Assignment # 1 Classical Mechanics-II - PHYS-3106 Due Date: 25-04-2019

1. To find the form of Newton’s 2nd law in a rotating frame made the assumption that the
angular velocity Ω was constant. Show that if 𝛀̇ ≠ 𝟎 then there is a third "fictitious force",
sometimes called the azimuthal force, on the right side of this law equal to mr x 𝛀̇.
2. A boy is spinning a bucket of water about its vertical axis with angular velocity Ω. Show
that, once the water has settled in equilibrium (relative to the bucket), its surface will be a
parabola. (remember that the surface is an equipotential under the combined effects of the
gravitational and centrifugal forces.)
3. A high-speed train is traveling at a constant 150 m/s (about 300 mph) on a straight
horizontal track across the south pole. Find the angle between a plumb line suspended from
the ceiling inside the train and another inside a hut on the ground. In what direction is the
plumb line on the train deflected?
4. Consider a simple pendulum (mass m and length L) mounted inside a railroad car that is
accelerating to the right with constant acceleration A as shown below in Figure. Find the
angle, at which the pendulum will remain at rest relative to the accelerating car and find
the frequency of small oscillations about this equilibrium angle.