dvz
= g
vx + vz2 vz
dt
m

(60)

We could for example use the first equation to find vz in terms of vx , v x and plug into the
second equation, leading to a nonlinear second order differential equation!
However, if we restrict the motion to either purely horizontal or purely vertical we get
soluble equations. Lets start with horizontal motion so gravity plays no role. So set vz =
vy = 0, after which the equation for vx v becomes
c
dv
= v2,
dt
m
m
m

,
t(v) =
cv cv0

dt
m
= 2
dv
cv
v0
mv0
=
v(t) =
cv0 t + m
1 + t/2

(61)
(62)

where 2 = m/(cv0 ), which unlike depends on the initial conditions. We see that the speed
slows down toward 0, but only as 1/t. As it slows down, it will eventually have so low a
speed that the quadratic approximation is no longer valid, and linear air resistance takes
over. After that the slowing will become exponential. By a single integration we obtain x(t),
assuming the quadratic approximation:
x(t) = x0 + v0 2 ln(1 + t/2 )

(63)

The fact that x as t is unrealistic and is due to the assumption that the quadratic
approximation is valid down to arbitrarily low speeds. If we put both terms into the equation
of motion we get a more reasonable (though more complicated) result:
dv
c
dt
m
m
m
mc/b
= bv v 2 ,
=
=

+
dt
m
dv
bv + cv 2
c(v + b/2c)2 b2 /4c
bv b + cv


Z v
m
m v(cv0 + b)
c
v(cv0 + b)
1
t =
= ln
,
ebt/m =
dv

b v0
v
b + cv
b
v0 (cv + b)
v0 (cv + b)

v0
v0 ebt/m

,
bt/m
1 + (v0 c/b)(1 e
)
1 + cv0 t/m


m
x(t) = x0 + ln 1 + (v0 c/b)(1 ebt/m )
c
v(t) =

for

bt
1
m

(64)
(65)

We see that after a very long time the total distance traveled x()x0 = (m/c) ln(1+v0 c/b)
is finite as long as b is finite.
16

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Next we consider vertical motion, so that gravity plays a role;

Z v
dv
dv
m
= mg c|v|v,
t = m

dt
v0 mg + c|v |v

(66)

Notice that we have to be careful with the sign of the resistive term. If v > 0 (upward
motion) it should be negative so it tends to slow the projectile. But if v < 0 (downward
motion) it must be positive to reduce the speed (magnitude of v). If v0 > 0 at the beginning
of the motion both gravity and air resistance tend to slow the projectile. But then after
it reaches its high point and starts to descend, gravity and air resistance work in opposite
directions. Let us first take v0 0, so that v will stay negative thereafter. Then the equation
is solved by doing the integral
r
Z
Z v
dv
1 v
dv
mg
=
,
vter =
t = m
2
2
2
g v0 1 v /vter
c
v mg cv

Z v 0 
1
vter (1 + v/vter )(1 v0 /vter )
1
1
gt =
dv
=
ln
(67)
+

2 1 + v /vter 1 v /vter
2
(1 v/vter )(1 + v0 /vter )
v0
To simplify life lets assume that v0 = 0, i.e. the ball is dropped from rest. Then inverting
the last result gives
gt
1 e2gt/vter
1 + v/vter
=
v
tanh
v(t) = vter
= e2gt/vter ,
ter
1 v/vter
1 + e2gt/vter
vter
v2
gt
v2
v2
z(t) = z0 ter ln cosh
= z0 + ter ln 2 ter ln(egt/vter + egt/vter )
g
vter
g
g
2
v
z0 + ter ln 2 vter t
g

(68)
(69)

where the last line shows the asymptotic behavior at large t, which simply reflects the
approach to a terminal velocity.
If v0 > 0, i.e. the projectile is thrown upward, the upward part of the journey is described
by
v
Z v
Z
dv
dv
1 v
v 
vter
t = m
=
arctan
=
2
2
g v0 1 + v 2 /vter
g
vter v0
v0 mg + cv




2
v0
vter
v0
gt
gt
d
v(t) = vter tan arctan
=
(70)
ln cos arctan

vter vter
g dt
vter vter




2
2
vter
vter
v0
v0
gt
z(t) = z(0) +

(71)
ln cos arctan
ln cos arctan

g
vter vter
g
vter
The upward journey ends when v(t) = 0por gt = vter arctan(v0 /vter ). At that point it has
2
2
/vter ). Then it starts falling as described
risen an amount zmax z(0) = (vter
/g) ln( v02 + vter
in the previous paragraph.
17

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Finally we briefly consider general projectile motion. As we already mentioned it is

hopeless to find an explicit solution to the equations of motion.
dvz
dvx
cp 2
cp 2
(72)
vx + vz2 vx ,
vx + vz2 vz
=
= g
dt
m
dt
m
We of course know what to expect qualitatively, because either type of air resistance qualitatively hinders the motion relative to that in the vacuum. The projectile will not rise as high
nor go as far as in vacuum; and of course there is a terminal velocity in both cases. When
we considered pure horizontal motion with quadratic air resistance we found the unreasonable result that although the velocity drops to zero, it does so slowly enough that there is
no upper limit to the horizontal displacement. However this doesnt happen in combined
vertical and horizontal motion.
To see this we look at the equations at very late times, when we know that v x 0 and
v z vter . In this regime the equations become

dvx
cvter
dvz
cvter

vx ,
g
vz
(73)
dt
m
dt
m
which are the equations for linear air resistance with the parameter b = cvter . So eventually
v x approaches zero exponentially, which means that x(t) approaches a finite value at large t:
Z
x(t) x
dtv x (t)
(74)
0

3.6

A charged particle in a uniform magnetic field

The velocity dependent forces we have considered thus far are not fundamental: they only
take into account the fundamental interactions of air molecules with the projectile in an
average and over-simplified way. In contrast the magnetic force F = qv B is a fundamental
force of nature. Unlike the force of air resistance which dissipates energy, the magnetic force
acts in a way that conserves kinetic energy. It is fairly easy to see this2
dK
mq
=
2v (v B) = 0
(76)
dt
2
because v is orthogonal to v B! So the magnetic force is non-dissipative.
Since v 2 is a constant, only the direction of v changes with time. To investigate the
motion, let us choose coordinates so that B, which we shall assume is uniform, is parallel
to the z axis. Then the magnetic force is parallel to the xy plane. Newtons equation is
m
2

find

dv
)
= q(v B z
dt

(77)

The complete electromagnetic force includes an electric component F = q(E + v B). In this case we
dK
dt

= qv E

d
(q)
dt

(75)

for an electrostatic field E = . Then E = K + q is conserved.

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Using the definition of the cross product we easily resolve this equation into components:
dv x
dv y
dv z
= 0,
m
= qBv y ,
m
= qBv x
(78)
m
dt
dt
dt
The first equation is trivial to solve: it just says v z =constant, so z(t) = z0 + v z t. There are
at least two ways to solve remaining equations.the most straightforward way is to use the
second equation to eliminate v y from the third equation:
m x
qB
vy =
v ,
vx = 2 v x ,
=
(79)
qB
m
We recognize the second equation as the equation for trig functions cos t or sin t. Thus
the general solution for v x is
m x
1
v x = C sin t + S cos t A sin(t ),
vy =
v = v x = A cos(t ) (80)
qB

where C = A cos , S = A sin or A = C 2 + S 2 and = arctan(S/C). Then a single

integration gives x(t), y(t):
A
A
x(t) = x0 cos(t ),
y(t) = y0 + sin(t )
(81)

r(t) = r 0 + (R cos(t ), R sin(t ), v z t)

(82)

The projection of the trajectory onto the xy plane is a circle of radius R = v0 / = mv0 /qB
centered on the point (x0 , y0 , 0). The particle traces this circle in a clockwise direction (If
we flip the sign of B the particle will move in the counter-clockwise direction). If v z 6= 0
the three dimensional trajectory traces a circular helix with axis parallel to the z axis. Note
that we have 6 arbitrary constants of integration x0 , y0 , z0 , v z , R, , so that this is in fact the
most general solution.
There is an interesting mathematical representation of the motion of a magnetic field in
terms of complex exponentials. Let us go back to the equations of motion, and define the
complex quantity vx + ivy . Then
d
dvx
dvy
=
+i
= (vy ivx ) = i(vx + ivy ) = i
(83)
dt
dt
dt
This is just the differential equation satisfied by eit ! Thus we can write the solution as
q
2
2
(t) = vx (t) + ivy (t) = (v0x + iv0y )eit iAeiit ,
A = v0x
+ v0y
(84)

A iit
e
(85)

By taking the real and imaginary parts of both sides we recover the previous solution:
A
A
y(t) = y0 + sin(t )
(86)
x(t) = x0 cos(t ),

We see that the complex exponential eit gives a very efficient representation of uniform
circular motion. Looking down from positive z toward negative z, the motion is clockwise
when Bz > 0 and counterclockwise when Bz < 0. This is the direction of motion that
guarantees that the magnetic force points radially toward the center of the circle.
x(t) + iy(t) = x0 + iy0

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4
4.1

Momentum and Angular Momentum

Momentum Conservation

In our discussion of Newtons 3rd law we noted that in a closed system with no external
forces F ext = 0, the 3rd law guarantees momentum conservation:
N

d X
mk v k = F ext = 0
dt k=1

(87)

In a collision of two particles, momentum conservation reads

m1 v 1 + m2 v 2 = m1 v 1 + m2 v 2

(88)

Suppose, for example, that particle 2 starts at rest, v 2 = 0. Then the particle 2s final
velocity is determined:
v 2 =

m1
(v 1 v 1 )
m2

(89)

The description of collisions is much simpler in the inertial frame where the total momentum vanishes m1 v 1 = m2 v 2 . (This is called the center of mass system) Then conservation
of momentum simply says that m1 v 1 = m2 v 2 . It is then very easy to calculate the change
in kinetic energy in the collision process:




m21
1
v 21 v 2
(90)
m1 +
K.E. =
1
2
m2

From this we immediately see that the maximum loss of kinetic energy (i.e. the collision is
maximally inelastic) occurs when v 1 = 0 = v 2 . That is when both particles in the final state
are at rest (carrying no kinetic energy). In this frame the condition for an elastic collision
K.E. = 0 is simply that the final particles have the same speeds as the initial particles.
The Lab frame, in which particle 2 is at rest, moves relative to the CM frame with velocity
V = v 2 CM = (m1 /m2 )v 1 CM . In this Lab frame v 1 Lab = v 1 CM V = (1 + m1 /m2 )v 1 CM ,
v 2 Lab = 0, v 1 Lab = v 1 CM V and v 2 Lab = (m1 /m2 )v 1 CM V . The condition for maximal
inelasticity, v 1 CM = 0, then becomes the statement that the particles in the final state both
travel at the same velocity, V = (m1 /m2 )v 1CM = m1 v 1Lab /(m1 + m2 ).

4.2

Rockets

Rockets are propelled by expelling momentum in the form of its fuel exhaust, giving itself
momentum equal to the opposite of the exhaust momentum. For simplicity consider only
motion in a straight line. Let the particles in the exhaust have a constant velocity vex relative
to the rocket. At the moment when rocket plus fuel have mass m and velocity v, suppose

20

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a mass dm is expelled. Its momentum relative to an observer at rest is dm(vex v). The
change in the system momentum
Psys = (m + dm)(v + dv) dm(v vex ) mv = mdv + vex dm

(91)

Newtons second law gives Psys = mdv + vex dm = Fext dt, but in the absence of external
forces we have simply (assuming vex is constant
dv
vex
= ,
dm
m

v(t) v0 = vex ln

m(t)
m0

(92)

The smallest the final mass can be is the mass with all fuel spent. The log dependence shows
that a huge fraction of the initial mass must be fuel an discardable fuel tanks (stages) to get
a substantial velocity change.

4.3

The Center of Mass Coordinate

Lets look again at the statement of momentum conservation for an N particle system:
P =

d2 X
d X
mk r k = 0,
mk v k = 2
dt k
dt k

mk

(93)

P
This equation says that the center of mass coordinate defined by R (1/M ) k mk r k
= 0. It therefore has time dependence R(t) = R0 + V t, where
has zero acceleration R
V = P /M . If there is an external force on the system so P = F ext , Then R satisfies
= F ext .
Newtons second law M R
For a two particle system the point R lies on a straight line joining the particles and is
closest to the heavier of the two particles. For a continuous body the center of mass is a
volume integral
Z
1
R =
dV r(r)
(94)
M
R
where is the mass density M = dV . Notice that if a large system is broken into two
subsystems we have
R =

1 X
1
1 X
(M1 R1 + M2 R2 )
mk r k +
mk r k =
M k1
M k2
M

(95)

P
P
where M1 = k1 mk , M2 = k2 mk are the total masses of the subsystems. For example
the center of mass of a uniform sphere of radius a and mass m1 with a point mass m2 glued
somewhere on its surface is the point on the line joining the point mass to the center of the
sphere at radius m2 R/(m1 + m2 ).

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4.4

Angular Momentum

For a single particle angular momentum about the point with position vector R is defined
by
L = (r R) p r p

(96)

L = mr2
z

(99)

when it is about the origin of coordinates. We can use the 2nd law to find its time derivative
dL
= r p + (r R) F = (r R) F N
(97)
dt

where N is called the torque about R. The first term vanished because p is parallel to r.
We see that angular momentum about R is conserved if the torque about R vanishes. For
simplicity we assume that R = 0, namely that we compute angular momentum and torque
about the origin of coordinates.
An important situation in which the torque vanishes is if the vector F (r) is parallel to
r. Such a force is called a central force. Examples include the gravitational and Coulomb
forces exerted by a mass or charge fixed to the origin of coordinates.
Conservation of angular momentum provides an elegant explanation of Keplers 2nd law
of planetary motion, which states that a single planet revolving about the sun sweeps out
equal areas in equal times. first notice that if L is a constant vector, both r and p, which
at all times are perpendicular to the constant direction of L, lie in a fixed plane, and so the
entire trajectory stays in that plane, which we take to be the xy-plane.
The area dA swept out in an infinitesimal time dt is simply the area of the triangle
determined by r and vdt. From our work with vectors, we have found that the area of a
parallelogram spanned by any two vectors is |v 1 v 2 |, so the area of the triangle is just half
of this:
1
|L|
dA =
|r v|dt =
dt
(98)
2
2m
Hence A = |L|/2m. Clearly, if L is conserved A is a constant, and Keplers second law
follows. Notice that Keplers law is true for any central force, not just inverse square ones.
so that
In polar coordinates, we found that r = r
r + r
When L is conserved, the angular velocity of the planet varies as 1/r2 .

4.5

Systems of several particles

Let us consider a system of N particles and define the angular momentum about the origin
of coordinates as simply the sum of the angular momenta of the individual particles:
L =
dL
=
dt

N
X

k=1
N
X
k=1

r k pk

(100)

r k F k = N total

(101)

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When we considered the time derivative of the total momentum, the 3rd law guaranteed that
the internal forces canceled out so we had P = F ext , so that total momentum is conserved
in the absence of external forces. The internal force contributions to the total torque do not
automatically cancel out, but they do simplify:
X
X
X
X
rk
F kl =
r k F kl +
r k F kl
k

l6=k

k<l

k>l

X
X
=
(r k F kl + r l F lk ) =
(r k r l ) F kl
k<l

(102)

k<l

If all of the internal forces are central forces, which means F kl is parallel to (r k r l ) for
each pair k, l then the internal force contributions to the total torque do cancel.
X
dL
=
r k F k ext = N ext ,
Central Internal Forces
(103)
dt
k

Then in the absence of external forces the total angular momentum of the N particle system
will be conserved. [Discuss Putty-turntable example]
The angular momentum of a system of particles about its center of mass has special
interest. We might call this the spin of the system: think of a spinning top. When
external forces are present, the center of mass coordinate R(t) will be accelerating according
= F ext , so the spin is not simply the angular momentum in another inertial system.
to M R
With r k the coordinates relative to the origin of an inertial system, we define the coordinates
relative to the center of mass as r k r k R(t), and the momenta relative to the center of
mass are pk = mk r k . Now write out L in terms of the primed variables:
X

L =
(r k + R(t)) (pk + mk R(t)
k

X
k

X
k

r k pk + R(t)

pk +

X
k

mk R(t) R(t)
+

r k pk + M R(t) R S + R P

X
k

mk r k R

(104)

P
P
P
where M = k mk is the total mass, and k mk r k = k mk r k M R = 0 by the definition
P

of center of mass. Then also

k pk = P M R = 0. This result shows that we can
always decompose the total angular momentum of a system into its spin plus the angular
momentum of the system as a whole R P .
If all the internal forces are central and obey the 3rd law, we then have
dL
dS
N ext =
=
+ R F ext
dt
dt
X
dS
= N ext R F ext =
(r k R) F k ext
(105)
dt
k

In other words the angular momentum of a system of particles about its center of mass has
its time derivative equal to the torque about the center of mass, even if the center of mass
is accelerating. [Discuss dumbbell motion after sharp impulse]
23

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Energy

The last great conservation law is that of energy. In mechanics we start with a precise
notion of Kinetic energy (KE for short). the kinetic energy of a particle of mass m is simply
T = mv 2 /2 = p2 /2m. We can use Newtons 2nd law to calculate its time derivative
dT
dt

= vF

(106)

In general F can depend on position r, velocity r and time t. When it depends only on
position, we can formulate the concept of work and the work energy theorem. Integrate both
sides of the last equation w.r.t. time:
T = T (t) T (0) =

dr
dt
dt

F (r(t ) =

r(t)

r(0)

dr F (r )

(107)

The integral on the right is an example of a line integral and can be defined for any path
connecting the two points r 1 = r(0) and r 2 = r(t). To see this describe the chosen path
parametrically r() = (x(, y(), z(), with r(0) = r 1 and r(1) = r 2 . Then dr/d is a
vector tangent to the curve, and the line integral is defined as the ordinary integral
Z r2
Z 1
dr

W (r 1 , r 2 ; P ) =
F (r())
(108)
d
dr F (r )
d
P,r1
0
(In mechanics we can think of the parameter as time and the path as some trajectory
of the particle.) It is called the work W (r 1 , r 2 ; P ) done by the force on the particle as it
moves from r 1 to r 2 along the path P . The previous equation shows that this work gives
the change in kinetic energy of the particle as it follows this motion.
The dependence of the work on the path used to define it limits its utility. Random
choices for F are very likely to give path dependent work functions. Suppose for example
F = (ay, bx, 0), and we calculate the work from (0, 0, 0) to (R, R, 0) in two ways.
W1 =

dxFx (x, 0, 0) +

W2 =

dyFy (0, y, 0) +

dyFy (R, y, 0) = 0 + bR2 = bR2

0
R

dxFx (x, R, 0) = 0 + aR2 = aR2 6= W1

(109)

Of course for the special case b = a the two paths give the same answer!

5.1

Conservative forces and potential energy

However, for the important class of forces, called conservative forces the work turns out to
be independent of the path. In that case, fixing r 0 as some reference point, we can define a
function of all of space r by U (r) W (r 0 , r). The reference point is the point at which
24

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U (r 0 ) = 0. If W depended on the path, there would be no way to consistently define such

a single valued function. When it can be defined this function is the potential energy.
When the force is conservative, the work done from r 1 to r 2 can be written
Z r2
Z r0
Z r2
W (r 1 , r 2 ) =
dr F =
dr F +
dr F
r1

r1

r0

= U (r 1 ) U (r 2 ) = U

(110)

Combining this with the work energy theorem then gives energy conservation T + U = 0.
Now lets consider more closely the relation between U (r) and F (r). By definition
Z r
U (r) = U (x, y, z) =
(dxFx + dyFy + dzFz )
r1

U
x

U
= Fy ,
y

= Fx ,

U
= Fz
z

(111)

That is, the components of the vector F are the corresponding derivatives of U : Fi =
U/xi . Since there are three coordinates there are three derivatives that can be taken,
each holding the other 2 constant. This is what is meant by the partial derivatives /xi .
These partial derivatives can be denoted by the vector gradient :

+y
+z
x
y
z
F = U

= x

(112)
(113)

Forces which can be derived from a potential energy this way are precisely the conservative
forces.
It is a fundamental property of partial derivatives that the order in which two partials
are applied doesnt matter:
 
 
2f
f
f
2f

(114)
=
=
xy
x y
y x
yx
and this is true for each pair, x, y, y, z, z, x. This means that
2U
2U
Fj
Fi
=
=
=
xj
xi xj
xj xi
xi
i Fj j Fi = 0

(115)

We can identify the combinations i Fj j Fi as the various components of the cross product
F , which is called the curl of F . Thus conservative forces have zero curl: F = 0.

5.2

Stokes Theorem

Another way to say that the work function is independent of the path is to say that the work
done along any closed path is zero:
I
dr F (r) = 0,
All closed paths P
(116)
P

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We can relate the line integral on the right to a surface integral of the curl of F . To do this
lets parameterize a surface by the three function rk (1 , 2 ). Where the parameters 1 , 2
range over the unit square 0 1 , 2 1. Then consider the integral
 i


 i j
Z 1
Z 1
r F i
r r
ri rj F i
ri F i

=
d1 d2

d1 d2
1 2 2 1 rj
1 2
2 1
0
0





Z 1
r
r

=
F
F
d1 d2
2 1
1 2
0
 2 =1 Z 1
 1 =1


Z 1
I


r
r


F 
F 
=
d1

d2
= dr F (117)
1
2
0
0
P
2 =0
1 =0

where P is the closed loop described by r(1 , 0), 0 < 1 < 1; r(1, 2 ), 0 < 1 < 1; r(1 , 1),
1 > 1 > 0; r(0, 2 ), 1 > 2 > 0. Clearly this closed loop is the boundary of the surface
parameterized by r(1 , 2 ). this is known as Stokes theorem. Our argument actually applies
in any number of spatial dimensions. In 3 dimensions we can write

k
 i j

m
l
ri rj F i
r
r r
r
i r r
(118)

= ijk klm j F
= ( F )

1 2 2 1 rj
1 2
1 2

r
r
The infinitesimal vector dA =

d1 d2 has magnitude equal to the element of area of
1
2
r
r
the parallelogram spanned by the two vectors
d1 and
d2 , and direction perpendicular
1
2
to the surface with sign given by the right hand rule. So in 3 dimensions Stokes theorem
can be expressed as
Z
I
dA F =
dr F
(119)
S

where S is a standard notation for the boundary of the surface S. The sign is consistent
with the right hand rule: if the fingers of the right hand are pointed in the sense of the
contour on the right, the thumb points in the direction of dA.
With the aid of Stokes theorem, we see immediately that the work integral is independent
of the path if and only if F = 0 throughout all of space. Equivalently any force with
zero curl can be expressed as minus the gradient of a potential.

5.3

Potential energy examples

Central forces: U (r): F = U = U (r) rr f (r)r. Checking the curl:

f (r)
r r + f (r) r = 0
(120)
r
We see from the above the relation between U and F for central forces. We can also
do the work integral explicitly
Z r
Z
Z r
1 r

U (r) =
dr r f (r ) =
d(r ) f (r ) =
r f (r )dr
(121)
2 r0
r0
r0
(f (r)r) =

from which we see that U depends only on r = |r| and that U = rf (r).
26

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 Uniform force (F = constant). U = r F .

i (rj F j ) = ij F j = F i
Z r
U (r) =
dr F = F (r r 0 )

(122)
(123)

r0

Several distinct forces. EachPconservative force can be expressed F k = Uk . then the

total potential energy U = k Uk makes sense. This cant be done for nonconservative
forces F nc . Then energy conservation is replaced by (T + U ) = Wnc . Example:
Inclined plane with friction.

5.4

One dimensional systems

With one dimensional systems, one only needs to require that the force is a function only of
x, F (x), not of t nor of v. Then the path independence of the work function is automatic,
and one simply defines the potential energy by
Z x
dU
U (x) =
dx F (x ),
F (x) =
(124)
dx
x0
The force is zero whenever the curve U (x) has zero slope, i.e. at relative maxima or minima.
At those points the particle can be in static equilibrium. At a maximum the equilibrium is
unstable. A particle in motion has energy larger than U (x).
Energy conservation allows us to express the solution of a general one dimensional conservative force problem in terms of an explicit integral. We start with the statement of energy
conservation:
1 2
mv + U (x) = E
2

(125)

with E the total (kinetic + potential) energy, which is a constant. We then solve for v as a
function of x:
r
r Z x
Z t
2(E U (x))
m
dx
dx

p
dt =
v=
=
,

(126)
dt
m
2 x0 E U (x )
0

The sign is fixed by initial conditions and will change at turning points. Lets choose the +
sign from now on:
r Z x(t)
m
dx
p
(127)
t =
2 x0
E U (x )

Here we get t(x) as an explicit function of x, rather than x as an explicit function of t. But
it nevertheless tells us everything about the motion! To go further, we have to specialize to
special potentials.
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Lets do the integral for a uniform force, such as gravity near the earths surface. Then
F = mg or U (z) = mgz and
r h
r Z z(t)
i
p
2
dz
m
m p

(128)
=

t =
E

mgz(t)

mgz
0
2 z0
mg 2
E mgz

If the particle starts out at rest, E = 0 + mgz0 = mgz0 , so the second term is zero we should
choose the sign because the subsequent velocity will be negative. Then
r
1
2p
t=
(129)
z0 z(t), z(t) = z0 gt2
g
2

a result we are of course very familiar with.

Systems can be effectively one-dimensional without literally involving motion along a
straight line. This can happen if three dimensional motion is suitably constrainedthink
of a roller coaster. Or consider a simple pendulum consisting of a massless rod of length L
connected to a bob mass m. The motion is constrained to a circle of radius L. In the absence
of friction energy is conserved. The position of the bob is given in terms of the angle the
rod makes with the vertical: v = L and z = L(1 cos )
E=

m 2
mL2 2
mL2 2

v + mgz =
+ mgL(1 cos ) =
+ 2mgL sin2
2
2
2
2

(130)

Note that we can quickly recover the e.o.m. by setting E = 0: mL2 + mgL sin = 0. The
we apply the 1-d formula
r
Z
mL2
d
p
t=
(131)
2
E mgL(1 cos )
0

Taking 0 = 0 and noting that the maximum angle occurs when = 0, E = 2mgL sin2 m
this simplifies to
s Z
L
d
p 2
(132)
t=
4g 0
sin (m /2) sin2 ( /2)
the period T of the pendulum is 4 times the time it takes to rise from 0 to m :
s Z
s Z
m

du
d
L
L 1

p 2

T =2
=4
2
2

g 0
g 0
1 u 1 k 2 u2
sin (m /2) sin ( /2)

(133)

where k = sin(m /2).

Other examples: (1) Cube balanced on a cylinder; (2) Atwood machine. Constraints
make the motion effectively one dimensional. The key ingredient is that the constraints do
no work: normal constraining forces are perpendicular to the motion, and friction is either
absent or does no work as with rolling without slipping.
28

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5.5

Central forces

Central conservative forces are derived from a potential U (r) which depends only on the
distance from the center of force, which we choose to be the origin of coordinates. The
conserved energy is then
E =

m 2
v + U (r)
2

(134)

With motion in three dimensions energy conservation is less powerful than in one dimension,
because the direction of v is not constrained by it. It is convenient to use spherical polar
coordinates to describe the motion in central potentials. These are
r = r(sin cos , sin sin , cos )

(135)

Then the velocity is fairly complicated:

v = r
r + r sin (
sin , cos , 0) + r(cos
cos , cos sin , sin )

+ r
= r
r + r sin
v 2 = r 2 + r2 sin2 2 + r2 2

(136)
(137)

and .
It is easy to
Here we have introduced the mutually orthogonal unit vectors r , ,
= ,

r
= ,and
= r .
check that r

Incidentally, the gradient operator in spherical coordinates is complicated by the fact

that the unit vectors are not constant: We can infer from

+ d
+ d
r

(138)

+
+
r
r sin
r

(139)

dr = dr
that
+ rd
and dr = dr
r + r sin d
= r

which makes it obvious that U can be a central force only if U is independent of angles!
Returning to energy conservation we have in terms of spherical coordinates
E =

m 2
(r + r2 sin2 2 + r2 2 ) + U (r)
2

(140)

The angular velocities are not constrained by energy conservation, but remember that we
also have angular momentum conservation!
= mr2 ( sin
+ )
+ r)

L = mr v = mr (r sin
2
2 4
2
2
2

L = m r (sin + )

29

(141)
(142)

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We notice that the angular velocities in E occur exactly in the same combination as they do
in L2 L2 . Since L2 is a constant, we can safely eliminate the angular velocities in E:
L2
m
m 2
r +
+ U (r) r 2 + UL (r)
2
2
2mr
2
L2
UL (r) = U (r) +
2mr2

(143)

E =

(144)

The radial coordinate can now be treated as in one dimensional motion. In particular we
can solve for t as a function of r as an explicit integral. By studying the graph of UL (r) we
can also map out all of the qualitative motions.
Since the direction of L is a constant, it is convenient to choose our polar axis (z-axis)
parallel to L, which means that = /2 and L = mr2
z . The particle moves in the xy
plane ( = /2) and its angular velocity is related to L and r:
L
mr2
r
2(E UL (r))
r =
,
m

(145)
d
L
= 2
dr
r

1
2m(E UL (r))

We can integrate the last equation to get (r):

Z 1/r0 s
Z r s
dr
1
1
=L
du
= L
2

2m(E UL (r ))
2m(E UL (1/u))
1/r
r0 r

(146)

(147)

For the C/r potential UL (1/u) = L2 u2 /2m Cu and the integral is an elementary one
involving an inverse trig function. The turning points are given by
p
C C 2 + 2EL2 /m
1e
2 2
0 = L u /2m Cu E,
u =

(148)
2
L /m
p
r
L2
2EL2
p =
,
e= 1+
(149)
mC
mC 2
For an actual turning point r = 1/u must be positive. We see that u are both positive
when C > 0 (attraction) and E < 0. In this case r oscillates between a minimum rp = 1/u+
(perihelion) and a maximum (aphelion) ra = 1/u . When C > 0 and E > 0, only u+ is
positive, and the particle motion is unbounded. When C < 0 (repulsion), then necessarily
E > 0 and again only u+ is positive and the motion is unbounded. For gravity C = Gm1 m2 >
0. For the Coulomb potential C = q1 q2 /40 is negative for like sign charges and positive
for opposite sign charges.

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To do the integral, we write

2 !

L 2 u2
L2
L2 e2
1
E + Cu
(150)
=
(u u+ )(u u ) =
u
2m
2m
2m p2
p
Z u+ s
1
du
=
e2 /p2 [u 1/p]2
1/r






pu+ 1
1
1

p
p
= arcsin

arcsin
= arcsin
e
e
re e
2
re e
p
1
p
cos =
,
r=
(151)
re e
1 + e cos
When the eccentricity e < 1 (so E < 0), the radial coordinate r varies between a minimum
p/(1 + e) and a maximum p/(1 e). The orbit is then an ellipse with semi-major axis
a = p/(1 e2 ). Clearly when e = 0 the radius is constant so the orbit is a circle. When e > 1
(so E > 0) there is a minimum p/(1 + e) but no maximum: r when cos 1/e.
To find the time dependence of the motion we need
r r
L2
1
C
2
=
r =
E+
2mEr2 + 2mCr L2
m
r
2mr2
mr

2mE p
(rmax r)(r rmin )
(152)
=
mr
When the orbit is bounded (E < 0), it has a period given by
Z rmax
Z rmax
rdr
m
dr
p
= 2
T = 2
r
2mE rmin
(rmax r)(r rmin )
rmin
Z 1
m
(rmax rmin )xdx + rmin dx
p
= 2
2mE 0
x(1 x)
Z 1
dx
m(rmax + rmin )
m(rmax + rmin )

=
=
2mE
2mE
x(1 x)
0

(153)

Now

C
L2 mC 2
=
mC (2EL2 )
E
4 2 m
T2
=
a3
C

2a rmax + rmin = 2p/(1 e2 ) = 2

which is Keplers third law.

2a3/2
T = p
,
C/m

31

(154)

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5.6

Energy of systems of particles

Now we would like to extend the concepts of kinetic energy and potential energy to more
than one particle. The total kinetic energy of several particles is simply the sum of the
kinetic energies of each particle:
T =

N
X
1
k=1

mk r 2k

(155)

The definition of potential energy is less obvious. If the particles do not interact with each
other but each particle k moves independently in an external force field F k (r) then the force
on particle k is just F k (r k ). If the force is conservative F k (r) = Uk (r) and the force on
particle k is
F (r k ) = k Uk (r k ) = k

N
X
l=1

Ul (r l ) k UT ,

UT =

N
X

Ul (r l )

(156)

l=1

where we understand that k involves only derivatives w.r.t. the components of r k , holding
constant the components of all r l with l 6= k. Thus all terms in the sum with l 6= k contribute
nothing to the force on particle k. With these definitions of total kinetic and potential energy,
we have energy conservation:
E =
dE
=
dt
=

N 
X
1

k=1
N
X

k=1
N
X
k=1

mk r 2k


+ Uk (r k )

(157)

(mk r k r k + r k k Uk (r k )) =

N
X
k=1

r k (mk r k + k Uk (r k ))

r k (mk r k F k (r k )) = 0

(158)

by Newtons second law for each particle.

Next we want to include interactions between particles. Consider first two particles with
position vectors r 1 , r 2 . By Newtons third law the mutual forces are equal and opposite
F 12 = F 21 . We assume that the mutual forces are translationally invariant. This means
that they are the same when the particles are at positions r 1 + a, r 2 + a as they are at
positions r 1 , r 2 . This means that the mutual force depends only on the difference r 1 r 2 .
F 12 = F 12 (r 1 r 2 ) = F 21 = F 12 (r 2 r 1 )

(159)

The mutual gravitational and Coulomb forces are important examples. For example Newtons law of mutual gravity can be written
F grav
= Gm1 m2
12
32

r1 r2
= F 21
|r 1 r 2 |3

(160)
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The crucial feature here is that the third law is included in the statement by the oddness of
F grav as a function of its argument.
If the mutual two-body force is conservative F 12 (r) = U12 (r) where r = r 1 r 2 . The
oddness of F 12 implies that U12 (r) = U12 (r). Interestingly, we can write F 12 in three ways
F 12 = U12 = 1 U12 = +2 U12 = F 21

(161)

Thus we have the intuitive results F 12 = 1 U12 and F 21 = 2 U12 . It is important to

appreciate that the single potential energy U12 accounts for both the force of particle 2 on
particle 1 and the force of particle 1 on particle 2. For this reason the total potential energy
describing external forces F k and the mutual forces F 12 = F 21 is written
UT = U1 (r 1 ) + U2 (r 2 ) + U12 (r 1 r 2 )
dE
= r 1 (m1 r 1 + 1 U1 ) + r 2 (m2 r 2 + 2 U2 ) + (r1 r2 ) 1 U12
dt
= r 1 (m1 r 1 + 1 U1 + 1 U12 ) + r 2 (m2 r 2 + 2 U2 + 2 U12 )
= r 1 (m1 r 1 F 1 F 12 ) + r 2 (m2 r 2 F 2 F 21 ) = 0

(162)

(163)

by Newtons second law applied to each particle.

The iconic application of two body energy conservation is elastic collisions. It is based
on the fact that physical potential energies vanish at large separation. Thus the total energy
E = T + UT T when r 1 , r 2 , r 1 r 2 all become large. In a scattering process, the two
particles are initially very far from each other and from the center of external forces, so
initially E Ti . After scattering the two particles are again very far from each other and
from the center of external forces, so E Tf . But E is constant through out the motion,
so we have Tf = Ti for an elastic two body scattering process. If the external forces are all
zero, then Newtons third law implies that total momentum is also conserved. In this latter
case the initial and final variables are subject to the constraints
p1 + p2 = p1 + p2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
p1 +
p2 =
p1 +
p
m1
m2
m1
m2 2

(164)
(165)

The most efficient way to impose these constraints is to work in the center of mass system
for which p1 + p2 = 0. Then momentum conservation simple states that p2 = p1 . Plugging
2
these relations into the energy conservation equation then shows that p2
1 = p1 . That is p1
and p1 have the same length. Thus p1 p1 = p21 cos , and the scattering process is completely
determined by the scattering angle . If the two particles have the same mass m1 = m2 ,
these statements apply to the velocities and speeds of all the particles. Then the lab frame,
in which v 2 = 0, moves with velocity v 1 relative to the center of mass. Then the final state
particles have velocities v 1 + v 1 and v 1 + v 1 and their scalar product is
(v 1 + v 1 ) (v 1 + v 1 ) = v 1 2 v 1 2 = 0

(166)

So in the equal mass case the final state particles make tracks perpendicular to each other.
33

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Finally, we want to consider a general N particle system. We shall assume that the
mutual forces are all two body forces. This means that the force on each particle k is a sum
of forces from each of the other particles plus an external force
X
F k = F k (r k ) +
F kl (r k r l )
(167)
l6=k

where we also assume that the mutual forces are translationally invariant. One could imagine
a more complicated situation with multi-body forces, but this will not be necessary. In this
notation Newtons third law is the statement that F lk (r l r k ) = F kl (r k r l ). Newtons
law of universal gravity
F grav
kl (r k r l ) = Gmk ml

rk rl
|r k r l |3

(168)

clearly satisfies these requirements. The meaning of conservative forces immediately extends
from our two particle considerations. Namely,
F kl = k Ukl (r k r l ) = +l Ukl (r k r l )

(169)

where the third law requires that Ulk (r l r k ) = Ukl (r k r l ). Just as in the two particle
case, the total potential energy will contain only one contribution for each pair:
X
X
Utot =
Uk (r k ) +
Ukl (r k r l )
(170)
k

k<l

The justification for this choice is that it is the one that guarantees energy conservation:
X
X
dE
=
r k [mk r k + k Uk (r k )] +
(r k r l ) k Ukl (r k r l )
dt
k
k<l
X
X
X
=
r k [mk r k + k Uk (r k )] +
r k k Ukl (r k r l )
r l k Ukl (r k r l )
=

k<l

k<l

X
k

X
k

X
k

X
k

r k [mk r k + k Uk (r k )] +

r k [mk r k + k Uk (r k )] +
r k [mk r k + k Uk (r k )] +

k<l

X
k<l

X
l6=k

r k [mk r k + k Uk (r k ) + k

r k k Ukl (r k r l ) +

r k k Ukl (r k r l ) +
r k k Ukl (r k r l )

X
l6=k

r k [mk r k F k ] = 0

k<l

X
l<k

r l l Ukl (r k r l )

r k k Ukl (r k r l )

Ukl (r k r l )]
(171)

by Newtons second law for each particle.

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It is important to appreciate that energy conservation will follow if the potential energy is
an arbitrary function of the coordinates of the system, as long as it has no explicit dependence
on time. This is just a consequence of the chain rule:
dU
dt

N
X
k=1

r k k U (r 1 , r 2 , , r N ) =

X
dE
=
r k (mk r k F k ) = 0
dt
k

N
X
k=1

r k F k

(173)

by Newtons second law. Furthermore, we will also have momentum conservation if

X
X
0 =
Fk =
k U (r 1 , r 2 , , r N )
k

(172)

(174)

which is true if U (r 1 + a, r 2 + a, , r N + a) = U (r 1 , r 2 , , r N ). In other words, momentum conservation holds if the potential energy is invariant under a uniform translation of
coordinates.

Oscillations

Our next subject is to study the physics of harmonic oscillations. Recall Hookes law for a
one dimensional oscillator F (x) = kx. This force can be derived from the potential energy
U (x) = kx2 /2. We will spend a lot of time studying the physics of this system, but first it is
important to appreciate the universality of Hookes law. It will come into play whenever one
has a point of stable equilibrium. Equilibrium requires that the force is zero or U (x0 ) = 0.
Stability requires that U (x0 ) > 0. whatever function U (x) is, we can always do a Taylor
expansion about a point x0 :
1
U (x) = U (x0 ) + (x x0 )U (x0 ) + (x x0 )2 U (x0 ) + O(x x0 )3
2
k
U (x0 ) + (x x0 )2 + O(x x0 )3
2

(175)

for an equilibrium point and where k U (x0 ) > 0 for stability. As long as the motion stays
sufficiently close to x0 , the dynamics can be well approximated by Hookes law! A simple
example that we have already discussed is the motion of a pendulum in small oscillations:
U () = mgL(1 cos )

mgL 2

(176)

For small oscillations the energy is then

E

1 2 2 mgL 2
ml +

2
2

(177)

From which energy conservation gives Hookes law = (g/L).

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6.1

Descriptions of Simple Harmonic Motion

We can put the equation of motion for harmonic oscillations in the generic form
x = 2 x

(178)
p
where
the angular frequency depends on the system: e.g. k/m for a spring constant k,
p
g/L for a pendulum.
We already know the general solution is a linear combination of trig functions cos t and
sin t, but there are several convenient ways to package the solutions. One popular way is
using complex exponentials eit :
x(t) = Ceit + C eit

(179)

where C is any complex number and C is the complex conjugate of C, so that x(t) is a real
number. We can easily relate C to the initial conditions:


x(0)

x(0) i
(180)
x(0) = C + C ,
x(0)

= i(C C ),
C=
2

We can of course use Eulers formula eit = cos t i sin t to rewrite the solution in terms
of trig functions
x(0)

sin t
(181)

However we write the solution, it is clear that the motion is periodic with period T = 2/.
There is one more useful way to describe the general motion in terms of amplitude and
phase:
x(t) = x(0) cos t +

x(t) = A cos(t ),
x(0) = A cos ,
x(0)

= A sin
p
x(0)

x(0)2 + x(0)
2 / 2 ,
tan =
A =
x(0)

(182)

This last representation has a neat connection with the complex exponential representation:
put C = (A/2)ei . Then


A i(t
e
+ ei(t = ReAei eit = A cos(t ).
(183)
2
If we understand that we will always take the real part of any complex solution at the end,
there is no harm in working with complex solutions from the beginning. This will be an
extremely useful point of view when we consider damping.
Finally it is useful to relate the various parameterizations of simple harmonic motion to
the conserved energy of the system.
x(t) =

1
1
1
1
1
E = mx(t)
2 + kx(t)2 = m 2 A2 sin2 (t ) + kA2 cos2 (t ) = kA2
(184)
2
2
2
2
2
So the energy is proportional to the square of the amplitude of motion. The total energy is
conserved as it oscillates between kinetic and potential energy with angular frequency 2.
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6.2

2 and 3 dimensional oscillations

We can look for stable equilibrium points in higher dimensional potentials U (r). Equilibrium
requires that U = 0. The multidimensional Taylor expansion reads

1
U (r) = U (r 0 ) + (r r 0 ) U (r 0 ) + (ri r0i )(rj r0j )i j U (r 0 ) +
2
1
U (r 0 ) + kij (ri r0i )(rj r0j ) +
(185)
2
where kij = i j U (r 0 ) is a 3 3 spring constant matrix. For now we will assume that this
matrix is diagonal with positive diagonal elements when the equilibrium is stable:

kx 0 0
(186)
k = 0 ky 0
0 0 kz
Taking the equilibrium point as our origin of coordinates and the zero of potential energy to
be the equilibrium value, we then have


1
U (x, y, z) =
(187)
kx x2 + ky y 2 + kz z 2 +
2
We see that the total energy will then be a sum of three independently conserved terms
1
1
1
E = (mx 2 + kx x2 ) + (my 2 + ky y 2 ) + (mz 2 + kz z 2 )
2
2
2

(188)

p
In principle the angular frequency of each coordinate will be different x,y,z = kx,y,z /m.
If all spring constants are equal we have the isotropic oscillator, with potential energy
U = (k/2)(x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) = kr2 /2. In that case the force will be central F = kr and
angular momentum will be conserved. As we know this implies that the motion is in a plane
perpendicular to L, and we can assume this plane is the xy-plane. then the general solution
can be written
x(t) = Ax cos t,
y(t) = Ay cos(t ) = Ay cos cos t + Ay sin sin t (189)
(y(t) x(t)Ay cos /Ax )2 = A2y sin2 sin2 t
(190)
1 =

x2
(y(t) x(t)Ay cos /Ax )2
+
A2x
A2y

(191)

which is the equation for a rotated ellipse. When = /2, the equation reduces to the
standard form x2 /a2 + y 2 /b2 = 1 with a = Ax and b = Ay . If = 0, x = (Ax /Ay )y and the
elliptical orbit. collapses to a straight line.
The motion gets quite interesting when the spring constants in different directions are
different. If x /y is rational the resulting motion will eventually be periodic although x
and y may have to go through many periods for the motion to repeat. For example if
x = 2y , x executes 2 periods as y executes only one. However if the ratio of frequencies is
irrational the two dimensional motion will never repeat: this non-repeating motion is termed
quasi-periodic.
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6.3

Damped Oscillations

In the real world no system will oscillate forever because of inevitable frictional forces.
Fortunately it is easy to incorporate damping and keep the equations of motion linear. We
simply take the damping force proportional to the velocity F damp = bx 2m x,
with
> 0 so that it impedes motion. The equation of motion for a single damped oscillator is
then
x + 2 x + 02 x = 0.

(192)

This e.o.m. is a special case of a linear differential equation with constant coefficients.
Lets take a brief mathematical excursion to consider how any such equation can be
handled. The key ingredient is to find a complete set of solutions, each of which diagonalizes
the derivative operator d/dt. We are of course very familiar with the functions that do this:
The exponential functions ert . Let us denote a general differential operator by the symbol
D:


n
X
d
dk
d2
dn
Dx = a0 + a1 + a2 2 + + an n x =
ak k
(193)
dt
dt
dt
dt
k=0
Then
Dert =

n
X
k=0

ak rk ert = P(r)ert

(194)

In other words the differential equation Dx = 0 is solved by x(t) = Cert provided r is

a root of the polynomial P. We have converted a problem in differential equations to a
problem in algebra! To get the complete solution to the differential equation we need n
independent solutions. Fortunately the fundamental theorem of algebra guarantees that
there are precisely n complex roots of any nth order polynomial. It is of course crucial that
we allow complex roots for this theorem to hold. It is also important that some of the n
roots can be repeated. For example the two roots of the equation (r 1)2 = 0 are both
equal to 1. When tire are multiple roots, we can get several solutions by multiplying ert by
a polynomial of t. For example if r is a double root, it means that D contains the factors

2
d
r
(195)
dt
applying these operators to (a + bt)ert we find

2


d
d
rt
r (a + bt)e =
r bert = 0
dt
dt

(196)

More generally


d
r
dt

k

(b0 + b1 t + + bk1 tk1 )ert = 0

38

(197)
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by Charles Thorn

because the polynomial factor can prevent only k 1 of the factors from giving zero.
With this background we return to our damped oscillator e.o.m. for which the polynomial
is quadratic
q
2
2
r + 2r + 0 = 0,
r = 2 02
(198)

and the general solution of the equation is


2 2
2 2
x(t) = et C1 et 0 + C2 et 0

(199)

The qualitative nature of these solutions depends dramatically

on the
p
prelationship between
and 0 . If < 0 (underdamping), we can write 2 02 = i 02 2 i1 and
the solution reads


x(t) = et C1 eit1 + C1 eit1
(200)

and we see that we have oscillations with frequency 1 < 0 and amplitudes that decay
exponentially in time. Note that in this case we choose C2 = C1 to make the solution real.
In contrast when > 0 (overdamping) the square root is real and both terms are
exponentially damped at different rates
x(t) = C1 e1 t + C2 e2 t
q
1 = 2 02 ,

(201)
q
2 = + 2 02

(202)

with the first term dying off least slowly.

For = 0 (critical damping), the two roots are the same (the polynomial has a double
root) so the two independent solutions are et and tet . Notice that in overdamped
and critically damped cases, damped oscillation is a misnomer since not even one cycle
of oscillation is completed. There can be at most one time when the amplitude vanishes,
and that is possible only when the two solutions occur with opposite signs in the linear
superposition.

6.4

Driving oscillations

Given the reality of damping forces, in order to keep the system oscillating, a driving force
must be applied. For example, a pendulum clock receives a kick with each tick, powered
by gravity (via weights) or perhaps by a spring, or perhaps by a battery. Of course the power
source must be regularly renewed.
Sinusoidal driving forces are the easiest to solve. We can put F = mf0 cos t = mRe f0 eit .
It is in fact most efficient to use the time dependence eit , taking the real part at the end
of the calculation. Then the e.o.m. to solve is simply
x + 2 x + 02 x Dx = f0 eit
39

(203)
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by Charles Thorn

This is what we call an inhomogeneous linear differential equation. This is because the
driving term does not involve x. The equation with f0 = 0 is called a homogeneous differential
equation. Suppose we have found some particular solution xp (t) to the inhomogeneous
equation. This solution usually not obey the desired initial conditions. But we can add to
xp any solution xh to the homogeneous equation Dxh = 0 and get another general solution:
D(xp + xh ) = Dxp + Dxh = Dxp + 0 = f0 eit .

(204)

With the two free parameters in xh we have the flexibility to impose any initial conditions
on x(0) and x(0).

So the problem is to find a particular solution. Recall that the differential operator D
applied to an exponential ert just multiplies the exponential by a polynomial in r:
DAert = P(r)Aert

(205)

Thus, by choosing r = i, the time dependence of both sides of the equation matches and
can be cancelled out leaving the equation
P(i)A = f0 ,

A=

f0
P(i)

x(t) = xp (t) + xh (t) = xh (t) +

= xh (t) + Re

02

(206)
f0
eit
P(i)

f0
eit
2 2i

(207)

In order for this construction to work it is important that P(i) 6= 0. When there is
nonzero damping > 0, P is never zero for real . At the same time the solution xh is
exponentially damped et , so that after a sufficiently long time t 1 the xh term dies
away and the system settles down to a steady state of motion
x(t) Re

02

f0
eit
2 2i

(208)

Before discussing this damped driven solution, let us briefly consider what happens in the
absence of damping = 0. For 6= 0 , the solution is much the same except the xh term no
longer dies out with time. However when = 0 in the undamped case this method breaks
down, and one has to go back to the original diff eq to get xp .
x + 02 x = f0 ei0 t

(209)

The problem is that xp = Aei0 t gives 0 on the left side. However, simply multiplying by t
fixes the problem:
d2
(tei0 t ) = 02 tei0 t 2i0 ei0 t
dt2
40

(210)
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by Charles Thorn

so we solve the inhomogeneous equation with xp = Atei0 t and A = if0 /(20 ). This is a
similar phenomenon to our discussion of critical damping. The xh term doesnt die away,
but the xp term grows relative to the xh term linearly in t. So it is still true that the xp term
will eventually dominate the solution.
We now return to the damped case where this subtlety is avoided. It is interesting that
after the xh term (transients) dies away the solution is uniquely determined by the driving
term. Lets assume that f0 is real and positive. Then we can write
02

f0
f0
= p 2
ei Aei
2
2i
(0 2 )2 + 4 2 2

tan =

2
2

02

(211)

In summary the driving force F = mf0 cos t uniquely produces the steady state solution
(after transients have died away)
xsteady = A cos(t )

(212)

We sometimes call xsteady the response to the driving force. Its time dependence is out of
phase with the driving force, lagging by the time /. Both A and depend sensitively on
the relation of to 0 . When = 0 tan blows up implying that /2. For small
damping A can get very large at that frequency.

6.5

Resonance

As we have seen, the driven damped harmonic oscillator is, for all practical purposes, described by its steady state motion after transients have died away. For sinusoidal driving
force, the response is sinusoidal with the same frequency but with a phase shift. The strength
of the response, as measured by the squared amplitude (which is proportional to the power
delivered to the system) is completely fixed:
A2 () =

f02
(02 2 )2 + 4 2 2

(213)

The power delivered to the system is the rate at which the driving force does work:
P = xF
= Amf0 sin(t ) cos t = Amf0 (sin t cos t cos cos2 t sin
1
1
2
m 2 f02
hP i =
Amf0 sin = Amf0 p 2
(214)
= 2
2
2
(0 2 )2 + 4 2 2
(0 2 )2 + 4 2 2

The actual motion of the oscillator is less interesting that the the way the response depends
on the frequency. In spection of the preceding formula shows that the power delivered to the
oscillator is a maximum when = 0 . It is perhaps not surprising that the biggest response
comes when driven at the natural frequency: we say that the system is in resonance. The
resonance phenomenon is most dramatic for weak damping, 0 . Then the resonance
response gets very large:
A2 (0 ) =

f02
f02

4 2 02
04
41

(215)
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by Charles Thorn

The resonance peak stands very tall compared to the non resonant amplitude. (When
2 > 202 , A2 is smaller than f02 /04 .)
With weak damping, the resonance peak is not only very high, but it is also very narrow.
A convenient measure of the width of the resonance peak is the value of 0 where the
response is half of the maximum value. Taking the power delivered as a good measure of
the response, this condition gives
q
2
2
| 0 | = 2,
= + 02 2 0 +
(216)

So for weak damping the width of the peak at half maximum is 2 0 . if the name of the
game is to have the sharpest possible peak (say to tune in a desired radio station) then the
ratio Q = 0 /(2) (the Quality factor) should be as large as possible, Q 1. Notice that
Q is a parameter characteristic of the damped oscillator: the properties of the driving force
dont enter into it. Q is simply proportional to the ratio of the decay time of the unforced
oscillator to its period: high Q means that the oscillations will last many periods before
dying away. high Q is synonymous with a long lifetime.
So far we have studied the strength of the response at resonance. The other feature of
the response is the phase shift determining the lag time / of the response compared to
the driving force. We have noted that tan blows up at = 0 implying that /2
at resonance. This means the response and driving force are 90 out of phase: when one
is a maximum the other is zero. When < 0 and is small is also small. It rises
rapidly to /2 at = 0 . For > 0 , tan becomes small and negative, implying that is
approximately . So the behavior of the phase shift is a rapid rise through /2 from near 0
to as increases past resonance.

6.6

Fourier Series

We have seen that sinusoidal driving forces are particularly easy to handle. Because the
equations are linear we can solve any linear combination of sinusoidal driving forces by
simply taking the corresponding linear combination of solutions:
f (t) =

fk eik t ,

x=

X
k

02

fk
eik t
2ik

k2

(217)

For example the periodic kicks given to the pendulum of a clock are by no means sinusoidal.
Lets find the condition on the k for f to be periodic of period , f (t + ) = f (t).
eik (t+ ) = eik t ,

eik = 1,

k =

2n
n

(218)

where n is any integer. We might as well use n as our summation index and so we write
f (t) =

an eint ,

x=

n=

42

2
n= 0

an
2
n 2

2in

eint

(219)

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by Charles Thorn

This equation displays the Fourier series representation of f (t). The powerful fact is that
such a Fourier series can described practically any periodic function of t. Even better we
can get a formula for each fn as an integral. This is based on the following property:
Z
ei(mn) 1
= 0,
for m 6= n
(220)
dtei(mn)t =
i(m n)
0
Clearly when m = n this integral just gives . Then we find
Z

imt

dtf (t)e

am =

n=
Z

an

ei(mn)t = am

dtf (t)eimt

(221)

As an important example, we find the coefficients for a square pulse f (t) = f0 for 0 < t <
< and f (t) = 0 for < t < . Then a0 = f0 / , and for m 6= 0,
Z
f0
f0
f0 im/2
m
f0
dteimt =
(eim 1) =
(eim 1) =
e
sin
(222)
am =
0
im
2im
m

Notice that if we pretend m is continuous we have a0 = lim am as m 0. Then

f (t) =

n in(t/2)
f0 X f0
+
sin
e

n6=0

f0 X 2f0
n
+
sin
cos n(t /2)

n=1

(223)

The particular solution describing the response to this force is simply the sum of responses
to each term:
X f0
f0
n
1
xp (t) =
ein(t/2)
+
sin
2
2
0 n6=0 n
0 n2 2 2in

X
1
n
f0
f0
p
sin
+2
cos[n(t /2) n ](224)
=
2
2
2
2
0
n

(0 n )2 + 4n2 2 2
n=1

For weak damping 0 , the nth denominator gets small when = 0 /n or = n0 .

when this happens we can say that the nth term is in resonance, and we can expect that
single term to be dominant.

6.7

RMS Displacement, Parsevals Theorem

Sometimes it is good to have a single time independent measure of the response to a driving
force. If we average x over a period we simply pick out the 0th term: hxi = f0 /( 02 ). This
43

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shows none of the resonance behavior. A better measure is the mean squared displacement:
Z
X
am
an
1
2
hx i =
dtei(n+m)t
2
2 2 2im 2 n2 2 2in

m
0
0
m,n 0
=

X
n

X f2
sin2 (n/ )
an an
0

(02 n2 2 )2 + 4n2 2 2
n2 2 (02 n2 2 )2 + 4n2 2 2
n

(225)

for the square pulse example. The RMS displacement is just the square root of this result,
defined to give a measure with the dimensions of length instead of length squared. The
strength of the nth resonance peak to the RMS Displacement is

decreasing like 1/n.

hx2 in

0
f0
sin
20 n
2

(226)

Variational Principles

Up to now we have formulated classical mechanics in terms of Newtons three laws. When
we began to understand conservation laws, we learned that there were dramatic shortcuts to
solving the equations of motion. The special case of finding static solutions, we learned that
they were simply the stationary points of the potential energy function U (x) = 0. Thought
about this way, it is clear that a minimum is a minimum, regardless of the coordinate choice.
What we would now like to understand is how general solutions can be determined by a
similar principle, known as Hamiltons principle of least action. The solutions are required
to be stationary points of the action, defined for dynamics determined by a potential energy
as
Z t2
I =
dt(T V )
(227)
t1

One can calculate I for any trajectory with initial and final conditions x(t1 ) = x1 and
x(t2 ) = x2 . But the actual solution is precisely the one which minimizes I. We need a new
way of testing for minima w.r.t. small changes in the function x(t). This is the so-called
calculus of variations.

7.1

Examples

Consider the question: what path gives the shortest distance between two points? To answer
this question we have to compare the distances given by different paths. We first need a
formula for the distance on a fixed path P : To describe a path it is enough to give three
functions r() where marks a unique point on the path, say with r(0) = r 1 and r(1) = r 2 .

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This is just a parametric description of a curve inspace. To calculate the distance we start
with the differential dr = dr (). Then ds = d r 2 and
Z 1
(228)
d r 2
D12 =
0

The calculus of variations will then tell us how to minimize this distance.
Another example of a variational principle is Fermats principle of optics: A light ray
follows a path that minimizes the time to complete the journey. The speed of light c/n
depends on the index of refraction n(r) which can vary in space. Then the time of the
journey is
Z 1
Z
p
|r |
1 1
T12 =
d
=
dn(r()) r 2 ()
(229)
c/n
c 0
0

Hamiltons Principle is exactly the same type of mathematical problem. We have to find a
function that minimizes a quantity that is expressed as the integral over some parameter of
a function of the path r and its derivative r over the extent of the path. For Hamiltons
principle the parameter is the time t, the path is the particles trajectory and the velocity is
the derivative.
So in complete generality we need to minimize an integral of the form
Z 2
I =
dL(qk (), qk (), )
(230)
1

Here we use a dot to denote derivative w.r.t. , which will be time for mechanics. For
pedagogical purposes we will just consider one coordinate in the following discussion. The
generalization to any number is easy.

7.2

Calculus of Variations

So we have to study how I changes under a small distortion of the path. Suppose we have
a trial path qk (). Then we can write a nearby path as qk () + qk (). Here q is small but
arbitrary in shape. We can even choose q to be zero over most of the path, departing from
the path only in a tiny interval of :
Z 2
I =
d [L(qk () + qk (), qk () + qk (), ) L(qk (), qk (), )]
1

Z 2 X 
L
L
ql
+ O(q 2 )
d
+ ql ()
=
ql
ql
1
l



Z
2
X L 2
X
d
L
L
 +
+ O(q 2 )
(231)

=
ql
d
ql


q
d

l 1
l
l

1
l
l
45

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Now since the ends of the trajectory are fixed, qk (1 ) = qk (2 ) = 0, so qk () will make I
stationary if
d L
L
=
,
d ql
ql

for all l

(232)

These are the Euler Lagrange equations Without saying so, we have just applied what is
known as the calculus of variations!

7.3

Nonmechanics applications of the calculus of variations.

Let us apply Lagranges equations to a couple of examples, starting with the geodesic problem
in flat space. Recall that the distance between two points in 3 dimensional space is given by
Z 1 p
d r 2
D12 =
(233)
0

where now we use the dot to indicate derivative w.r.t. . So in this case L =
need
rk
L
rk
= 2 =

rk
|r|
r

L
= 0,
rk

r 2 so we

(234)

The E-L equations just say that |rr| , which is just the unit tangent vector to the path, is a
constant over the path. This means that the path is a straight line!
Another famous example is the brachistochrone problem: What is the shape of the roller
coaster track between two points such that the frictionless car takes the minimum time to
complete the journey? To answer this we need to know the speed of the car at any point
on the track. Take point 1, where the car starts at rest, to be the origin of Cartesian
coordinates andthe gravitational potential energy to be U = mgz. Then by conservation
of energy v = 2gz. Recall the element of arc length ds = d x 2 + z 2 so we need to
minimize
Z 2 2
x + z 2
d
T12 =
(235)
2gz
1
L
L
L
L
L
x
z

,
(236)
= 0,
= ,
=
=
2
2
x
z
2z
x
z
2gz x + z
2gz x 2 + z 2
We are free to choose in a way to simplify theequations. In the text the choice = z is
made. For variety, lets try choosing so that x 2 + z 2 = 1. Then the E-L equations tell
us that
x
L
= C,
=
x
2gz
46

p
z = 1 + 2C 2 gz

(237)

c
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by Charles Thorn

where we chose the negative square root because initially z decreases with . Integrating
the second equation gives
Z
dz
1
1 p
= p
1 + 2C 2 gz,
z=
(C 4 g 2 2 1)
(238)
= 2
2
C g
2C 2 g
1 + 2C gz
Since we want z(1 ) = 0 we see we should choose 1 = 1/(gC 2 ). z reaches a minimum of
1/(2C 2 g) at = 0 and then increases to 0 at = 1/(C 2 g). We also need x, obtained from
p
p
dx
= C 2gz = 1 C 4 g 2 2
d

(239)

It is convenient to put = (1/C 2 g) cos so d/d = (1/C 2 g) sin so that

dx
1
1
=
sin2 =
(1 cos 2)
2
d
C g
2C 2 g
1
1
x() =
( (1/2) sin 2) =
(2 sin 2) a(2 sin 2),
2
2C g
4C 2 g
1
1
1
(C 4 g 2 2 1) = 2 sin2 = 2 (1 cos 2) a(1 cos 2)
z() =
2
2C g
2C g
4C g
We have chosen the release point to be x = z = 0 or = 0. The constant a = 1/(4C 2 g)
must be chosen so that the curve passes through the final point x2 , z2 .
An interesting feature of the cycloid roller coaster track is that wherever the car is released
from rest on the track, the period of oscillations about the midpoint of the track is the same.
This is the subject of the 3 star problem 6.25, for which we sketch the solution. Let us write
the cycloid solution parametrically as follows
x() = a( sin ),

y() = a(1 cos ))

then the lowest point is = . Then

q

ds = ad (1 cos )2 + sin2 = ad 2 2 cos

(240)

(241)

p
and the speed v = 2ga(cos 0 cos ) where 0 marks the point the cart is released from
rest. Then a quarter period is the time the cart takes to go from 0 to :
r
r Z r
r Z u0
a
1 cos
a
1u
du
T

=
=
d
4
g
cos 0 cos
g 1 1 u2 u0 u
r Z 0u0
r Z 1
r
a
a
a
1
1
du p
du p
(242)
=
=
=
g 1
g 0
g
(1 + u)(u0 u)
u(1 u)

So the period is just the small oscillation period of a pendulum of length 2a, but for any size
of amplitude!
47

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8
8.1

Hamiltons Principle of Least (Stationary) Action

Generalized coordinates

Cartesian coordinates are just fine for describing particles that can move unconstrained
throughout space. But when the motion is constrained in some way, another choice of
coordinates may be preferable. As a simple example suppose a particle is constrained to
move in a circle in the xy-plane. Then we have the constraints
x2 (t) + y 2 (t) = R2

z(t) = 0,

(243)

p
We could solve the constraints to eliminate the coordinate y(t) = R2 x2 (t), but the
sign ambiguity is a nuisance. But in passing to polar coordinates x = cos , y = sin , we
see that the constraint is simply = R, and gives a perfectly natural and unambiguous
description of the particles location. Thus in this situation it would be nice to use and
as coordinate and velocity. It is standard to use qk and qk to denote such generalized
coordinates. There is no need to commit to a particular choice of coordinates in advance.
For example a system of N particles can be described by 3N Cartesian coordinates. If there
are k constraints, we can choose s = 3N k independent generalized coordinates in any way
that is convenient.

8.2

The Action and Hamiltons Principle

The action is defined as a time integral

Z
I =

t2

dtL(qk (t), qk (t), t)

(244)

t1

where L is called the Lagrangian of the system. For the moment we dont specify it in
detail. It is a single scalar function of the generalized coordinates and their velocities, that
determines the equations of motion according to Hamiltons principle: The trajectory qk (t)
of the system which starts at the point qk1 at time t1 and ends up at the point qk2 at time t2
is that trajectory which minimizes the action I.
This means that if we evaluate I for a trajectory qk (t) + qk (t) infinitesimally different
from the solution, the change in the action will be of order qk2 . So calculate
Z t2
dt [L(qk (t) + qk (t), qk (t) + qk (t), t) L(qk (t), qk (t), t)]
I =
t1

Z t2 X 
L
L
ql
=
dt
+ O(q 2 )
+ ql (t)
q

l
l
t1
l


X L t2 Z t2 X
d
L
L
 +
=
ql
+ O(q 2 )
(245)

dt
ql


q
dt

l t1
l
l
t
1
l
l
48

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by Charles Thorn

Now since the ends of the trajectory are fixed, qk (t1 ) = qk (t2 ) = 0, so qk (t) will satisfy
Hamiltons principle if
d L
L
=
,
dt ql
ql

for all l

(246)

Without saying so, we have just applied what is known as the calculus of variations!
If the qk s are Cartesian coordinates, this will be the form of Newtons equations if
L
= ml ql (t),
ql

L
V
=
ql
ql

(247)

which tells us that the Lagrangian in that case can be taken to be

L =

1X
ml ql2 V (q) = T (ql ) V (ql )
2 l

(248)

where T is the kinetic energy of the system and V is the potential energy. Note carefully
the difference of L from the total energy T + V ! there is an all important sign difference in
the second term.
The Lagrangian is not uniquely determined, because Hamiltons principle requires that
q(t1 ) = q(t2 ) = 0. For this reason a different Lagrangian
L = L +

d
f (q(t), t),
dt

I = I + f (q(t2 ), t2 ) f (q(t1 ), t1 )

(249)

will imply the same equations of motion. In other words, two Lagrangians, that differ by the
total time derivative of a function of coordinates and time, will imply the same equations of
motion.

8.3

Changing Coordinates in the Lagrangian

One of the virtues of Hamiltons principle is that the points of stationary action do not
depend on the coordinate choice. Thus if you change coordinates in the action, Lagranges
equations in the new coordinates still determine the stationary points. It is much easier
to change coordinates in the Lagrangian than in the equations of motion! As an example
suppose we want to use spherical polar coordinates
r = r(cos sin , sin sin , cos )
r = r(cos

sin , sin sin , cos ) + r sin (

sin , cos , 0)

+r(cos cos , sin cos , sin )

+ r
= r
r + r sin
r 2 = r 2 + r2 2 + r2 sin 2 2
m 2
L =
(r + r2 2 + r2 sin 2 2 ) U (r, , )
2
49

(250)
(251)
(252)

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by Charles Thorn

Notice that if U is independent of , Lagranges equations for simplify to the conservation

of L/ = mr2 sin2 which is just Lz the z-component of angular momentum.
For motion in the xy plane, we can simply put = /2 and the coordinate change is just
to polar coordinates r, :
L=

m 2
(r + r2 2 ) U (r, ).
2

(253)

We calculate
L
= mr,

r
L
= mr2 ,

L
U
U
= mr 2
,
m
r = mr 2
r
r
r
L
U
d
U
=
,
(mr2 )
=
= rF

dt

(254)

It is important to realize that when one changes from Cartesian to other coordinates, the
kinetic energy in the new coordinate system can acquire coordinate dependence in addition
to velocity dependence, as spherical and polar coordinates demonstrate. Thus in a general
coordinate system we have T (q, q)
but still U (q, t). To incorporate magnetic forces, we will
have to allow velocities to appear in a part of the Lagrangian that is neither kinetic nor
potential energy. In other words there will be systems for which the Lagrangian is not of the
form T U !

8.4

The energy from the Lagrangian

We are all familiar with the conservation of energy by Newtons equations when the forces are
conservative. In the Lagrange formulation we can generally identify an energy conservation
law when the Lagrangian has no explicit time dependence. Consider the Hamiltonian defined
by
L
L
qi
i
X L X d L X L X L L
=
qi
+
qi

qi

qi

dt

t
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i


X
d L L
L
L
=
qi

dt qi qi
t
t
i

H
dH
dt

qi

(255)

(256)

by Lagranges equations. Thus H is conserved provided L/t = 0. For standard Newtonian

systems where T is quadratic in the velocities and L = T V
X
i

qi

L
= 2T
qi

(257)

so H = T + V as we expect.
50

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8.5

The simple pendulum

As a familiar example of a problem with constraints consider the simple frictionless pendulum
with massless rod of length l, swinging in the xz-plane with the pivot at the origin of
coordinates. Let be the angle from the vertical. Then x = l sin , z = l cos ), and
T = (m/2)(x 2 + y 2 ) = (ml2 /2) 2 and V = mgl cos . Hence

ml2 2
+ mgl cos
(258)
2
and Lagranges equation gives the familiar = (g/l) sin . Here we have solved the
constraint x2 + z 2 = l2 by going to polar coordinates and setting = l.
Lets consider the same problem in terms of Cartesian coordinates. Then the unconstrained Lagrangian is
m
(259)
L = (x 2 + z 2 ) mgz
2
L =

8.6

Constraints in general

When we consider constraints on a systems motion, a useful first step is to find the Lagrangian for the unconstrained system. This might be a system with several particles with
positions r k (t) moving in a potential U (r 1 , r 2 , , r N , t). In this case we immediately know
the unconstrained Lagrangian L = T U , and there are 3N degrees of freedom. A typical
constraint would be to confine the motion to a surface in space. For example, a spherical
pendulum can swing in any direction, with the bob confined to the surface of a sphere. To
described the constrained motion it is useful to pick convenient coordinates of the constraint
surface. These generalized coordinates are generically called qk (t) with k = 1, n < 3N .
When the positions r k satisfy the constraints they can be expressed as functions of the qk s:
X r k r k
r k (q1 , qn , t),
r k =
ql
(260)
+
ql
t
l

Plugging these relations into the unconstrained Lagrangian gives the Lagrangian for the
constrained motion L(q, q,
t).
As an example consider the spherical pendulum. Introducing spherical coordinates, the
position of the bob can be expressed
r(t) = R(cos sin , sin sin , cos )

r(t)
= R sin (
sin , cos , 0) + R(cos
cos , sin cos , sin )
m 2 2 2 m 2 2
R sin + R mgR cos
L =
2
2
The constrained equations of motion are just the E-L equations:
L
L
= mR2 sin2 ,

= mR2


L
L
= 0,
= mR2 sin cos 2 + mgR sin

51

(261)
(262)
(263)

(264)
(265)

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by Charles Thorn

Since the Lagrangian is independent of , mR2 sin2 = M is a constant and then

M 2 cos
g
g
= sin cos 2 + sin = 2 4 3 + sin
R
m R sin R

(266)

this gives a rather complicated equation of motion for M 6= 0! However, one can use energy
conservation, as usual, to express t in terms of an integral over :
m 2 2 2 m 2 2
R sin + R + mgR cos
2
2
2
M
m
=
+ R2 2 + mgR cos = E
2
2
2
2mR
r sin
dt
m
1
p
= R
d
2 E mgR cos M 2 /(2mR2 sin2 )
H =

(267)
(268)

Or consider the double pendulum swinging in a fixed plane.

r 1 = l1 (sin 1 , cos 1 ),

r 2 = r 1 + l2 (sin 2 , cos 2 )

(269)

or the pendulum on an accelerating cart:

r = (l sin + at2 /2, l cos )

(270)

All of these constraints are so-called holonomic constraints, in which the number of coordinates needed to describe the system is equal to the number of degrees of freedom: nonholonomic constraints are beyond the scope of this course. (Example: rubber ball rolling
without slipping on a plane).
Although we wont be considering non-holonomic constraints further, there is a method of
handling constraints that avoids eliminating coordinates explicitly, and is a preferred method
for dealing with non-holonomic constraints.
As an example of this alternative treatment of constraints, lets return to the simple
pendulum where we have to impose the holonomic constraint x2 + z 2 = l2 . The method of
Lagrange multipliers adds a term (t)(x2 + z 2 l2 ) to the Lagrangian:
L

m 2
(x + z 2 ) mgz + (t)(x2 + z 2 l2 )
2

(271)

We now regard as a generalized coordinate. Since doesnt appear in the Lagrangian, the
e.o.m. for is just
L
= x2 + y 2 l 2 = 0

(272)

which is seen to be precisely the constraint we wish to impose. The e.o.ms for x, z now
involve :
m
x = 2x,

m
z = mg + 2z
52

(273)
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by Charles Thorn

From this we see that the force exerted by the constraint is F c = 2(x, 0, z) 2. Passing
to polar coordinates (x, 0, z) = l(sin , 0, cos ) at this point, the e.o.ms become

ml( cos 2 sin ) = 2l sin ,

2 = m( cot 2 )
ml( sin + 2 cos ) = mg 2l cos = mg ml( cot 2 ) cos
g

g
2 = m
cos + 2
(274)
= sin ,
l
l


(275)
F c = m g cos + l 2 (sin , 0, cos )

For example, at the bottom = 0, F c = m(g + l 2 )

z to compensate gravity and match m
the centripetal acceleration. Notice that if the rod is replaced by a rope, it can only pull on
the particle, which means that it forces the constraint only when < 0. This is always true
if < /2. But if > /2 the rope will only do its job if 2 > (g/l) cos !

8.7

Examples

Lets go through some of the examples in the textbook.

Particle Moving on a Cylinder. In this example the force law is taken to be F = kr,
corresponding to potential energy U = kr2 /2 = k(z 2 + R2 )/2, where the cylinder axis
coincides with the z-axis and R is the radius of the cylinder. The kinetic energy of the
particle is (m/2)(z 2 + R2 2 ). thus the Lagrangian is
m 2
k
(z + R2 2 ) (z 2 + R2 )
2
2
L
L
L
L
= mR2 ,

= 0,
= mz,

= kz

z
z
p
Clearly z undergoes simple harmonic motion with = k/m and is a constant.
L =

(276)
(277)

Block sliding on a wedge free to move on a horizontal surface: Let q1 be the

displacement along the wedge of the block from the top of the wedge, and q2 be the horizontal
displacement of the left edge of the wedge. The kinetic energy of the wedge is just m2 q22 /2.
The Cartesian coordinates of the block are (q2 + q1 cos , 0, q1 sin ) where is the angle the
wedge makes with the horizontal. the blocks kinetic energy is therefore m1 [(q2 + q1 cos )2 +
q12 sin2 ]/2. The blocks potential energy is mgq1 sin . Putting all this together
m2 2 m1 2
q +
(q + q12 + 2q2 q1 cos ) + m1 gq1 sin
(278)
L =
2 2
2 2
L
L
= m1 q1 + m1 q2 cos ,
= (m1 + m2 )q2 + m1 q1 cos
q1
q2
L
L
= m1 g sin ,
=0
q1
q2
m1 cos
q2 =
q1 ,
m1 q1 + m1 q2 cos = m1 g sin
m1 + m2
g sin
(279)
q1 =
1 m1 cos2 /(m1 + m2 )
53

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Note that this goes to the answer for a fixed wedge when m2 /m1 . It also goes to free
fall when /2.
Bead on a spinning frictionless circular hoop The beads position vector is
r = R(cos t sin , sin t sin , cos )

r = R sin ( sin t, cos t, 0) + R(cos

t cos , sin t cos , sin )
m 2 2 2
( R sin + R2 2 ) + mgR cos
L =
2

(280)

Notice that in spite of the forced rotation, L does not depend explicitly on the time. Therefore
the Hamiltonian is a constant of the motion:
m
2

) L = (R2 2 2 R2 sin2 ) mgR cos

H = (mR
2

(281)

This is not the total energy of the bead which is

T +U =

m 2 2 2
( R sin + R2 2 ) mgR cos = H + m 2 R2 sin2
2

(282)

which is not conserved. The E-L equations are:


g
mR2 = mgR sin + m 2 R2 sin cos = mR2 sin 2 cos
(283)
R
p
Static solutions are possible for = 0, p
and for cos = g/(R 2 ) if > g/R.p = is
always unstable; = 0 is stable for < g/R, but becomes unstable for > g/R. In
the latter case, put 0 = arccos(g/R 2 ) and expand
cos =

g
( 0 ) sin 0 + O( 0 )2
R 2

(284)

so the right side behaves near = 0 as

2

mR sin 0 ( 0 ) = mR

g2
2 2
R
2

( 0 )

(285)

Thus the solution

p = 0 is stable, and harmonic small oscillations about it have angular
frequency 0 = 2 g 2 /(R2 2 ).
A nice way to think about the different behaviors of this system is the effective potential
energy
1
Ueff () = mgR cos m 2 R2 sin2
2

(286)

plotted as a function of in the following figure (a = 2 R/g):

54

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55

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by Charles Thorn