Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 2 – Solutions

1. (a) The centrifugal force is

Fcf = −mω × (ω × r) = (mω 2 r, 0, 0) or mω 2 r outwards, (1.1)
in a cylindrical coordinates basis and where m is the mass of the volume element.
(b) The gravitational force on the volume element is
Fg = (0, 0, −mg) or mg down. (1.2)
We wish to calculate the height of the water surface h(r) as a function of the radius r.
At distance r, the slope of the water surface is given by the derivative dh/dr or in vector
notation
∇h(r) = (dr, 0, dh) , (1.3)
in the cylindrical coordinate basis. Notice that we have made use of cylindrical symmetry
which ensurethat ensures there is no gradient in the angular coordinate.
In order for this to be orthogonal to the total force exerted on the water at r, we need
∇h(r) · (Fcf + Fg ) = mω 2 rdr − mgdh = 0 . (1.4)
By integrating this, we find
r
ω2 r2
Z
dh
h(r) = h0 + = h0 + . (1.5)
0 dr 2g
2. (a) Relative to the Earth, the centre of mass is at
MM r M
rCM = , (2.1)
ME + M M
so the distance from the Earth is
MM rM 7.3 × 1022 kg × 3.8 × 108 m
rCM = ≈ ≈ 4.6 × 106 m. (2.2)
ME + MM 6.0 × 1024 kg + 7.3 × 1022 kg
(b) The Earth and the Moon orbit their centre of mass at the rate of one revolution per month,
so
2π
ω= ≈ 2.4 × 10−6 s−1 . (2.3)
30 × 24 × 60 × 60 s
The relative angular momentum L∗ is given by
X
L∗ = mi r∗i × ṙ∗i . (2.4)
i

Because we have circular orbits, we have ṙ∗i = ω × r∗i , and therefore

X
L∗ = mi r∗i × (ω × r∗i ) . (2.5)
i

Using the rule a × (b × c) = (a · c)b − (a · b)c, and noting that r∗ · ω = 0, we find

X ME MM 2
L∗ = mi (ri∗ )2 ω = ME rCM
2
+ MM (rM − rCM )2 ω =


r ω, (2.6)
M E + MM M
i
so
7.3 × 1022 kg × 6.0 × 1024 kg
|L∗ | ≈ × (3.8 × 108 m)2 × 2.4 × 10−6 s−1
6.0 × 1024 kg + 7.3 × 1022 kg
≈ 2.5 × 1034 kg m2 /s. (2.7)

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Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 2 – Solutions

(c) The centre of mass angular momentum is

LCM = (ME + MM )rE × ṙE = (ME + MM )rE × (ω E × rE )
2
= (ME + MM )rE ωE , (2.8)
where ω E is the angular velocity of the Earth orbiting the Sun,
2π
ωE ≈ ≈ 2.0 × 10−7 s−1 . (2.9)
365 × 24 × 60 × 60 s
Putting in the numbers, we find

2
|LCM | ≈ (6.0 × 1024 kg + 7.3 × 1022 kg) × 1.5 × 1011 m × 2.0 × 10−7 s−1
≈ 2.7 × 1040 kg m2 /s, (2.10)
around one million times higher than |L∗ |.

3. (a) See Figure 1. [5 marks]

Figure 1:

(b) For the earthbound coordinate system above we have v = ẋi + ẏj, and
ω = ω(cos λj + sin λk).
Hence the Coriolis acceleration is −2ω × v = −2ω (−ẏ sin λi + ẋ sin λj − ẋ cos λk).
Since the pendulum is rigid we are only interested in the Coriolis acceleration lying in
the x − y plane given by ac = 2ω sin λ (ẏi − ẋj). The restoring acceleration due to the
tension in the pendulum is ap = − Lg (xi + yj). The components of the total acceleration
a = ac + ap are therefore
g
ẍ = 2Ωẏ − x , (3.1)
L
g
ÿ = −2ω sin λẋ − y , (3.2)
L
as required.
Setting u = x + iy and adding the above two equations yields
ü + 2iΩu̇ + ω02 u = 0 (3.3)
g
where Ω = ω sin λ and ω02 = L as required. [5 marks]

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Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 2 – Solutions

(c) The trial solution u = u0 exp iω 0 t yields

g
−ω 02 − (2ω sin λ) ω 0 + = 0 , (3.4)
L
⇒ ω 0 = −ω sin λ ± ω1 , (3.5)
1/2
where ω1 = ω 2 sin2 λ + g/L

. The general solution is therefore

u = e−iω sin λt Ae+iω1 t + Be−iω1 t .

 
(3.6)

The initial conditions x = a, y = 0 and ẋ = 0, ẏ = 0 determine (provided Ω  ω0 )

A+B = a (3.7)
A − B = 0, (3.8)
whence A = B = a/2, and
a −iω sin λt  +iω1 t
+ e−iω1 t

u = e e (3.9)
2
= ae−iω sin λt cos (ω1 t) . (3.10)
Taking the real and imaginary parts yields
x = +a cos[(ω sin λ)t] cos ω1 t , (3.11)
y = −a sin[(ω sin λ)t] cos ω1 t . (3.12)
The assumption Ω  ω0 is justified physically since the earth rotates much more slowly
than the pendulum swings. [8 marks]
(d) The angular frequency with which the plane of swing rotates is Ω = ω sin λ, and the
rotation period is therefore T = 2π/ω sin λ. Putting in the numbers

2π × 24 hrs
T = = 30.67 hrs . (3.13)
2π × sin 51.5◦
[2 marks]
This is the period of the Foucault pendulum in the Science museum.
[TOTAL 20 marks]