Problems Set III

1. Find the unit normal vector and curvature of the cycloid : = ( ), =

(1 ), = 0, where 0 < < 2.

2. By expressing the vectors , , in terms of a suitable standard basis, prove the identity :

( ) = ( ) ( ) .

3. Prove the identity: ( ) + ( ) + ( ) = 0 (Jacobis identity).

4. The directions in which X-rays are strongly scattered by a crystal are determined from the
solutions of Lames equations, namely
= , = , = ,
where {, , } are the basis vectors of the crystal lattice, and , , are any integers. If
the solutions of Lames equations are : x = L a* + M b* + N c*, find a* , b* , c*.

5. Find the expressions for the position vector, velocity, acceleration, displacement, gradient,
divergence, curl and 2 in spherical polar and cylindrical polar coordinates.

6. Find the transformation matrix for a rotation about the axis through an angle followed
by a rotation about the axis through an angle .

7. The two sets of vectors , , and , , are said to be reciprocal if . = .

= . = 1 and all other mixed dot products like . = 0. Show that
= ( )/, = ( )/, = ( )/ , where Q = . ( ).

8. A particle moves in an elliptical path given by the equation = +

2 . Find the speed as a function of . Also find the angle between the velocity
vector and the acceleration vector at time = /4.

9. The position of a particle is given in plane polar coordinates by = , = .

Show that the angle between the velocity vector and the acceleration vector remains
constant as the particle spirals outward.

10. A particle moves on a circle of constant radius . If the speed of the particle varies with
the time according to the equation for what value, or values, of does the acceleration
vector make an angle of 45" with the velocity vector?

11. A particle moves on a hclical path such that its position, in cylindrical coordinates, is
given by = , = , = 2 . Find the speed and the magnitude of the
acceleration as functions of .

12. Show that the magnitude of tangential component of the acceleration is given by the
cxpression = . /|| and that of the normal component is by = (2 2 )12 .
Use these results to find the tangential and normal components of the acceleration as
functions of time in Problem 11.
13. A particle moves with constant velocity along the heart curve or cardioid
= (1 + cos ) . Find the acceleration , its magnitude, and the angular velocity.

14.

14. Prove that

15. Prove that . = , and hence that for a moving particle and are perpendicular to
each other if the speed is constant.

16.

17. Prove that | | = 3 /, where is the radius of curvature of the path of a moving
particle.

18. By using the fact that the unit tangent vector can be expressed as = , find an
expression for the unit normal vector in terms , , , , and .

19.
20.

21.

22.

23.

24. Show that

25.

26.

27. Obtain the expressions of 2 in spherical polar and cylindrical coordinates using the
transformation equations.
28.

29.

30.

31.

32.