Lecture-V

Position, velocity and time

dependent forces

Solving differential equations:

Consider the force as a function of time, position, or velocity,
and solve the
d 2x
m 2 = F ( x, t , v )
dt
differential equation to find the position, x(t), as a function of time.

Since we need to solve second order differential equations, we must

have two initial conditions, usually x0 x(t0) and v0 v(t0), to obtain the
final solutions.

Three special cases: F is function of t only, function of x only, and

function of v only.

F is a function of x only: F = F(x)

Examples:

F = kx
F = k / x 2

Separating variables in dx/dt v(x) then yields

The spring-gun:
The piston of a spring gun has mass m and is attached to one end of a spring with
spring constant k. The projectile is a marble of mass M. The piston and marble are
pulled back a distance L from the equilibrium position and suddenly released. What is
the speed of the marble as it loses contact with the piston? Neglect friction.

( M + m)


x = kx

x+

k
x=0
( M + m)

= k ( M + m)

At t = 0, when the spring is released, the position and velocity are given by x(0) = -L, v(0) = 0.

&
Maximum velocity at

Inverse-cube force field:

A particle of mass m starts from rest at x0 (> 0) in an attractive inverse-cube force field
F = k/x3 (k is a positive constant). Show that the time taken to reach the origin is
The equation of motion is

Since,

A negative sign has been used in extracting a square root because we are considering
motion in the negative x-direction, that is v(x) 0. Integrating the above equation with
respect to t gives
Since,

Say, for t =T0, x = 0 then

Where the positive root is taken

because the particle is to the
right of the origin (x > 0).

Show that the motion is oscillatory

& find its time period

F is a function of v only: F = F(v)

Examples:

F = kv
F = kv 2

Free motion in viscous medium:

A body of mass m released with velocity vo in a viscous fluid is retarded by a force Cv.
Find the motion, supposing that no other forces act.

F = Cv :

Let = m/c, then v = voe- tI . is a characteristic time

for the system; it is the time for the velocity to drop to
e-1 0.37 of its original velocity.
t

dx
Therefore,
= v0 e t . Hence, x = v0 e t dt = v0 1 e t
dt
0

As , C 0, means no resistance. Then x = v0t.

1 2 1 3
x

e
=
1

x
+
x

x
+


2
6

Projectile in a resistive medium:

A projectile of mass m is fired from the origin with initial velocity (u1,u2,0) in a uniform
gravitational field. Assume a linear drag proportional to instantaneous velocity due to
the surrounding medium, and determine the trajectory r(t).
Equations of motion: mx

= x
,
x




x + = 0,

my

= mg y

y




y+ +g =0

x(t ) = u1 1 et ,

To solve the y-equation, take y
= g + W (t ),

2 at t = 0.
y
= g + W0et = g + ( u2 + g ) et , since y=u

y (t ) = g t + ( u2 + g ) 1 et


r (t ) = x(t )i + y (t ) j

This trajectory for u = 100 ms1, g = 9.8 ms2,

=/6 and various values of are shown.

where =

W
W
+ = 0

W (t ) = W0e t

F is a function of t only: F = F(t)

Examples:

F = t
F = sin t
Obtain v(t):

Since

Spring-mass under a force:

A block of mass m is attached at one end of a spring of spring constant k. The spring
mass system hangs vertically as shown in figure. The block is pulled downward with a
force F=t. Find the instantaneous position of the block.

mx

= kx + mg + t

or

x + 2 x = g + t,

= k m & = m

x
m

x = xh + x p

xh + 2 xh = 0

xh = A cos t + B sin t & x p = C + Dt

F=t

x p + 2 x p = 2 ( C + Dt ) = g + t C = g 2 , D = 2
x=

t
+ A cos t + B sin t
2
m

At t = 0, kx = mg &

x
= 0

x = mg / k = g / 2
A=0

&

B = ( m 3 ) = ( k )

xp = g 2 + t 2

x= 2 +

sin t
2
m k
g

Forced harmonic oscillation:

Force can be applied by jiggling the end of the
spring. Suppose that the end of the spring moves
according to y = yo cos t, as shown. The change
in length of the spring from its equilibrium
length is x-y, where x is the position of the mass.
The equation of motion is
where F0 = kyo.

x = xh + x p

Homogeneous equation:


xh + 02 xh = 0, 0 = k m

xh =
Particular solution:

where B is a constant and is the phase angle.

xp
xp

Forced harmonic oscillation:

For a damped system, the amplitude B would decrease exponentially in time and
eventually we would be left with the steady-state solution
Resonance: The amplitude of oscillation, A,
approaches zero as and has a finite value at =
0, but it increases without limit at =0, when the
oscillator is driven at its natural frequency. This great
increase of the amplitude when a system is driven at a
certain frequency is known as resonance. 0 is often
called the resonance frequency of this system. Infinitely
large value at =0 is due to the fact that friction is
neglected. If friction is taken into account, the
amplitude may be large at resonance, but it remains
finite.
A is positive for <0 and negative for >0. Negative amplitude means that if the
force varies as cos t, the displacement varies as -cos t. Since cos(t) = cos(t+),
the negative sign is equivalent to a phase shift of radians (i.e., 180) between the
driving force and the displacement.

Central force:


F = f (r )r

Examples:
Spring force:

Gravitational force:

Coulomb force:


F = krr


F = f (r )r

Two important properties:

Acceleration:


a = (


r r
2 )r + (r

+ 2r

)

m(


r r
2 ) = f (r ),

Equations of motion:

m(r

+ 2r

) = 0

1d
mr 2
= 0, or mr 2
= constant.
r dt

Wait for angular momentum

 
b 
 a  
 F dr = F dr + F dr = 0
a

Wait for work-energy theorem