Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 1 – Solutions

1. (a) The time derivative of the length squared A2 is

dA2 
     
dA  dA  dA 
= 2A · = 2A · + ω × A = 2A · + 2A · ω × A
dt I dt I dt R dt R
dA2 
 
dA 
= 2A · = , (1.1)
dt R dt R
where we have used the fact that ω × A is perpendicular to A.
(b) Applying Eq. (1.2.5) to both frames, we have
  
dA  dA  dA 
+ω×A= = + ω 0 × A, (1.2)
dt R dt I dt R0

so we have  
dA  dA 
+ ω − ω 0 × A.


= (1.3)
dt R0
 dt R

2. (a) The distance is p

d = |r2 − r1 | = (r2 − r1 )2 ≈ 730 km. (2.1)

(b) Neutrinos travel this distance in time

d 7.3 × 105 m
∆t = ≈ ≈ 2.4 × 10−3 s = 2.4 ms. (2.2)
c 3 × 108 m/s

(c) The velocity of the detector in the inertial frame is


dr2 
v2 = = ω × r2 . (2.3)
dt I

In a short time ∆t, the detector moves the distance

∆r2 = v2 ∆t = (ω × r2 ) ∆t. (2.4)

(d) The actual distance the neutrinos travel in the inertial frame is
q
d = (r2 + ∆r2 − r1 )2 .
0
(2.5)

Taylor expanding for small ∆r2 , we find

(r2 − r1 ) · ∆r2
q q
d0 ≈ (r2 − r1 )2 + 2 (r2 − r1 ) · ∆r2 ≈ (r2 − r1 )2 + q
(r2 − r1 )2
(r2 − r1 ) · ∆r2
= d+ , (2.6)
d
so
(r2 − r1 ) · ∆r2 (r2 − r1 ) · (ω × r2 ) ∆t
∆d = d0 − d ≈ =
d d
(r2 − r1 ) · (ω × r2 )
= . (2.7)
c

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Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 1 – Solutions

(e) To calculate the numerical value of ∆d, we need

1.9 × 105 m −1.1 × 106 m

     
−r2,y
r2 − r1 ≈  6.4 × 105 m  , ω × r2 =  r2,x  ω ≈  4.6 × 106 m  ω.
−3.0 × 105 m 0 0
(2.8)
Using
2π 2π
ω= = (2.9)
24 h 86400 s
Therefore the change in the distance is
1 2π
∆d ≈ × (6.4 × 4.6 − 1.9 × 1.1) × 1011 m2 ×
3 × 108 m/s 86400 s
≈ 0.66 m. (2.10)
This means that the neutrinos arrive ∆d/c ≈ 0.66 m/(3 × 108 m/s) ≈ 2.2 ns later than
expected. This is much smaller than the observed time difference, and has the wrong sign.

3. (a) We have

2π 2π 105 m
m = 500 ton = 5 × 105 kg, ω= = , v = 100 km/h = . (3.1)
24 h 86400 s 3600 s
The angle between v and ω is λ = 60◦ . The horizontal component of the Coriolis force
is then
2π 105 m
2mωv sin λ = 2 × 5 × 105 kg × × × sin 60◦ ≈ 1749 kg m/s2
86400 s 3600 s
= 1749 N . (3.2)

(b) Direction: −ω × v is due WEST. The rails exert an equal and opposite force on the train,
maintaining a straight line in the rotating Earth frame.

4. (a) At the top of its trajectory the shell’s velocity is equal to the √
horizontal component of its
initial velocity. This in turn is given by v cos 45◦ = (500/ 2) m/s. At this point the
angle the shell velocity makes with the angular velocity vector of the Earth is equal to the
shell’s latitude λ = 45◦ , so the Coriolis acceleration is given by
2π 500 1
aCor = 2ωv sin λ = 2 × × √ m/s × √ ≈ 3.7 × 10−2 m/s2 . (4.1)
86400 s 2 2
At this time −ω × v is due EAST.
(b) At muzzle, firing due North, with elevation λ = 45◦ , v is parallel to ω, so Coriolis
acceleration is zero.
(c) At the target, the shell lands at 45◦ downwards so that v is perpendicular to ω at that point.
So Coriolis acceleration is
2π
aCor = 2ωv = 2 × × 500 m/s ≈ 7.3 × 10−2 m/s2 , (4.2)
86400 s
due EAST.

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Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 1 – Solutions

Figure 1:

The time of flight is

25 × 103 m √
t= √ = 50 2 s. (4.3)
(500/ 2) m/s
Assuming a constant acceleration of 3.7 × 10−2 m/s2 , deflection ≈ 21 × 3.7 × 10−2 m/s2 ×
√
2
50 2 s = 92.5 m. If the gun is corrected for this RIGHTWARD deflection, when used in
the S. hemisphere it will be in error by 185 m.
   
5. (a) d d
r = r+ω×r (5.1)
dt I dt R
⇒ v = vR + ω × r (5.2)
  I   
d d
⇒ vI = + ω× (vR + ω × r) (5.3)
dt I dt R
   
d d
= vR + (ω × r) + ω × vR + ω × (ω × r) (5.4)
dt R dt R
⇒ aI = aR + 2ω × vR + ω × (ω × r) , (5.5)
as required. [4 marks]
(b) The equation
QQ0
maI = − r̂ + QvI × B , (5.6)
4π0 r2
is an application of Newton’s second law to the particle of charge +Q, where the terms on
the right represent the electrostatic attraction to the particle of charge −Q0 and the Lorentz
force in the presence of the magnetic field B. [3 marks]
(c) Substituting
aI = aR + 2ω × vR + ω × (ω × r) , (5.7)
into equation (5.6) yields
aR + 2ω × vR + ω × (ω × r)
QQ0
 
Q
= − 2
r̂ + [vR + (ω × r)] × B , (5.8)
4π0 mr m

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Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 1 – Solutions

where we have used the fact that vI = vR + ω × r. The terms proportional to vR cancel
if
Q
ω=− B. (5.9)
2m
(i.e. α = −Q/2m in ω = αB) in which case the last term on the left of equation (5.8)
cancels half the last term on the right leaving
2
QQ0

Q
aR = − r̂ − [(B × r) × B] . (5.10)
4π0 mr2 2m

[7 marks]
(d) Neglecting the last term in equation (5.10) leaves a central force problem for which the
force is attractive and ∼ 1/r2 . The closed trajectories in the rotating frame are therefore
ellipses. [4 marks]
(e) In the inertial frame the trajectories are therefore precessing ellipses as shown in the fig-
ure 1. [2 marks]
[TOTAL 20 marks]