WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Department of Physics and Astronomy

PhD Exam August 2016 Classical Mechanics
Committee: Golubovic, Lewis, Lorimer, Pisano & Tu

Answer all five problems. Each problem is worth 20 points. Include your alias on
each sheet of paper and begin each problem on a new sheet. Do not write your real
name on any of the sheets. Write only on one side of each sheet and be sure
to number all sheets before turning them in. You are expected to present
your work clearly and include all steps in your solutions. A brief description of your
reasoning process and assumptions is also required to earn full credit.

Problem 1: A 3 kg rock falls from rest in a viscous medium. The rock is acted on
by a net constant downward force of 18 N (a combination of gravity and the buoyant
force exerted by the medium) and by a fluid resistive force proportional to velocity
with the proportionality constant 2.2 N s m1 . Find (a) initial acceleration of the
rock, (b) its terminal speed, (c) its coordinate, speed and acceleration 2 s after the
start of the motion.

Problem 2: An object is described by a single generalized coordinate q(t) as a

function of time t. Its time evolution is governed by the Lagrangian

mq2
+ aq exp bq 2 + f q,


L(q, q)
=
2
with m, a, b and f being given time independent quantities and, as usual, q labels the
first time derivative of q. Derive the equation of motion for the object and calculate
q(t) as a function of t, q(0) and q(0).

Problem 3: Consider a particle of mass m moving in a potential with a central

force
a b
F = 2 4,
r r
where r is the radial coordinate and a and
p b are positive constants. Show that stable
circular orbits are only possible if r > b/a.

Problem 4: A particle moves along the x-axis whose motion is described by the
function
cosh(g ) 1
x( ) = ,
g
where is the proper time and g is a constant. Note here that geometrized units
in which the speed of light c = 1 are assumed so that g has units of m1 . Find an
expression for this objects velocity vx = dx/dt in terms of time t as measured by an
inertial observer. Show that the magnitude of vx never exceeds the speed of light.
 Problem 5: An Atwood machine shown below consists of a fixed pulley wheel of
radius R and mass M . An effectively massless string passes around the pulley wheel
and connects two blocks of mass m1 and m2 respectively. The lighter block m1 is
initially on the ground and the more massive block m2 is at height h when the system
is released from rest. A constant gravitational force acts downwards. Assume that
the string never slips.
achine consists of a fixed pulley
s R and mass M. An effectively
passes around the pulley wheel
wo blocks of mass m1 and m2
he lighter block m1 is initially on
the more massive block m2 is at
the system is released from rest.
tational force acts downwards.
e string never slips.

e speed of the more massive

hen it hits the ground.
pulling force the ceiling
support the machine just before
2 hits the ground?

(a) Calculate the speed of the more massive block m2 , when it hits the ground.
(b) How much pulling force does the ceiling provide to support the machine just
before the block m2 hits the ground?