PHY 711 Classical Mechanics

MWF 11-11:50 AM OPL 107 http://www.wfu.edu/~natalie/f06phy711/

Instructor: Natalie Holzwarth Phone:758-5510Office:300 OPL e-mail:natalie@wfu.edu


Homework Assignments



PHY 711 -- Assignment #1

August 23, 2006

Read Chapter 1 in Fetter & Walecka and make note of useful appendices.

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PHY 711 -- Assignment #2

August 25, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 1 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem #1.15(a) and (d)

PHY 711 -- Assignment #3

August 28, 2006

Finish reading Chapter 1 and start Chapter 2 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem #1.16

PHY 711 -- Assignment #4

August 30, 2006

Start reading Chapter 2 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem #2.4

PHY 711 -- Assignment #5

September 1, 2006

Finish reading Chapter 2 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Show how the solution given in Eq. 12.15 approximately solves the differential equation for the Foucault pendulum given in Eq. 12.7. Estimate the period of rotation for a pendulum located in Winston-Salem.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #6

September 6, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 2 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Consider the brachistochrone integral (17.7) of your text, with x1=0, x2=πa, y1=2a, and y2=0. Evaluate the integral for the following two cases:
    1. x(θ)= a(θ – sin(&theta) )
      y(θ)= a(1 + cos(&theta))
      0 ≤ θ ≤ π
    2. y(x) = 2a – (2/π) x
      0 ≤ x ≤ πa

PHY 711 -- Assignment #7

September 8, 2006

Continue reading Chap. 3 Fetter & Walecka.

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PHY 711 -- Assignment #8

September 13, 2006

Continue reading Chap. 3 Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem 3.5 in Fetter & Walecka.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #9

September 15, 2006

Continue reading Chap. 3 Fetter & Walecka.

PDF file


PHY 711 -- Assignment #10

September 18, 2006

Start reading Chapter 6 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem #6.18 in Fetter & Walecka.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #11

September 22, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 6 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Read Section III of the paper by Hans C. Andersen on Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Work through the steps to derive the Hamiltonian function in Eq. 3.6 from the Lagrangian function in Eq. 3.2 of that paper.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #12

September 25, 2006

Finish reading Chapter 6 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Consider the Hamilton-Jacobi equations presented in Section 35 of your text. Find the trajectory q(t) and S(q,α,t) for the example:
    V(q) = mg q,

    where g is the constant gravitational acceleration and the potential represents that of a constant gravitational potential, with q(t) representing the vertical displacement.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #13

September 26, 2006

Start reading Chapter 4 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem #4.2 in Fetter & Walecka.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #14

October 9, 2006

Continue reading Chap. 5 Fetter & Walecka.

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PHY 711 -- Assignment #15

October 16, 2006

Finish reading Chapter 5 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem #5.10 in Fetter & Walecka.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #16

October 18, 2006

Start reading Chapter 9 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Consider Eq. 48.14 in Fetter & Walecka. Write out the expressions in cartesian coordinates and convince yourself that the identity is correct.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #17

October 20, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 9 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. The above photo shows a syringe with a liquid (density ρ=1000 kg/m3 ) inside the barrel (cross sectional area 8 x 10-5 m2). Suppose a force of F = 1 N is applied to the barrel. What is the velocity of the liquid coming out of the needle (cross sectional area 8 x 10-7 m2)?

PHY 711 -- Assignment #18

October 23, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 9 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Estimate the speed of sound in He gas and in H2 gas at atmospheric pressure and at T=20o C within the ideal gas model.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #19

October 25, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 9 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem 9.1 (a) and (b). For (b) assume that b=3a and c=5a.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #20

October 27, 2006

Continue reading Chapter 9 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Evaluate the velocities v(ρ) and u(ρ) in Eqs. 52.14 and 52.15 of your text, assuming that c(ρ) is that of an adiabatic ideal gas.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #21

November 1, 2006

Start reading Chapter 10 in Fetter & Walecka.

  1. Work problem 10.3 in Fetter & Walecka.

PHY 711 -- Assignment #22

November 3, 2006

Continue reading Chap. 10 in Fetter & Walecka.

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