IC121: Mechanics of Particles and Waves

School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi

Semester I, 2017

Instructor: Dr. Pradeep Kumar (SBS)

Problem Set - 2 Due Date: 20 Sept. 2017

Marks-60

Q.1. (a) Interpret the symbol A.

(b) Give a possible meaning to ( A.) B

(C) Is it possible to write the expression in (b) as A.B ? (9)

Q.2. Show that the vector field ⃗ ( )ˆ ( )ˆ ( ) ˆ is

independent of the path from ( ) to ( ) for the integral ⃗ ⃗. Find the
potential function ( ). (5)

 yiˆ  xjˆ
Q.3. Calculate the work done by a force field F  , in moving from (-1,0) to (1,0)
x2  y2
along two paths as shown in the figure. Is the force field conservative ?

What will be the work done in going around a circle starting from (1,0) in clockwise direction
? (8)

Q.4. (a) Consider a particle is moving in a circle of constant radius r with angular velocity
(  )  t , where  is a positive constant. Find the particle velocity in polar coordinates.

(b) Consider a particle moving with constant velocity V   iˆ , where  is a positive constant,
along the line Y=4. Find V in polar coordinates.

From the above two situation, find out in which situation use of polar coordinates is
convenient? (4)

1
Q.5. A bead moves along the spoke of a wheel at constant speed u meter/sec. The wheel
rotates with angular velocity  about an axis fixed in space. At t = 0 the spoke is along x-
axis, and bead is at the origin. Find the velocity at time t

(a) In polar coordinate and (b) in Cartesian coordinates.

Discuss which coordinate system is convenient. (4)

Q.6. (a) Find the expression for velocity and acceleration in cylindrical coordinates.

(b) Express the unit vectors in spherical polar coordinates( ˆ ˆ ˆ )in terms of Cartesian
coordinates ( ˆ ˆ ˆ). Work out the inverse formulas giving ( ˆ ˆ ˆ)in terms of ( ˆ ˆ ˆ ). (6)

Q.7. Express in spherical polar coordinates. (6)

Q.8. (a) Find the divergence of the function ⃗ ( )ˆ ˆ ˆ,

(b) Test the divergence theorem for this function, using quarter-cylinder (radius 2 and height
5).

(c) Find the curl of ⃗ . (9)

Q.9. Find the velocity of a particle undergoing vertical motion under gravity in a medium
having a retarding force proportional to velocity. Write the equation of motion for the
system. Find the solution of the equation of motion. Based on the solution comment on what
happens to the system at very long time and at 𝑡 → ∞. (4)

Q.10. For a given initial speed, at what inclination angle should a ball be thrown so that it
travels the maximum horizontal distance by the time it returns to the ground? Assume that
ground is horizontal, and ball released from the ground level. What is the optimal angle if the
ground is sloped upward at an angle . (5)