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PS320 Practice Problems

The document contains 11 practice problems related to vector calculus concepts like gradient, divergence, curl, and vector identities. It also includes problems related to forces, particle motion, and space curves. The practice problems are from a class on vector calculus and classical mechanics.

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Omer Farooq
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
45 views

PS320 Practice Problems

The document contains 11 practice problems related to vector calculus concepts like gradient, divergence, curl, and vector identities. It also includes problems related to forces, particle motion, and space curves. The practice problems are from a class on vector calculus and classical mechanics.

Uploaded by

Omer Farooq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Extra Practice
Practice Problem# 1:- Show that dot and cross product of vectors is a scalar and a vector quantity respec-
tively.
Practice Problem# 2:- Prove the following vector identities using the Levi-Civita tensor.
#»  #» 
a) ∇ · A(r) × #» r =0
#»  #» #» #»  #» #» #»
b) ∇ × ∇ × A = ∇ ∇ · A − ∇2 A
#»  #»  #» #» #»  #» 
c) ∇ · f A = f ∇ · A + A · ∇f
#»  #» #» #»  #» #» #»  #» #»
d) ∇ · A × B = B · ∇ × A − A · ∇ × B
#»  #»  #» #»  #»  #»
e) ∇ × f A = f ∇ × A + ∇f × A
#»  #» #»  #» #» #»  #» #» #» #»  #» #» #»  #» #»
f) ∇ × A × B = B · ∇ A − A · ∇ B + A ∇ · B − B ∇ · A
#»
#»  #»  #» ∂ G #»  #» #»
g) ∇ × G × #» r = 2G + r − r ∇·G
∂r
#»  #» #»  #»  #» #» #»  #» #» #»
h) A × B × C + B × C × A + C × A × B = 0
 #» #»  #» #»  #» #»  #» #»  #» #»  #» #»
i) A × B · C × D = A · C B · D − A · B B × C
 #» #»  #» #»  #» #» #» #»  #» #» #» #»
j) A × B × C × D = A × B · D C − A × B · C D
 #» 
#» r #»
k) ∇ × = 0
r2
#» 
l) ∇ · r3 #»
r = 6r3
#»  #»  #»
m) ∇ × ∇φ = 0
#»  #» #»
n) ∇ · ∇ × A = 0
#»
Practice Problem# 3:- The  = 1 version of the quantum mechanical angular momentum operator, L =
#» #»
−i r × ∇, plays a useful role in the analysis of classical spherical systems. In this problem, we prove an
identity which will appear later in the course:
 
#» #»  #» 1 ∂ #»
r
∇ × L = r̂ × L r + i 2 L2 . (4)
r ∂r r

Pracrice Problem# 4:- Only state


a) Fundamental theorem of calculus
b) Fundamental theorem of divergence
Practice Problem# 5:- Although the gradient, divergence, and curl theorems are the fundamental integral
theorems of vector calculus, it is possible to derive a number of corollaries from them. Show that:
  #»   #»   #» 
a) T ∇2 U + ∇T · ∇U dv = T ∇U · d #»
a . This is known as Green’s Identity.
V S

 #» #» 
b) T ∇2 U − U ∇2 T dv = T ∇U − U ∇T · d #»
a . This is known as Green’s second Identity;
V S
it follows from Green’s Identity.
#» #»
c) ∇T × d #»a = − T d l . (Hint: Use Stokes’ theorem.)
S P

Practice Problem# 6:- A particle of mass m tied to a spring having a force constant k oscillates in one
dimension. If the motion is subjected to the force F = −kx, find expressions for displacement, velocity
and period of oscillation.

3
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Practice Problem# 7:- Find the potential energy function associated with the force
#»
a) F = −yzx̂ − xz ŷ − xyẑ
#»  
b) F = 2xy + yz 2 x̂ + x2 + xz 2 ŷ + 2xyzẑ
#»  
c) F = y 2 z 3 − 6xz 2 x̂ + 2xyz 3 ŷ + 3xy 2 z 2 − 6x2 z ẑ
#»
d) F = −x2 yzx̂ + xyz 2 ẑ

Practice Problem# 8:- Some short questions


#» 
a) A particle move under a force F = − k/r2 r̂. Prove that the angular momentum of the particle is
conserved.
b) A particle of mass m moves under a force F = −cx3 , where c is a positive constant.
i) Find the potential energy function
ii) If the particle starts from rest at x = −a, what is its velocity when it reaches at x = 0?
iii) Where in the subsequent motion does it come to rest?
Practice Problem# 9:- A particle moves along a space curve C, whose position vector is given by
#»
r (t) = 3 cos (2t) x̂ + 3 sin (2t) ŷ + (8t − 4) ẑ (5)
#»(t) = v(t)T̂.
a) Find a unit tangent vector T̂ to the curve and verify that v
b) Find the curvature, radius of curvature, and unit normal vector N̂ to any point of the space curve
C.

Practice Problem# 10:- A ladder of length b rests against a vertical wall. The base
of the ladder is pulled away with a constant speed v0 .

a) Show that the midpoint M of the ladder describes the arc of a circle of radius
b/2 with the center at O.

b) Find the velocity of the midpoint M at the moment where the base of the
ladder is at a distance a < b from the wall.

Practice Problem# 11:- A particle of mass m moves along the x−axis under a constant force F starting
from rest at the origin at time t = 0. If T and V are the kinetic and potential energies of the particle,
calculate
t0

(T − V ) dt.
0

“Although many historians of the new millennium now take issue with the notion of a Scientific
Revolution, it is generally agreed that Newton’s work culminated the long development of European
science, creating a synthesis that opened the way for the scientific culture of the modern age.” –
John Freely, Before Galileo: The Birth of Modern Science in Medieval Europe (2012)

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