PHHT-­102

 Mechanics                          B.Sc.  (Hons.)  PHYSICS  Part  I                        2014  Semester  I  

 

                 Maximum  Marks:  100                                                                                           Assignment                              Due:  Wed  12  Nov  2014  [no  extension!]  
 
Make  a  photocopy  of  your  assignment  before  submitting  –  it  will  be  stored  by  SVC  &  not  returned  
 
In  questions  referring  to  solved  e.g.  in  KK:  read  KK  if  you  are  stuck,  but  no  marks  for  blindly  copying!  
 
Section A: Derivations
 (5  questions  x  6  marks  each)  
 

1. Briefly   describe   the   motivation,   design,   experimental   outcome   and   its   physical   interpretation   for   the  
Michelson-­‐Morley  experiment.  Derive  the  expression  for  the  fringe  shift.  Draw  appropriate  diagrams.    
 
2. Derive   the   relativistic   equation   connecting   mass   and   energy   and   then   further   derive   the   energy-­‐
momentum  relation.  What  does  this  imply  for  the  nature  of  massless  particles  in  relativity?  
 
3. Considering  motion  of  an  extended  rigid  body  that  involves  both  translation  as  well  as  rotation,  derive  
an  expression  for  the  total  angular  momentum  of  such  a  body.  Give  the  physical  interpretation  of  both  
the   terms   that   appear   in   this   expression.   Obtain   the   specific   case   for   the   z-­‐component   of   angular  
momentum.  Estimate  the  order  of  magnitude  value  of  each  term  for  the  Earth  going  around  the  Sun.  
 
4. State   and   prove   the   Parallel   Axis   Theorem   for   rigid   body   rotation   drawing   a   clear   diagram   and  
explaining   all   steps   clearly.   Find   the   moment   of   inertia   I   of   a   dumbbell   made   up   of   a   horizontal   rod   of  
mass   m   and   length   l   with   two   spheres   at   its   two   ends   each   of   mass   M   and   radius   R.   Find   I   for   the  
dumbbell   about   a   vertical   axis   of   rotation   that   passes   through   its   center,   and   also   for   a   vertical   axis  
tangent  to  a  sphere  at  one  its  ends.      
 
5. Reduce  the  two-­‐body  problem  for  the  motion  of  two  masses  under  the  influence  of  a  central  force  to  a  
one-­‐body  problem.    Obtain  the  one-­‐body  equation  of  motion  in  plane  polar  co-­‐ordinates.  Prove  that  such  
motion  must  be  confined  to  a  plane  and  also  that  equal  areas  are  swept  out  in  equal  time  intervals  by  the  
radius   vector.   Write   down   expressions   for   all   three   constants   of   motion   (conserved   quantities).   By  
absorbing   the   tangential   part   of   kinetic   energy   into   U(r)   potential   energy   define   an   effective   potential  
energy   Ueff(r).   Use   this   Ueff(r)   in   the   energy   conservation   equation   to   find   a   differential   equation   for  
(d/dr)   describing   the   trajectory   of   orbit.   Solve   this   equation   to   get   r   as   a   function   of    and   interpret   the  
shape  of  orbits  for  the  four  cases  for  eccentricity:  >1,  =1, 0 ≤   < 1 and  =0. What  types  of  objects  in  
our   solar   system   follow   each   of   these   four   types   of   orbits?   Are   there   any   gravitational   effects   we   have  
neglected  in  this  derivation  for  planetary  motion?  
             _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 
Section B: Problems
(8  questions  x  5  marks  each)  
 

6. In   class   we   derived   the   relativistic   Doppler   effect   formula   using   the   wave   theory   for   light.   Re-­‐derive   it  
using   the   photon   particle   theory   for   light.     Consider   a   photon  of   energy   h   emitted   by   an   atom   along   the  
direction  of  its  initial  velocity  and  use  the  conservation  laws.    Then   show   a   third   way   of   deriving   the  
relativistic  Doppler  effect  formula  by  using  four-­‐vector  formalism.   Consider  the  transformation  between  
two   inertial   frames   of   the   energy-­‐momentum   four-­‐vector   of   a   photon   traveling   in   the   xy   plane   at   an  
angle   w.r.t.  the  x-­‐axis.  [KK  e.g.  13.8,  e.g.  14.6]  
 
7. Find  an  expression  for  the  speed  of  light  u  inside  a  medium  that  is  moving  with  a  velocity  v  (w.r.t.  to  an  
external  observer)  and  a  refractive  index  n.  If  the  medium  is  at  rest  is,  the  speed  of  light  is  simply  u  =  c/n,  
as   you   already   know.     The   extra   term   in   this   case   is   called   Fizeau   drag.     Estimate   how   much   this   drag  
term   will   be   for   (i)   light   passing   through   the   glass   window   of   a   flying   aircraft   and   (ii)   light   passing  
through  raindrops  in  a  severe  hurricane  storm,  both  seen  by  an  observer  on  the  ground?  [KK  e.g.  12.7]  
 
8. Here   is   the   pole-­‐vaulter   paradox:   A   pole-­‐vaulter   and   a   farmer   have  the   following   bet:   the   pole-­‐vaulter  
has  a  pole  of  length  lo,  and  the  farmer  has  a  barn  (¾)lo  long.  The  farmer  bets  that  he  can  shut  the  door  of  
the  barn   with   the   pole   completely   inside.   The   bet   being   made,   the   farmer  asks   the   pole-­‐vaulter   to   run  
 into   the   barn   with   a   speed   of   v   =   c   √3/2.  In   this   case   the   farmer   observes   the   pole   to   be   Lorentz  
contracted   to  l   =   lo   /2,   and   the   pole   fits   into   the   barn   with   ease.   He   slams   the   door  the   instant   the   pole   is  
inside,  and  claims  the  bet.  However,  the  pole-­‐vaulter  disagrees:  he  sees  the  barn  contracted  by  a  factor  of  
2,   and   so   the   pole  can't   possibly   fit   inside.   How   would   you   settle   the   disagreement?   Is  the   Lorentz  
contraction  "real"  in  this  problem?  (Hint:  Consider  events  at  the  ends  of  the  pole  from  the  point  of  view  
of  each  observer.)  [KK  Problem  12.10]  
 
9. Calculate   the   moment   of   inertia   of   the   following   objects   each   of   mass   M:   (a)   uniform   circular   cone   of  
height  h  and  radius  R  for  a  vertical  axis  passing  through  center  of  base  (b)  uniform  disk  of  radius  R  for  
an  axis  along  its  diameter  (c)  spherical  shell  of  radius  R  for  an  axis  passing  through  its  center.  
 
10. Find  the  expression  for  angular  momentum  L  and  torque   for  a  conical  pendulum  about  two  points  (A)  
the   center   of   the   circular   path   of   its   rotating   mass   and   (B)   the   point   of   suspension   of   the   pendulum.  
Show  that   =dL/dt  is  satisfied  in  both  cases.  Give  diagrams  as  required.  [KK  e.g.  6.6]  
 
11. Consider  a  uniform  drum  of  radius   b,  mass  m  and  moment  of  inertia  Io  =  (1/2)mb2  rolling  down  a  plane  
of  angle  . The  drum  starts  from  rest  and  rolls  without  slipping.  Find  its  acceleration  along  the  direction  
of   the   slope.   Find   the   speed   of   its   CM   after   it   has   descended   a   vertical   height   h.   Assume   the   frictional  
force   is   f.   Does   friction   change   the   energy   of   the   rolling   drum?   Now   repeat   the   analysis   for   a   uniform  
sphere  of  the  same  mass  and  radius  that  also  rolls  without  slipping.  Will  the  drum  or  the  sphere  reach  
the  bottom  of  the  slope  first?  [KK  e.g.  6.16,  6.17,  problem  6.26]  
 
12. Why   is   the   energy-­‐diagram   method   useful?   Apply   the   energy   diagram   method   to   find   the   qualitative  
features   of   motion   in   the   systems:   (a)   two   non-­‐interacting   particles   of   mass   m1   and   m2   moving   towards  
each  other  with  velocities  v1  and  v2  along  parallel  lines  offset  by  distance  d,  (b)  two  particles  of  mass  m1  
and  m2  interacting  via  the  gravitational  force.  How  do  bound  orbits  change  if  the  attractive  gravitational  
potential  becomes  very  much  stronger  than  the  centrifugal  term  (e.g.  for  black  holes)?  [KK  e.g.  9.1]  
 
13. A   comet   enters   and   leaves   the   solar   system   on   a   hyperbolic   orbit.     It   begins   its   path   with   mass   µ and  
speed  v0.    The  hypothetical  undeflected   path   along  the  comet’s  initial  velocity   vector   passes  a  distance   b  
away   from   the   Sun   where   b   is   called   the   impact   parameter.   Derive   the   total   angle   through   which   the  
comet  is  deflected  (due  to  the  Sun’s  gravity)  in  terms  of  b,  E  (total  energy  of  comet)  and  C=GMsun  µ.  Also,  
derive  the  expression  for  the  distance  of  closest  approach  rmin  of  the  comet  to  the  Sun  in  terms  of  b,  E    
and   C.   What   happens   to   rmin   if   E=C/b   and   if   E—>∞   ?   The   same   physics   applies   for   Rutherford’s   alpha  
particle  scattering  off  a  thin  gold  foil!  What  kind  of  observations  of  rmin  had  led  Rutherford  to  conclude  
that   most   of   the   mass   of   the   atom   was   concentrated   in   a   very   small   nucleus?   Could   Rutherford   have  
determined  whether  gold  nuclei  attracted  or  repelled  the  alpha  particles?  [KK  e.g.  9.4]  
             ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

Section C: Numericals
(3  questions  x  10  marks  each)  
 

14. Find   the   moment   of   inertia   of   a   uniform   disk   of   R=25cm,   M=1kg   with   a   circular   hole   of   r=5cm   at   a  
distance  10  cm  from  the  center.  The  axis  of  rotation  is  perpendicular  to  the  disk  through  its  center.  
 
15. Halley’s  Comet  is  in  an  elliptical  periodic  orbit  around  the  Sun.  Its  orbital  eccentricity  is  0.967  and  time  
period   is   76   years   (take   MSun   =   2   x   1030   kg).   Find   its   distance   at   perihelion   and   aphelion   (closest   and  
farthest   separation   from   the   Sun).   Also   find   its   speed   at   perihelion.   By   what   angle   will   Halley’s   comet  
appear  to  move  in  the  sky  from  one  night  to  the  next  night,  as  seen  from  Earth,  when  it  is  at  perihelion  
(assume  the  Earth  is  almost  in  line  with  the  Sun  &  the  comet  at  perihelion)?  [KK  problem  9.9]  
 
16. A  cosmic  ray  proton  can  arrive  at  Earth  with  energy  up  to  107  TeV,  more  than  a  million  times  the  highest  
energies  so  far  produced  by  scientists  at  the  LHC  (CERN).  One  TeV  =  1012  electron  Volts.  Our  Galaxy  has  a  
diameter   of   approximately   105   light   years   (excluding   the   dark   matter   component).   Estimate   the   time  
taken  by  such  high-­‐energy   protons   to   cross   our   entire   Galaxy   (a)   in   their   own   rest  frame,  (b)  in  our  rest  
 
frame  (take  proton  rest  mass  ≈1  GeV).  [KK  problem  13.1]  
Pranjal  Trivedi  
Assistant  Professor,  Dept.  of  Physics  
       5  November  2014                                                                Sri  Venkateswara  College,  University  of  Delhi