Classical Mechanics Homework Set II

This homework was due by Thursday September 25.

II-A:      Goldstein exercise 1-14.

II-B:      Goldstein exercise 1-17.
In addition, comment on the physical meaning of the two equations you obtain, and use them to describe at least two different special cases of the possible motion.

II-C:      Goldstein exercise 1-22.
Hint: Read over page 24 of the text. You may use eq. (1-70) as the starting point of your solution.

II-D:      A particle of mass m is attached to a string which passes through a hole in a table (without friction) and is then fastened to a spring with a force constant k. When the particle is at the hole, the spring is unstretched. Using Lagrange's equations, find the equations of motion in polar coordinates and identify any constants of the motion. Consider only cases where the particle moves on the surface of the table. What is the shape of the path of the particle?