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Chapter 1
Problem 1.1
Place the nucleus at the origin, and suppose the electron is emitted in the
positive y direction, and the neutrino in the positive x direction. Then the
resultant of the electron and neutrino momenta has magnitude
p
|pe+ν | = (1.73)2 + 12 = 2 MeV/c,
and its direction makes an angle
1.73
θ = tan−1 = 60◦
1
with the x axis. The nucleus must acquire a momentum of equal magnitude
and directed in the opposite direction. The kinetic energy of the nucleus is
p2 4 MeV2 c−2 1.78 · 10−27 gm
T = = −22
· = 9.1 ev
2m 2 · 3.9 · 10 gm 1 MeV c−2
This is much smaller than the nucleus rest energy of several hundred GeV, so
the non-relativistic approximation is justified.
1
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 2
Problem 1.2
The escape velocity of a particle on the earth is the minimum velocity required
at the surface of the earth in order that the particle can escape from the earth’s
gravitational field. Neglecting the resistance of the atmosphere, the system is con-
servative. From the conservation theorem for potential plus kinetic energy show
that the escape velocity for the earth, ignoring the presence of the moon, is 6.95
mi/sec.
If the particle starts at the earth’s surface with the escape velocity, it will
just manage to break free of the earth’s field and have nothing left. Thus after
it has escaped the earth’s field it will have no kinetic energy left, and also no
potential energy since it’s out of the earth’s field, so its total energy will be zero.
Since the particle’s total energy must be constant, it must also have zero total
energy at the surface of the earth. This means that the kinetic energy it has at
the surface of the earth must exactly cancel the gravitational potential energy
it has there:
1 mMR
mve2 − G =0
2 RR
so
s 1/2
2 · (6.67 · 1011 m3 kg−3 s−2 ) · (5.98 · 1024 kg)
2GMR
v= =
RR 6.38 · 106 m
1m
= 11.2 km/s · = 6.95 mi/s.
1.61 km
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 3
Problem 1.3
Rockets are propelled by the momentum reaction of the exhaust gases expelled from
the tail. Since these gases arise from the reaction of the fuels carried in the rocket
the mass of the rocket is not constant, but decreases as the fuel is expended. Show
that the equation of motion for a rocket projected vertically upward in a uniform
gravitational field, neglecting atmospheric resistance, is
dv dm
m = −v 0 − mg,
dt dt
where m is the mass of the rocket and v 0 is the velocity of the escaping gases relative
to the rocket. Integrate this equation to obtain v as a function of m, assuming a
constant time rate of loss of mass. Show, for a rocket starting initially from rest,
with v 0 equal to 6800 ft/sec and a mass loss per second equal to 1/60th of the initial
mass, that in order to reach the escape velocity the ratio of the weight of the fuel
to the weight of the empty rocket must be almost 300!
Suppose that, at time t, the rocket has mass m(t) and velocity v(t). The
total external force on the rocket is then F = gm(t), with g = 32.1 ft/s2 , pointed
downwards, so that the total change in momentum between t and t + dt is
F dt = −gm(t)dt. (1)
On the other hand, during the time interval dt the rocket releases a mass
∆m of gas at a velocity v 0 with respect to the rocket. In so doing, the rocket’s
velocity increases by an amount dv. The total momentum at time t + dt is the
sum of the momenta of the rocket and gas:
−gm(t)dt = m(t)dv + v 0 ∆m
or
dv v 0 ∆m
= −g −
dt m(t) dt
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 4
dv v0
= −g − γ (4)
dt m(t)
where
∆m 1
γ= = m0 s−1 .
dt 60
This is a differential equation for the function v(t) giving the velocity of the
rocket as a function of time. We would now like to recast this as a differential
equation for the function v(m) giving the rocket’s velocity as a function of its
mass. To do this, we first observe that since the rocket is releasing the mass
∆m every dt seconds, the time derivative of the rocket’s mass is
dm ∆m
=− = −γ.
dt dt
We then have
dv dv dm dv
= = −γ .
dt dm dt dm
Substituting into (4), we obtain
dv v0
−γ = −g − γ
dm m
or
g dm
dv = dm + v 0 .
γ m
Integrating, with the condition that v(m0 ) = 0,
g m
v(m) = (m − m0 ) + v 0 ln .
γ m0
Now, γ=(1/60)m0 s−1 , while v 0 =-6800 ft/s. Then
m m
0
v(m) = 1930 ft/s · − 1 + 6800 ft/s · ln
m0 m
For m0 m we can neglect the first term in the parentheses of the first term,
giving m
0
v(m) = −1930 ft/s + 6800 ft/s · ln .
m
The escape velocity is v = 6.95 mi/s = 36.7 · 103 ft/s. Plugging this into the
equation above and working backwards, we find that escape velocity is achieved
when m0 /m=293.
Thanks to Brian Hart for pointing out an inconsistency in my original choice
of notation for this problem.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 5
Problem 1.4
Show that for a single particle with constant mass the equation of motion implies
the following differential equation for the kinetic energy:
dT
= F · v,
dt
while if the mass varies with time the corresponding equation is
d(mT )
= F · p.
dt
We have
F = ṗ (5)
If m is constant,
F = mv̇
1 d 2
F · v = mv · v̇ = m |v|
2 dt
dT
= (6)
dt
On the other hand, if m is not constant, instead of v we dot p into (5):
F · p = p · ṗ
d(mv)
= mv ·
dt
dm dv
= mv · v +m
dt dt
1 d 1 d
= v 2 m2 + m2 (v 2 )
2 dt 2 dt
1 d d(mT )
= (m2 v 2 ) = .
2 dt dt
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 6
Problem 1.5
Prove that the magnitude R of the position vector for the center of mass from an
arbitrary origin is given by the equation
X 1X
M 2 R2 = M mi ri2 − 2
mi mj rij .
i
2 ij
We have
1 X
Rx = mi xi
M i
so
1 X X
Rx2 = 2 m2i x2i + mi mj xi xj
M i i6=j
and similarly
1 X X
Ry2 = 2 m2i yi2 + mi mj y i y j
M i i6=j
1 X X
Rz2 = 2 m2i zi2 + mi mj z i z j .
M i i6=j
Adding,
1 X X
R2 = 2 m2i ri2 + mi mj (ri · rj ) . (7)
M i i6=j
Next,
!
X X X X X
M mi ri2 = mj mi ri2 = m2i ri2 + mi mj ri2 . (9)
i j i i i6=j
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 7
r0 , φ0
r, φ
(x, y)
Problem 1.8
Two wheels of radius a are mounted on the ends of a common axle of length b such
that the wheels rotate independently. The whole combination rolls without slipping
on a plane. Show that there are two nonholonomic equations of constraint,
cos θ dx + sin θ dy = 0
If the φ wheel rotates through an angle dφ, the vector displacement of its center
will have magnitude adφ and direction determined by θ. For example, if θ = 0
then the wheel axis is parallel to the x axis, in which case rolling the φ wheel
clockwise will cause it to move in the negative y direction. In general, referring
to the Figure, we have
Next, consider the vector r12 = r − r0 connecting the centers of the two wheels.
The definition of θ is such that its tangent must just be the ratio of the y and
x components of this vector:
y12
tan θ =
x12
2 y12 1
→ sec θ dθ = − 2 dx12 + dy12 .
x12 x12
1
sec2 θdθ = −a[dφ − dφ0 ] (tan θ sin θ + cos θ)
x12
or
1
dθ = −a[dφ − dφ0 ] (sin2 θ cos θ + cos3 θ)
x12
1
= −a[dφ − dφ0 ] cos θ. (12)
x12
1 Thanks to Javier Garcia for pointing out a factor-of-two error in the original version of
these equations.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 9
Problem 1.9
A particle moves in the x − y plane under the constraint that its velocity vector is
always directed towards a point on the x axis whose abscissa is some given function
of time f (t). Show that for f (t) differentiable, but otherwise arbitrary, the constraint
is nonholonomic.
The particle’s position is (x(t), y(t)), while the position of the moving point
is (f (t), 0). Then the vector d from the particle to the point has components
dx = x(t) − f (t) dy = y(t). (13)
The particle’s velocity v has components
dx dy
vx = vy = (14)
dt dt
and for the vectors in (13) and (?? to be in the same direction, we require
vy dy
=
vx dx
or
dy/dt dy y(t)
= =
dx/dt dx x(t) − f (t)
so
dy dx
= (15)
y x − f (t)
For example, if f (t) = αt, then we may integrate to find
ln y(t) = ln[x(t) − α(t)] + C
or
y(t) = C · [x(t) − αt]
which is a holonomic constraint. But for general f (t) the right side of (15) is
not integrable, so the constraint is nonholonomic.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 10
φ
l
Problem 1.10
Two points of mass m are joined by a rigid weightless rod of length l, the center of
which is constrained to move on a circle of radius a. Set up the kinetic energy in
generalized coordinates.
l l
(x, y) = (a cos θ ± cos φ, a sin θ ± sin φ)
2 2
and their velocities are
l l
(vx , vy ) = (−a sin θ θ̇ ∓ sin φ φ̇, a cos θ θ̇ ± cos φ φ̇).
2 2
The magnitudes of these are
l2 2
|v| = a2 θ̇2 + φ̇ ± al θ̇ φ̇(sin θ sin φ + cos θ cos φ)
4
l2
= a2 θ̇2 + φ̇2 ± al θ̇ φ̇ cos(θ − φ)
4
When we add the kinetic energies of the two masses, the third term cancels,
and we have
1X l2
T = mv 2 = m(a2 θ̇2 + φ̇2 ).
2 4
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 11
Problem 1.13
A particle moves in a plane under the influence of a force, acting toward a center
of force, whose magnitude is
ṙ2 − 2r̈r
1
F = 2 1− ,
r c2
where r is the distance of the particle to the center of force. Find the generalized
potential that will result in such a force, and from that the Lagrangian for the
motion in a plane. (The expression for F represents the force between two charges
in Weber’s electrodynamics).
If we take
v2 1 (ṙ)2
1
U (r) = 1+ 2 = + 2
r c r c r
then
∂U 1 ṙ2
=− 2 − 2 2
∂r r c r
and
2(ṙ)2
d ∂U d 2ṙ
2r̈
= − 2 2 =
dt ∂ ṙ dt c2 r
2
c r c r
so
2rr̈ − (ṙ)2
∂U d ∂U 1
Qr = − + = 2 1+
∂r dt ∂ ṙ r c2
The Lagrangian for motion in a plane is
2rr̈ − (ṙ)2
1 2 1 2 2 1
L=T −V = mṙ + mṙ θ̇ − 2 1+ .
2 2 r c2
Problem 1.14
dF (q1 , . . . , qn , t)
L0 = L +
dt
also satisfies Lagrange’s equations, where F is any arbitrary, but differentiable,
function of its arguments.
We have
∂L0 ∂L ∂ dF
= + (16)
∂qi ∂qi ∂qi dt
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 12
and
∂L0 ∂L ∂ dF
= + . (17)
∂ q̇i ∂ q̇i ∂ q̇i dt
For the function F we may write
dF X ∂F ∂F
= q̇i +
dt i
∂qi ∂t
Problem 1.16
Clearly we have
∂L ∂L
= −Kax − Kby = maẋ + mbẏ
∂x ∂ ẋ
so the Euler-Lagrange equation for x is
∂L d ∂L
= → m(aẍ + bÿ) = −K(ax + by).
∂x dt ∂ ẋ
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 13
Problem 1.17
Obtain the Lagrangian equations of motion for a spherical pendulum, i.e. a mass
point suspended by a rigid weightless rod.
Let m and L be the mass of the particle and the length of the rod. Since the
particle is constrained to move on the surface of a sphere of radius L, we may
parameterize its position by the angles θ and ϕ, in terms of which the particle’s
position and velocity are
x = L (sin θ cos ϕi + sin θ sin ϕj + cos θk)
v = L (cos θ cos ϕθ̇ − sin θ sin ϕϕ̇)i + (cos θ sin ϕθ̇ + sin θ cos ϕϕ̇)j − (sin θθ̇k) .
g 0 = g − Lϕ̇2 cos θ.
The mitigating effect is largest near the trough of the pendulum, vanishes as
the particle passes through the vertical height of the fulcrum, and becomes
an enhancing effect in the upper hemisphere. For small oscillations
p about the
trough, cos θ ≈ 1 and the pendulum frequency is reduced to ω = ω02 − ϕ̇2 .
Thanks to Tomasz Szymanski for pointing out an error in an earlier version
of this solution.
Problem 1.18
A particle of mass m moves in one dimension such that it has the Lagrangian
m2 ẋ4
L= + mẋ2 V (x) − V 2 (x),
12
where V is some differentiable function of x. Find the equation of motion for x(t)
and describe the physical nature of the system on the basis of this equation.
We have
∂L dV dV
= mẋ2 − 2V (x)
∂x dx dx
∂L m2 ẋ3
= + 2mẋV (x)
∂ ẋ 3
d ∂L d
= m2 (ẋ)2 ẍ + 2mẍV (x) + 2mẋ V (x)
dt ∂ ẋ dt
In the last equation we can use
d dV
V (x) = ẋ .
dt dx
Then the Euler-Lagrange equation is
d ∂L ∂L dV dV
− =0 → m2 (ẋ)2 ẍ + 2mẍV (x) + mẋ2 + 2V (x)
dt ∂ ẋ ∂x dx dx
or
dV
mẋ2 + 2V (x) = 0.
mẍ +
dx
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 15
(F − mẍ)(T + V ) = 0
So, this is saying that, at all times, either the difference between F and ma is
zero, or the sum of kinetic and potential energy is zero.
Problem 1.19
Two mass points of mass m1 and m2 are connected by a string passing through
a hole in a smooth table so that m1 rests on the table and m2 hangs suspended.
Assuming m2 moves only in a vertical line, what are the generalized coordinates
for the system? Write down the Lagrange equations for the system and, if possible,
discuss the physical significance any of them might have. Reduce the problem to a
single second-order differential equation and obtain a first integral of the equation.
What is its physical significance? (Consider the motion only so long as neither m1
nor m2 passes through the hole).
l2
(m1 + m2 )d¨ = −m2 g +
m1 d3
Because the sign of the two terms on the RHS is different, this is saying that, if
l is big enough (if m1 is spinning fast enough), the centrifugal force of m1 can
balance the downward pull of m2 , and the system can be in equilibrium.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 16
Problem 1.20
Obtain the Lagrangian and equations of motion for the double pendulum illustrated
in Fig. 1-4, where the lengths of the pendula are l1 and l2 with corresponding masses
m1 and m2 .
Taking the origin at the fulcrum of the first pendulum, we can write down
the coordinates of the first mass point:
x1 = l1 sin θ1
y1 = −l1 cos θ1
The coordinates of the second mass point are defined relative to the coordi-
nates of the first mass point by exactly analogous expressions, so relative to the
coordinate origin we have
x2 = x1 + l2 sin θ2
y2 = y1 − l2 cos θ2
The Lagrangian is
1 1
L= (m1 +m2 )l12 θ̇12 + m2 l22 θ̇22 −m2 l1 l2 θ̇1 θ̇2 cos(θ1 −θ2 )+(m1 +m2 )gl2 cos θ1 +m2 gl2 cos θ2
2 2
with equations of motion
d h i
(m1 + m2 )l12 θ̇1 − m2 l1 l2 θ̇2 cos(θ1 − θ2 ) = −(m1 + m2 )gl2 sin θ1
dt
and
d h i
l2 θ̇2 − l1 θ̇1 cos(θ1 − θ2 ) = −g sin θ2 .
dt
If θ̇1 = 0, so that the fulcrum for the second pendulum is stationary, then the
second of these equations reduces to the equation we derived in Problem 1.17.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 1 17
Problem 1.21
A → A + ∇Ψ(r, t),
1 ∂Ψ
Φ→ Φ− ,
c ∂t
where Ψ is arbitrary (but differentiable). What effect does this gauge transformation
have on the Lagrangian of a particle moving in the electromagnetic field? Is the
motion affected?
Problem 1.22
Obtain the equation of motion for a particle falling vertically under the influence
of gravity when frictional forces obtainable from a dissipation function 21 kv 2 are
present. Integrate the equation to obtain the velocity as a function of time and
show that the maximum possible velocity for fall from rest is v = mg/k.
This says that the acceleration goes to zero when mg = k ż, or ż = mg/k, so
the velocity can never rise above this terminal value (unless the initial value of
the velocity is greater than the terminal velocity, in which case the particle will
slow down to the terminal velocity and then stay there).
Solutions to Problems in Goldstein,
Classical Mechanics, Second Edition
Homer Reid
December 1, 2001
Chapter 3
Problem 3.1
l = mr2 θ̇ = constant.
1
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 2
or
l2
m(1 + 4α2 r2 )r̈ + 4mα2 rṙ2 − + 2mgαr = 0.
mr3
So this is the differential equation that determines the time evolution of r.
If initially ṙ = 0, then we have
l2
m(1 + 4α2 r2 )r̈ + − + 2mgαr = 0.
mr3
Evidently, r̈ will then vanish—and hence ṙ will remain 0, giving circular motion—
if
l2
= 2mgαr
mr3
or p
θ̇ = 2gα.
So if this condition is satisfied, the particle will execute circular motion (assum-
ing its initial r velocity was zero). It’s interesting to note that the condition on
θ̇ for circular motion is independent of r.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 3
Problem 3.2
e−ar
V = −k ,
r
where k and a are positive constants. Using the method of the equivalent one-
dimensional potential discuss the nature of the motion, stating the ranges of l and
E appropriate to each type of motion. When are circular orbits possible? Find the
period of small radial oscillations about the circular motion.
The Lagrangian is
mh 2 i e−ar
L=ṙ + r2 θ̇2 + k .
2 r
As usual the angular momentum is conserved:
l = mr2 θ̇ = constant.
We have
∂L e−ar
= mrθ̇2 − k (1 + ar) 2
∂r r
∂L
= mṙ
∂ ṙ
so the equation of motion for r is
k e−ar
r̈ = rθ̇2 −
(1 + ar) 2
m r
l2 k e−ar
= 2 3− (1 + ar) 2 . (1)
m r m r
The condition for circular motion is that this vanish, which yields
r
k e−ar0 /2
θ̇ = (1 + ar0 ) 3/2 . (2)
m r 0
What this means is that that if the particle’s initial θ velocity is equal to the
above function of the starting radius r0 , then the second derivative of r will
remain zero for all time. (Note that, in contrast to the previous problem, in this
case the condition for circular motion does depend on the starting radius.)
To find the frequency of small oscillations, let’s suppose the particle is exe-
cuting a circular orbit with radius r0 (in which case the θ velocity is given by
(2)), and suppose we nudge it slightly so that its radius becomes r = r0 + x,
where x is small. Then (1) becomes
k e−ar0 k e−a[r0 +x]
ẍ = 1 + ar0 − (1 + a[r 0 + x]) (3)
m r02 m [r0 + x]2
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 4
Problem 3.3
Two particles move about each other in circular orbits under the influence of grav-
itational forces, with a period τ . Their motion is suddenly stopped, and they are
then released
√ and allowed to fall into each other. Prove that they collide after a
time τ /4 2.
Since we are dealing with gravitational forces, the potential energy between
the particles is
k
U (r) = −
r
and, after reduction to the equivalent one-body problem, the Lagrangian is
µ 2 k
L= [ṙ + r2 θ̇2 ] +
2 r
where µ is the reduced mass. The equation of motion for r is
k
µr̈ = µrθ̇2 − . (4)
r2
If the particles are to move in circular orbits with radius r0 , (4) must vanish at
r = r0 , which yields a relation between r0 and θ̇:
1/3
k
r0 =
µθ̇2
1/3
kτ 2
= (5)
4π 2 µ
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 5
where we used the fact that the angular velocity in the circular orbit with period
τ is θ̇ = 2π/τ .
When the particles are stopped, the angular velocity goes to zero, and the
first term in (4) vanishes, leaving only the second term:
k
r̈ = − . (6)
µr2
This differential equation governs the evolution of the particles after they are
stopped. We now want to use this equation to find r as a function of t, which
we will then need to invert to find the time required for the particle separation
r to go from r0 to 0.
The first step is to multiply both sides of (6) by the integrating factor 2ṙ:
2k
2ṙr̈ = − ṙ
µr2
or
d 2 d 2k
ṙ = +
dt dt µr
2k
ṙ2 = + C. (7)
µr
The constant C is determined from the boundary condition on ṙ. This is simply
that ṙ = 0 when r = r0 , since initially the particles are not moving at all. With
the appropriate choice of C in (7), we have
1/2 r
dr 2k 1 1
ṙ = = −
dt µ r r0
1/2 r
2k r0 − r
= . (8)
µ rr0
We could now proceed to solve this differential equation for r(t), but since in
fact we’re interested in solving for the time difference corresponding to given
boundary values of r, it’s easier to invert (8) and solve for t(r):
Z 0
dt
∆t = dr
r0 dr
Z 0 −1
dr
= dr
r0 dt
µ 1/2 Z 0 rr 1/2
0
= dr
2k r0 r 0 − r
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 6
µ 1/2 Z 0 1/2
3/2 u
= r0 du
2k 1 1−u
µ 1/2 kτ 2 1/2 π
∆t =
2k 4π 2 µ 4
τ
= √
4 2
as advertised.
Problem 3.6
(a) Show that if a particle describes a circular orbit under the influence of an
attractive central force directed at a point on the circle, then the force varies
as the inverse fifth power of the distance.
(b) Show that for the orbit described the total energy of the particle is zero.
(c) Find the period of the motion.
(d) Find ẋ, ẏ, and v as a function of angle around the circle and show that all
three quantities are infinite as the particle goes through the center of force.
Let’s suppose the center of force is at the origin, and that the particle’s orbit
is a circle of radius R centered at (x = R, y = 0) (so that the leftmost point
of the particle’s origin is the center of force). The equation describing such an
orbit is
√
r(θ) = 2R(1 + cos 2θ)1/2
so
1 1
u(θ) = =√ . (9)
r(θ) 2R(1 + cos 2θ)1/2
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 7
Differentiating,
du sin 2θ
=√
dθ 2R(1 + cos 2θ)3/2
sin2 2θ
du 1 2 cos 2θ
=√ +3
dθ 2R (1 + cos 2θ)3/2 (1 + cos 2θ)5/2
1 1 2 2
= √ 2 cos 2θ + 2 cos 2θ + 3 sin 2θ . (10)
2 2R (1 + cos 2θ)5/2
d2 u 1
(1 + cos 2θ)2 + 2 cos 2θ + 2 cos2 2θ + 3 sin2 2θ
+u= √
dθ2 2R(1 + cos 2θ) 5/2
1
=√ [4 + 4 cos 2θ]
2R(1 + cos 2θ)5/2
4
=√
2R(1 + cos 2θ)3/2
= 8R2 u3 . (11)
d2 u
m d 1
+ u = − V (12)
dθ2 l2 du u
so
2l2R2 4 2l2 R2
1
V =− u −→ V (r) = − (13)
u m mr4
so
8l2R2
f (r) = − (14)
mr5
which is the advertised r dependence of the force.
(b) The kinetic energy of the particle is
m 2
T = [ṙ + r2 θ̇2 ]. (15)
2
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 8
We have
√
r= 2R(1 + cos 2θ)1/2
r2 = 2R2 (1 + cos 2θ)
√ sin 2θ
ṙ = 2R θ̇
(1 + cos 2θ)1/2
sin2 2θ 2
ṙ2 = 2R2 θ̇
1 + cos 2θ
Problem 3.8
(a) For circular and parabolic orbits in an attractive 1/r potential having the same
angular momentum, show that the perihelion distance of the parabola is one
half the radius of the circle.
(b) Prove that in the same central force
√ as in part (a) the speed of a particle at
any point in a parabolic orbit is 2 times the speed in a circular orbit passing
through the same point.
v 2 = ṙ2 + r2 θ̇2
sin2 θ
= r2 θ̇2 + 1
(1 + cos θ)2
2 2
2 2 sin θ + 1 + 2 cos θ + cos θ
= r θ̇
(1 + cos θ)2
2 2 1
= 2r θ̇
1 + cos θ
2mkr3 θ̇2
=
l2
2k
= (17)
mr
in terms of the angular momentum l = mr 2 θ̇2 . On the other hand, for the circle
ṙ = 0, so
l2 k
v 2 = r2 θ̇2 = = (18)
m2 r 2 mr
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 10
where we used that fact that, since this is a circular orbit, the condition k/r =
l2 /mr2 is satisfied. Evidently (17) is twice (18) for the same √ particle at the
same point, so the unsquared speed in the parabolic orbit is 2 times that in
the circular orbit at the same point.
Problem 3.12
Lf = Li ≡ L. (22)
With (20) and (22), we can compute the change in the particle’s eccentricity:
r
2Ef L2
f = 1 +
mk 2
r
2Ei L2 L2 S 2
= 1+ 2
+ 2 2. (23)
mk m k
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 11
What remains is to compute the constant θ0 in (19) for the particle’s orbit after
the collision. To do this we need merely observe that, since the location of the
particle is unchanged immediately after the impulse is delivered, expression (19)
must evaluate to the same radius at θ = 0 with both the “before” and “after”
values of a and :
ai (1 − 2i ) af (1 − 2f )
=
1 + i 1 + f cos θ0
or
( )
1 af (1 − 2f )
cos θ0 = −1 .
f ai (1 − i )
Problem 3.13
A uniform distribution of dust in the solar system adds to the gravitational attrac-
tion of the sun on a planet an additional force
F = −mCr
q
−→ l = mkr0 + m2 Cr04
l 1
q
−→ θ̇ = = mkr0 + m2 Cr04
mr02 mr02
s r
k mCr03
= 1 +
mr03 k
s
mCr03
k
≈ 1 +
mr03 2k
mCr03
r
2π 3/2 m
τ= ≈ 2πr0 1−
θ̇ k 2k
2
Cτ0
= τ0 1 −
8π 2
3/2 p
where τ0 = 2πr0 m/k is the period of circular motion in the absence of the
perturbing potential.
(b) We return to (24) and put r = r0 + x with x r0 :
l2 k
mẍ = − − mC(r0 + x)
m(r0 + x)3 (r0 + x)2
l2
x k x
≈ 1−3 − 2 1−2 − mCr0 − mCx
mr03 r0 r0 r0
3l2
2k
mẍ = − 4 + 3 − mC x
mr0 r0
or
ẍ + ω 2 x = 0
with
1/2
3l2
2k
ω= 4 − −C
2
m r0 mr03
2 1/2
2l k
= −
m2 r04 mr03
where in going to the last line we used (25) again.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 13
Problem 3.14
L2 k 2h
mr̈ = 3
− 2+ 3
mr r r
L2 + 2mh k
= + 2
mr3 r
L2 + 2mh + (mh/L)2 − (mh/L)2 k
= + 2
mr3 r
[L + (mh/L)]2 − (mh/L)2 k
= + 2
mr3 r
If mh L2 , then we can neglect the term (mh/L)2 in comparison with L2 , and
write
[L + (mh/L)]2 k
mr̈ = 3
+ 2 (26)
mr r
which is just the normal equation of motion for the Kepler problem, but with
the angular momentum L augmented by the additive term ∆L = mh/L.
Such an augmentation of the angular momentum may be accounted for by
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 14
where
mh 2πmh
Ω̇ = =
L2 θ̇ L2 τ
is a precession frequency. If we were to go back and work the problem in the
reference frame in which everything is precessing with angular velocity Ω̇, but
there is no term h/r 2 in the potential, then the equations of motion would come
out the same as in the stationary case, but with a term ∆L = mr 2 Ω̇ added to
the effective angular momentum that shows up in the equation of motion for r,
just as we found in (26).
To put in the numbers, we observe that
2π m
Ω̇ = (h)
τ L2
2π mka h
=
τ L2 ka
2π 1 h
=
τ 1 − e2 ka
so
h τ Ω̇
= (1 − e2 )
ka 2π
= (1 − e2 )τ fprec
where in going to the third-to-last line we used Goldstein’s equation (3-62), and
in the last line I put fprec = Ω̇/2π. Putting in the numbers, we find
h 1◦ 1 revolution 1 century−1
= (1 − .2062 ) · 0.24 yr · 4000
yr−1
ka 360000 360◦ 100 yr−1
= 7.1 · 10−8 .
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 15
Problem 3.22
With the suggested substitution, the thing under the radical in the denom-
inator of the integrand is
l2 l2
Er2 + kr − = Ea2 (e2 cosh2 F − 2e cosh F + 1) + ka(e cosh F − 1) −
2m 2m
l2
2 2 2 2
= Ea e cosh F + ae(k − 2Ea) cosh F + Ea − ka −
2m
It follows from the orbit equation that, if a(e − 1) is the distance of closest
approach, then a = k/2E. Thus
k 2 e2 k 2 e2 l2
= cosh2 F − −
4E 4E 2m
k2 2 2 2El2
= e cosh F − 1 +
4E mk 2
k 2 e2 k 2 e2
= cosh2 F − 1 = sinh2 F = a2 e2 E sinh2 F.
4E 4E
Plugging into (27) and observing that dr = ae sinh F dF , we have
r
m F
r
ma2
Z
t= a(e cosh F − 1) dF = [e(sinh F − sinh F0 ) − (F − F0 )]
2E F0 2E
and I suppose this equation could be a jumping-off point for numerical or other
investigations of the time of travel in hyperbolic orbit problems.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 3 16
Problem 3.26
k (1 − x)dx
σ(Θ)dΘ =
2E x2 (2 − x)2 sin πx
The potential energy is U = k/2r 2 = ku2 /2, and the differential equation
for the orbit reads
d2 u m dU mk
+u=− 2 =− 2 u
dθ2 l du l
or
d2 u
mk
+ 1 + u=0
dθ2 l2
with solution
where
r
mk
γ= 1+ . (29)
l2
We’ll set up our coordinates in the way traditional for scattering experiments:
initially the particle is at angle θ = π and a great distance from the force center,
and ultimately the particle proceeds off to r = ∞ at some new angle θs . The
first of these observations gives us a relation between A and B in the orbit
equation (28):
The condition that the particle head off to r = ∞ at angle θ = θs yields the
condition
or
1
γ= . (31)
x−1
Plugging in (29) and squaring both sides, we have
mk 1
1+ = .
l2 (x − 1)2
Now l = mv0 s = (2mE)1/2 s with s the impact parameter and E the particle
energy. Thus the previous equation is
k 1
1+ =
2Es2 (x − 1)2
or
k (x − 1)2
s2 = − .
2E x(x − 2)
Taking the differential of both sides,
(x − 1)2 (x − 1)2
k 2(x − 1)
2s ds = − − 2 − dx
2E x(x − 2) x (x − 2) x(x − 2)2
k 2x(x − 1)(x − 2) − (x − 1)2 (x − 2) − x(x − 1)2
=−
2E x2 (x − 2)2
k 2(1 − x)
=− . (32)
2E x2 (x − 2)2
| s ds |
σ(θ)dΩ = .
sin θ
Plugging in (32), we have
k (1 − x)
σ(θ)dΩ = dx
2E x2 (x − 2)2 sin θ
as advertised.
Solutions to Problems in Goldstein,
Classical Mechanics, Second Edition
Homer Reid
April 21, 2002
Chapter 7
Problem 7.2
1
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 2
Problem 7.4
A rocket of length l0 in its rest system is moving with constant speed along the z
axis of an inertial system. An observer at the origin observes the apparent length
of the rocket at any time by noting the z coordinates that can be seen for the head
and tail of the rocket. How does this apparent length vary as the rocket moves from
the extreme left of the observer to the extreme right?
Let’s imagine a coordinate system in which the rocket is at rest and centered
at the origin. Then the world lines of the rocket’s top and bottom are
xt0
µ = {0, 0, +L0 /2, τ } xb0
µ = {0, 0, −L0 /2, τ } .
where we are parameterizing the world lines by the proper time τ . Now, the rest
frame of the observer is moving in the negative z direction with speed v = βc
relative to the rest frame of the rocket. Transforming the world lines of the
rocket’s top and bottom to the rest frame of the observer, we have
Now consider the observer. At any time t in his own reference frame, he is
receiving light from two events, namely, the top and bottom of the rocket moving
past imaginary distance signposts that we pretend to exist up and down the z
axis. He sees the top of the rocket lined up with one distance signpost and the
bottom of the rocket lined up with another, and from the difference between the
two signposts he computes the length of the rocket. Of course, the light that
he sees was emitted by the rocket some time in the past, and, moreover, the
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 3
light signals from the top and bottom of the rocket that the observer receives
simultaneously at time t were in fact emitted at different proper times τ in the
rocket’s rest frame.
First consider the light received by the observer at time t0 coming from
the bottom of the rocket. Suppose in the observer’s rest frame this light were
emitted at time t0 − ∆t, i.e. ∆t seconds before it reaches the observer at the
origin; then the rocket bottom was passing through z = −c∆t when it emitted
this light. But then the event identified by (z, t) = (−c∆t, t0 − ∆t ) must lie on
the world line of the rocket’s bottom, which from (2) determines both ∆t and
the proper time τ at which the light was emitted:
1/2
−c∆t = γ(−L0 /2 + vτ ) 1+β L0
=⇒ τ= t0 − ≡ τb (t0 ).
t0 − ∆ t = γ(τ + βL0 /2c) 1−β 2c
We use the notation τb (t0 ) to indicate that this is the proper time at which the
bottom of the rocket emits the light that arrives at the observer’s origin at the
observer’s time t0 . At this proper time, from (2), the position of the bottom of
the rocket in the observer’s reference frame was
and
( 1/2 )
1+β L0
zt (τt (t0 )) = γL0 /2 + vγ t0 + (4)
1−β 2c
Subtracting (3) from (4), we have the length for the rocket computed by the
observer from his observations at time t0 in his reference frame:
Problem 7.17
Two particles with rest masses m1 and m2 are observed to move along the observer’s
z axis toward each other with speeds v1 and v2 , respectively. Upon collision they
are observed to coalesce into one particle of rest mass m3 moving with speed v3
relative to the observer. Find m3 and v3 in terms of m1 , m2 , v1 , and v2 . Would it
be possible for the resultant particle to be a photon, that is m3 = 0, if neither m1
nor m2 are zero?
Equating the 3rd and 4th components of the initial and final 4-momentum
of the system yields
γ 1 m1 v 1 − γ 2 m2 v 2 = γ 3 m3 v 3
γ 1 m1 c + γ 2 m2 c = γ 3 m3 c
and hence
1 (γ1 m1 + γ2 m2 )2
γ32 = 2 = 2 2 . (6)
1 − β3 m1 + m2 + 2γ1 γ2 m1 m2 (1 − β1 β2 )
Now, (5) shows that, for m3 to be zero when either m1 or m2 is zero, we must
have γ3 = ∞. That this condition cannot be met for nonzero m1 , m2 is evident
from the denominator of (6), in which all terms are positive (since β1 β2 < 1 if
m1 or m2 is nonzero).
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 5
Problem 7.19
A meson of mass π comes to rest and disintegrates into a meson of mass µ and a
neutrino of zero mass. Show that the kinetic energy of motion of the µ meson (i.e.
without the rest mass energy) is
(π − µ)2 2
c .
2π
Working in the rest frame of the pion, the conservation relations are
From the second of these it follows that the muon and neutrino must have the
same momentum, whose magnitude we’ll call p. Then the energy conservation
relation becomes
Eµ = (µ2 c4 + p2 c2 )1/2
1/2
(π 2 − µ2 )2
= c 2 µ2 +
4π 2
c2 1/2
= 4π 2 µ2 + (π 2 − µ2 )2
2π
c2 2
= (π + µ2 )
2π
Then subtracting out the rest energy to get the kinetic energy, we obtain
c2 2
K = Eµ − µc2 = (π + µ2 ) − µc2
2π
c2 2
= (π + µ2 − 2πµ)
2π
c2
= (π − µ)2
2π
as advertised.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 6
Problem 7.20
A π + meson of rest mass 139.6 MeV collides with a neutron (rest mass 939.6 MeV)
stationary in the laboratory system to produce a K + meson (rest mass 494 MeV)
and a Λ hyperon (rest mass 1115 MeV). What is the threshold energy for this
reaction in the laboratory system?
We’ll put c = 1 for this problem. The four-momenta of the pion and neutron
before the collision are
The threshold energy is the energy needed to produce the K and Λ particles
at rest in the COM system. In this case the squared magnitude of the four-
momentum of the final system is just (mK + mΛ )2 , and, by conservation of
momentum, this must be equal to the magnitude of the four-momentum of the
initial system (7):
(mK + mΛ )2 − (mπ + mn )2
=⇒ γπ = 1 + = 6.43
2mπ mn
Then the total energy of the pion is T = γπ mπ = (6.43 · 139.6 MeV) = 898
MeV, while its kinetic energy is K = T − m = 758 MeV.
The above appears to be the correct solution to this problem. On the other
hand, I first tried to do it a different way, as below. This way yields a different
and hence presumably incorrect answer, but I can’t figure out why. Can anyone
find the mistake?
The K and Λ particles must have, between them, the same total momentum
in the direction of the original pion’s momentum as the original pion had. Of
course, the K and Λ may also have momentum in directions transverse to the
original pion momentum (if so, their transverse momenta must be equal and
opposite). But any transverse momentum just increases the energy of the final
system, which increases the energy the initial system must have had to produce
the final system. Hence the minimum energy situation is that in which the K and
Λ both travel in the direction of the original pion’s motion. (This is equivalent
to Goldstein’s conclusion that, just at threshold, the produced particles are at
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 7
rest in the COM system). Then the momentum conservation relation becomes
simply
pπ = p K + p λ (8)
(m2π + p2π )1/2 + mn = (m2K + p2K )1/2 + (m2Λ + p2Λ )1/2 . (9)
The problem is to find the minimum value of pπ that satisfies (9) subject to the
constraint (8).
To solve this we must first resolve a subquestion: for a given pπ , what is the
relative allocation of momentum to pK and pΛ that minimizes (9) ? Minimizing
Solving numerically yields pπ ≈ 655 MeV/c, for a total pion energy of about
670 MeV.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 8
Problem 7.21
2 λλc sin2 2θ
T = hν .
1 + 2 λλc sin2 θ/2
Let’s assume the photon is initially travelling along the z axis. Then the sum
of the initial photon and electron four-momenta is
0 0 0
0 0 0
h/λ + 0 =
pµ,i = pµ,γ + pµ,e = . (12)
h/λ
h/λ mc mc + h/λ
Without loss of generality we may assume that the photon and electron move
in the xz plane after the scatter. If the photon’s velocity makes an angle θ with
the z axis, while the electron’s velocity makes an angle φ, the four-momentum
after the collision is
(h/λ0 ) sin θ + pe sin φ
(h/λ0 ) sin θ pe sin φ
0 0 0
pµ,f = pµ,γ + pµ,e = (h/λ0 ) cos θ +
= 0
.
p ep cos φ (h/λ ) cos
p + pe cos φ
θ
0 2 2 2 0
h/λ m c + pe (h/λ ) + m2 c2 + p2e
(13)
h2 h2 h2
p2e = + − 2 cos θ. (17)
λ2 λ02 λλ0
On the other hand, we can solve (16) to obtain
2
1 1 1 1
p2e = h2 − + 2mch − .
λ λ0 λ λ0
Problem 7.22
We’ll suppose the photon of energy E is traveling along the positive z axis,
while that with energy E is traveling in the xz plane (i.e., its velocity has
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 7 10
It’s convenient to rotate our reference frame to one in which the space portion
of the composite four-momentum of the two photons is all along the z direction.
In this frame the total four-momentum is
0 1p 2 2
E+E
pt = 0, 0, E + E + 2EE cos θ, . (18)
c c
At threshold energy, the two produced particles have the same four-momenta:
p3 = p4 = 0, 0, p, (m2c2 + p2 )1/2 (19)
and 4-momentum conservation requires that twice (19) add up to (18), which
yields two conditions:
1
√ 1
2p = c E 2 + E 2 + 2EE cos θ −→ p 2 c2 = 4 (E
2
+ E 2 + 2EE cos θ)
p E+E 1
2 m 2 c2 + p 2 = c −→ m2 c4 + p2 c2 = 4 (E
2
+ E 2 + 2EE)
2m2 c4
E=
E(1 − cos θ)
as advertised.
Solutions to Problems in Goldstein,
Classical Mechanics, Second Edition
Homer Reid
October 29, 2002
Chapter 9
Problem 9.1
One of the attempts at combining the two sets of Hamilton’s equations into one
tries to take q and p as forming a complex quantity. Show directly from Hamilton’s
equations of motion that for a system of one degree of freedom the transformation
Q = q + ip, P = Q∗
is not canonical if the Hamiltonian is left unaltered. Can you find another set of
coordinates Q0 , P 0 that are related to Q, P by a change of scale only, and that are
canonical?
The direct conditions for canonicality, valid in cases (like this one) in which the
1
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 9 2
Problem 9.2
p2 1
H= − 2,
2 2q
show that there is a constant of the motion
pq
D= − Ht.
2
(b) As a generalization of part (a), for motion in a plane with the Hamiltonian
H = |p|n − ar−n ,
1
= {pq, H} − H
2
1 2
1 1
= pq, p − pq, 2 − H. (3)
4 4 q
The first Poisson bracket is
∂(pq) ∂(p2 ) ∂(pq) ∂(p2 )
pq, p2 =
−
∂q ∂p ∂p ∂q
= (p)(2p) − 0
= 2p2 (4)
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 9 4
Next,
1 1
∂(pq) ∂ ∂(pq) ∂
1 q2 q2
pq, = −
q2 ∂q ∂p ∂p ∂q
2
=0− − 3 q
q
2
= 2 (5)
q
dD p2 1
= − 2 −H
dt 2 2q
= 0.
(b) We have
so
∂H
= anxi (x21 + x22 + x23 )−n/2−1
∂xi
∂H
= 2npi (p21 + p22 + p23 )n/2−1 .
∂pi
Then
X ∂(p1 x1 + p2 x2 + p3 x3 ) ∂H ∂(p1 x1 + p2 x2 + p3 x3 ) ∂H
{p · r, H} = −
i
∂x i ∂p i ∂pi ∂xi
Xn o
= np2i (p21 + p22 + p23 )n/2−1 − anx2i (x21 + x22 + x23 )−n/2−1
i
dD ∂D
= {D, H} −
dT ∂t
1 ∂D
= {p · r, H} −
n ∂t
= |p|n − ar−n − H
= 0.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 9 5
(c) We put
t0 1 t0
Q(t0 ) = λq , P (t0 ) = p . (7)
λ2 λ λ2
Since q and p are the original canonical coordinates, they satisfy
∂H
q̇ = =p
∂p
(8)
∂H 1
ṗ = − = 3.
∂q q
1
= 3 0
Q (t )
Problem 9.4
is canonical.
− q1
cot p
= .
cot p −q csc2 p
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 9 6
Hence
− q1 − 1q
cot p cot p 0 1
M̃JM =
cot p −q csc2 p cot p −q csc2 p −1 0
− 1q cot p −q csc2 p
cot p
= 1
cot p −q csc2 p q − cot p
2 2
0 csc p − cot p
=
cot2 p − csc2 p 0
0 1
=
−1 0
=J
Problem 9.5
Show directly for a system of one degree of freedom that the transformation
αq 2 p2
αq
Q = arctan , P = 1+ 2 2
p 2 α q
so
α 1
αq p
p αq 2 αq
M̃JM =
1+( p )
αq
α
αq p
α 1 1
− 1 − p αq 2 + p2 αq 2
p2 1+( αq
) 2 α 1+( p ) 1+( p )
p
0 1
=
−1 0
=J
Problem 9.6
(a) Show directly from these transformation equations that Q, P are canonical
variables if q and p are.
(b) Show that the function that generates this transformation is
Hence we have
1 q −1/2 cos p
2 1+q 1/2 cos p
q −1/2 sin p + sin 2p
M̃JM =
q 1/2 sin p
− 1+q 1/2 cos p 2q 1/2 cos p + 2q cos 2p
q −1/2 sin p + sin 2p 2q 1/2 cos p + 2q cos 2p
×
q 1/2 sin p
q−1/2 cos p
− 12 1+q 1/2 cos p 1+q 1/2 cos p
cos2 p+sin2 p+q 1/2 cos p cos 2p+q 1/2 sin p sin 2p
0 1+q 1/2 cos p
= 2
p+sin2 p+q 1/2 cos p cos 2p+q 1/2 sin p sin 2p
− cos 1+q 1/2 cos p
0
0 1
=
−1 0
=J
Problem 9.7
(a) If each of the four types of generating functions exist for a given canonical
transformation, use the Legendre transformation to derive relations between
them.
(b) Find a generating function of the F4 type for the identity transformation and
of the F3 type for the exchange transformation.
(c) For an orthogonal point transformation of q in a system of n degrees of freedom,
show that the new momenta are likewise given by the orthogonal transforma-
tion of an n−dimensional vector whose components are the old momenta plus
a gradient in configuration space.
Problem 9.8
Q1 = q 1 , P1 = p1 − 2p2
Q2 = p 2 , P2 = −2q1 − q2
F1 (q1 , Q1 , q2 , Q2 ) = F13 + p1 q1 .
Problem 9.14
By any method you choose show that the following transformation is canonical:
1 p α p
x= ( 2P1 sin Q1 + P2 ), px = ( 2P1 cos Q1 − Q2 )
α 2
1 p α p
y = ( 2P1 cos Q1 + Q2 ), py = − ( 2P1 sin Q1 − P2 )
α 2
where α is some fixed parameter.
Apply this transformation to the problem of a particle of charge q moving in a plane
that is perpendicular to a constant magnetic field B. Express the Hamiltonian for
this problem in the (Qi , Pi ) coordinates, letting the parameter α take the form
qB
α2 = .
c
From this Hamiltonian obtain the motion of the particle as a function of time.
of some set of four variables of which two are old variables and two are new.
After some hacking, I arrived at the set {x, Q1 , py , Q2 }. In terms of this set, the
remaining quantities are
1 1 1
y= x − 2 py cot Q1 + Q2 (9)
2 α α
2
α 1 α
px = x − py cot Q1 − Q2 (10)
4 2 2
2 2
α x 1 1
P1 = − xpy + 2 p2y csc2 Q1 (11)
8 2 2α
α 1
P2 = x + p y (12)
2 α
We now seek a generating function of the form F (x, Q1 , py , Q2 ). This is of mixed
type, but can be related to a generating function of pure F1 character according
to
F1 (x, Q1 , y, Q2 ) = F (x, Q1 , py , Q2 ) − ypy .
Then the principle of least action leads to the condition
∂F ∂F ∂F ∂F
px ẋ + py ẏ = P1 Q̇1 + P2 Q̇2 + ẋ + ṗy + Q̇1 + Q̇2 + y ṗy + py ẏ
∂x ∂py ∂Q1 ∂Q2
Doing the easiest first, comparing (12) and (16) we see that F must have
the form
α 1
F (x, Q1 , py , Q2 ) = − xQ2 − py Q2 + g(x, Q1 , py ). (17)
2 α
Plugging this in to (14) and comparing with (14) we find
1 1 2
g(x, Q1 , py ) = − xpy + 2 py cot Q1 + ψ(x, Q1 ). (18)
2 2α
Plugging (17) and (18) into (13) and comparing with (10), we see that
∂ψ α2
= x cot Q1
∂x 4
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Goldstein Problems: Chapter 9 11
or
α 2 x2
ψ(x, Q1 ) = cot Q1 . (19)
8
Finally, combining (19), (18), (17), and (15) and comparing with (11) we see
that we may simply take φ(Q1 ) ≡ 0. The final form of the generating function
is then
2 2
α 1 α x 1 1 2
F (x, Q1 , py , Q2 ) = − x + py Q2 + − xpy + 2 py cot Q1
2 α 8 2 2α
and its existence proves the canonicality of the transformation.
Turning now to the solution of the problem, we take the B field in the z
direction, i.e. B = B0 k̂, and put
B0
A= − y î + x ĵ .
2
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1 q 2
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2m " c
2 2 #
1 qB0 qB0
= px + y + py − x
2m 2c 2c
" 2 2 #
1 α2 α2
= px + y + py − x
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