PROBLEM SET

1. Planet in a central potential.

dV
A planet of mass m moves in R3 under a central force F ( r ) =
dr
in spherical coordinates, so
( x , y , z ) =( r cos()sin ( ) ,r sin ()sin ( ) ,r cos () )
Find the Lagrangian from first principles, in terms of (r, , ) and their time
derivatives.
Hence
a. show that h, defined by h=mr 2 sin 2() is a constant of the motion.
b. derive the other two equations of motion.

2. A spring hanging vertically under gravity Consider a mass m on the end of a spring of
natural length l and spring constant k. Let y be the vertical coordinate of the mass
as measured from the top of the spring. Assume the mass can only move up and down
in the vertical direction. Show that
1 1
L= m y2 k ( yl )2 +mgy
2 2
Determine the corresponding Euler-Lagrange equations of motion.

3. A particle of mass m is constrained to move on an ellipse E in a vertical plane, parametrized

by x=a cos , y=b sin , where a , b>0 and a b and and the positive y-
direction is the upward vertical. The particle is connected to the origin by a spring, as shown
1 2
in the diagram, and is subject to gravity. The potential energy in the spring is k r where
2
r is the distance of the point mass from the origin