Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Skip to main content
Library homepage
 

Text Color

Text Size

 

Margin Size

 

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font
Physics LibreTexts

1.10: Problem

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

1.1. For the mass and spring discussed (1.1)-(1.8), suppose that the system is hung vertically in the earth’s gravitational field, with the top of the spring held fixed. Show that the frequency for vertical oscillations is given by (1.5). Explain why gravity has no effect on the angular frequency.

1.2a. Find an expression for cos 7θ in terms of cos θ and sin θ by using complex exponentials and the binomial expansion.

b. Do the same for sin 5θ.

c. Use complex exponentials to find an expression for sin(θ1+θ2+θ3) in terms of the sines and cosines of the individual angles.

d. Do you remember the “half angle formula,”

cos2θ2=12(1+cosθ)?

Use complex exponentials to prove the "fifth angle formula,"

cos5θ5=1016cosθ5+516cos3θ5+116cosθ.

e. Use complex exponentials to prove the identity

sin6x=sinx(32cos5x23cos3x+6cosx)

1.3a Write i+3 in the form Reiθ. Write θ as a rational number times π

Do the same for i3

c. Show that the two square roots of Reiθare±Reiθ2. Hint: This is easy! Don’t work too hard.

d. Use the result of c. to find the square roots of 2i and 2+2i3.

1.4. Find all six solutions to the equation z6=1 and write each in the form A + iB and plot them in the complex plane. Hint: write z=Reiθ for R real and positive, and find R and θ.

1.5. Find three independent solutions to the differential equation

d3dt3f(t)+f(t)=0

You should use complex exponentials to derive the solutions, but express the results in real form.

1.6. A block of mass M slides without friction between two springs of spring constant K and 2K, as shown. The block is constrained to move only left and right on the paper, so the system has only one degree of freedom.

Screen Shot 2021-04-28 at 12.31.01 AM.png

Calculate the oscillation angular frequency. If the velocity of the block when it is at its equilibrium position is v, calculate the amplitude of the oscillation.

1.7. A particle of mass m moves on the x axis with potential energy

V(x)=Eoa4(x4+4ax38a2x2)

Find the positions at which the particle is in stable equilibrium. Find the angular frequency of small oscillations about each equilibrium position. What do you mean by small oscillations? Be quantitative and give a separate answer for each point of stable equilibrium.

1.8. For the torsion pendulum of figure 1.14, suppose that the pendulum consists of two 0.01 kg masses on a light rod of total length 0.1 m. If the generalized spring constant, α, is 5×107 N m. Find the angular frequency of the oscillator.


This page titled 1.10: Problem is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Howard Georgi via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

Support Center

How can we help?