1

CSIR NET-JRF, GATE,JEST, TIFR

CLASSICAL MECHANICS
ASSIGNMENT: CONSERVATION LAWS

1. If L  qi , qi , t  and H  qi , pi , t  be Lagrangian 5. Lagrangian of a system is

1  x2 y2 
and Hamiltonian of a system, then
L
2
 
m x 2  y 2  z 2  k    z  , then
 2 3 
dL H dH L
(a)  (b)  (a) Energy and Lz is conserved
dt t dt t
(b) Only energy is conserved
dL H dL L (c) Force on the particle is constant
(c)  (d) 
dt t dt t (d) Kinetic energy of the particle is conserved
2. The homogeneity of time leads to the law of con- 6. One of the generalized co-ordinates qj of a sys-
servation of: tem is cyclic. Then its
(a) Linear momentum (b) Angular momentum (a) Energy is not conserved.
(c) Energy (d) parity (b) Conjugate momentum pj is also cyclic.
3. Lagrangian of a system is
(c) Conjugate momentum pj is conserved.
1
 
L  m x 2  y 2  z 2  k  2 x  3 y  . The con-
2
(d) Conjugate momentum pj is indeterminate.
7. A system exhibits invariance under translation in
served quantities are
space and time. The following quantities will re-
(a) Energy
main conserved.
(b) Energy, pz and 3 x  2 y (a) Linear momentum and angular momentum.
(c) Energy, pz and 3 x  2 y (b) Angular momentum and energy.
(d) Pz and 3 x  2 y (c) Linear momentum and energy.
(d) Linear momentum, angular momentum and
1 1 energy.
4. Lagrangian of a system is
2
 
m x 2  y 2 
2 8. The dynamics of a system with generalized coor-
dinates (x, y, z) is described by a Lagrangian

k x2  2 y 2  which of the following statement is
L  L  x,   y,t  where t is time. Which of
 y,z,x,
correct.
the following statements is correct?
(a) only total energy is conserved
(b) total energy, component of linear momentum (a) The total energy and x-component of the lin-
along x and y axes are conserved. ear momentum are conserved.
(c) total energy and 2 yx  xy are conserved. (b) The total energy and y-component of linear
momentum is not conserved.
(d) total energy and 2 yx  xy are conserved. (c) The total energy is conserved but z-compo-
nent of linear momentum is not conserved.
(d) The total energy is not conserved but z-com-
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ponent of linear momentum is conserved. (c)   1 and any value of 

L (d)   1 and   1 only

9. If  0 , where L is the Lagrangian for a con- 14. The Lagrangian of a system is given by
qn
1 2 2
servative system without constraints and qn is a L ml   sin 2  2   mgl cos  , Where
generalized coordinate, then the generalized mo- 2
mentum is: m, l, and g are constants.
(a) a cycle coordinate [GATE 2016]
(b) a constant of motion Which of the following is conserved ?
(a)  sin 2  (b)  sin 
d  L 
(c) equal to    
dt  qn 
(c) (d)
(d) undefined sin  sin 2 
10. The Lagrangian of a system with one degree of 15. The Lagrangian of a free particle in spherical po-
lar co-ordinates is given by
freedom q is given by L   q 2   q 2 , where 
1
and  are non-zero constants. If pq denotes the L
2
 
m r 2  r 2 2  r 22 sin 2  . The quantity
canonical momentum conjugate to q then which
that is conserved is
one of the following statements is CORRECT?
[GATE 2009]
(a) pq  2  q and it is a conserved quantity..
L L
(a) (b)
(b) pq  2  q and it is not a conserved quantity.. r 
(c) pq  2 q and it is a conserved quantity.. L L
 r
(c)
  (d)

(d) pq  2 q and it is not a conserved quantity..
16. A particle is moving under a potential V(x, y) = k
11. A particle in two dimensions is in a potential
(x + y ). Which of the following statement is cor-
V  x, y   x  2 y . Which of the following apart rect.
from the total energy of the particle is also a con- (a) px = constant
stant of motion (b) Lz = constant
[NET Dec. 2016] (c) px- py = constant
(d) px + py = constant
(a) p y  2 p x (b) px  2 p y
17. The Lagrangian of a 2-dimensional system is given
(c) px  2 p y (d) p y  2 p x
by L    x 1  x 2     x1  x 2 
2 2

12.
1 1
Lagrangian of a system is e t  mx 2  kx 2  .
 where  and  are constants
2 2  (a) The total energy E as well as  x1  x2  are
If px and E represent the linear momentum and
conserved
total energy then which of the following statement
is correct. (b) The total energy E as well as  x1  x2  are
(a) px = constant conserved
(b) E = constant (c) Only the total energy E is conserved
(c) px  constant,E = constant
(d) E  constant, px  constant. (d) Only ther sum  x1  x2  is conserved.

13. A particle is moving in a potential  x 2   y 2  z 2 18. The Lagrangian of a system moving in three di-
for what values of  and  y-component of mensions is [NET June 2016]
1 1 1
angular momentum is conserved.
(a)   2,   1 2
 2

L  mx12  m x22  x32  kx12  k  x2  x3 
2
2

(b)   1 and any value of  The independent constant (s) of motion is/are
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(a) energy alone total angular momentum are conserved
(b) only energy, one component of the linear mo- (d) The total energy and total angular momentum
mentum and one component of the angular are conserved
momentum
23. The Hamiltonian of a particle moving in a plane is
(c) only energy and one component of the linear
given by
momentum
(d) only energy and one component of the angu- 
p2 1
lar momentum H  m 2 r 2 sin 2 
2m 2

z2 where m is the mass, p the momentum,  a con-
A particle moves in a potential V  x  y  .
2 2
19.
2 stant, and (r,  ) the radial and polar coordinates.
Which component (s) of the angular momentum The following quantity/quantities will be conserved.
is/are constant (s) of motion ? (a) Energy
[NET Dec. 2013] (b) Angular momentum
(a) none (b) Lx, Ly and Lz (c) Energy and angular momentum
(c) only Lx and Ly (d) only Lz
(d) Energy and linear momentum.
20. Consider a spherical pendulum (a pendulum whose
motion is not confined to vertical plane). If vertical 24. Lagrangian of a system is
line through point of suspension is taken as z-di- 1
rection and two perpendicular horizontal lines as L
2
 
m x 2  y 2  z 2  k  xx  yy  zz  .
x and y directions then
Which of the following statements is correct.
(a) Lx = constant (a) Only Lz is conserved
(b) Ly = constant (b) All Lx, Ly and Lz are conserved
(c) None of Lx, Ly, Lz are conserved
(c) Lz = constant
(d) Only Lz is not conserved.
(d) None of Lx, Ly and Lz is constant
1
25. Lagrangian of a system is
2

m x 2  y 2  z 2 
p2 e2
21. For a hamiltonian H    k x2  y2   1
2m r
 
 k x 2  2 y 2  3z 2 which of the following
2
where r  x  y  z , Where e and k is a con-
2 2 2 2

statement is correct.
stant, the following quantities are constants of
(a) only total energy is conserved
motion.
(b) total energy, component of linear momentum
(a) E, L2, Lz (b) E, Lz along x and y axes are conserved.
(c) E, L2 (d) E only (c) total energy and 2 yx  3xy are conserved.
22. The Hamiltonian of a system of two particles of (d) total energy and 3 yx  2 xy are conserved.
  26. Lagrangian of a free particle in cylinderical co-or
masses m1 and m2 at r1 and r2 having velocities
  dinate is
v1 and v2 is given by
1 1
L m   2   2 2   mz 2 ; m = constant
1 1 C   2 2
H m1v12  m2 v22    2 zˆ.  r1  r2  ,
2 2  r1  r2  Which of the follwoing is a cyclic co-ordinate.
where C is a constant. Which one of the following (a)  (b) 
statements is correct ? [GATE 2015] (c) mz (d) m
(a) The total energy and total momentum are con- 27. The Lagrangian of a system is given by
served 1 
(b) Only the total energy is conserved   
   m r 2  r 2 2 
L r , , r,
2

r
(c) The total energy and the z-component of the
Which of the following is not correct?

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(a) Mr  is constant
2
(d) V  x, y , z   a  x 2  y 2 
2

(b)  is cyclic coordinate 33. The Lagrangian of the particle of mass m is :

(c) Total linear momentum is conserved
(d) Total energy is conserved [GATE 2007]
28. For a system described by the Lagrangian,
m  dx   dy   dz   V 2
2 2 2
 
L
 dr dr
.    x 2  a 2 y 2  z 2  where a is
L           
2  dt   dt   dt   2

x  y2 
2 dt dt
a constant. Which one of the following statements W sin t ,
is correct. W here V, W and  are constants. The conserved
quantities are:
(a) total energy and total angular momentum are (a) Energy and z- component of linear momen-
conserved tum only.
(b) total energy and angular momentum about y- (b) Energy and z-component of angular momen-
axis are conserved. tum only.
(c) total energy and linear momentum about y- (c) z-components of both linear and angular mo-
axis are conserved. menta only.
(d) total energy and angular momentum about x- (d) Energy and z- component of both linear and
axis and z-axis are conserved. angular momenta.
29. Conservation of angular momentum is related to
1  dz 
the invariance of Lagrangian under 34. The invariance of the Lagrangian L  m 
2  dt 
(a) Rotation in space (b) Translation in space  dz* 
  V ( zz ) (where z  rei  x + iy is a
*
(c) Inversion in space (d) Translation in time 
 dt 
30. A particle is moving in a potential complex coordinate) under the transformaion
k z  rei z , z *  e  i z * (for a real number  ),
V  x, y , z   which is correct. leads to the conservation of
x2  y2  z 2
(a) Angular momentum
(a) Only Lx is conserved (b) linear momentum along x.
(b) only Ly is conserved (c) linear momentum along y
(c) Only Lz is conserved (d) energy
(d) All Lx, Ly, Lz are conserved.
35. A system with d degrees of freedom can have at
31. The Lagrangian of a particle moving in a central
most k independent constants of motion. The value
1
field is given by L 
2
 
m r 2  r 22  U  r  of k is equal to

Which of the following is constant (a) d  1 (b) 2d

(a) Radial momentum (c) 2d  1 (d) d
(b) Potential energy 36. The conservation principles for energy, linear mo-
(c) Azimuthal momentum mentum and angular momentum arise from the
(d) Radial and azimuthal momentum necessity that [TIFR 2014]
(a) The laws of physics should not involve infinite
32. A particle is moving in the potential given in the quantities.
option below. In which case z-component of an- (b) Internal forces on a body should out, by
gular momentum is NOT conserved. Newton’s (third) law of action and reaction
(a) V  x, y , z   a  x  y  z 
2 2 2 (c) Physical measurements should be independent
of the origin and orientation of the coordinate
(b) V  x, y , z   a  x  y   bz a  b
2 2 2 system.
(d) The laws of physics should be independent of
the state of rest or motion of the observer.
(c) V  x, y, z   ax 2  by 2  az 2 ab

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37. The dynamics of a particle of mass m is described 1 2
in terms of three generalized co-ordinate  ,  and (c) mv only
2
 if the Lagrangian of the system is
 1 2
[TIFR 2011] (d) none of mv and mv
2
1   2  2   1
L  m      2  2   4 2   k 41. In the previous question if a is a variable vector,,
8      8 that is, it depends on x, y, z then

(a) mv only
   
2

 1 2
Where k is a constant, then a conserved quantity (b) mv and mv
in the system will be 2


(a)  m  k      (c)
1 2
2
mv only
(b) m
 1 2
(d) none of mv and mv
  2  2  2
(c) m  2  2  42. A particle of mass m is moving under a central
  
potential V(r) . In spherical polar coordinate
   
(d) m      2  2  ( r,  ,  ) which of the following is constant of
   motion ?
38. If there exists a constant electric field in space in
x-direction. A charged particle is throwin into the pr2
field in some arbitrary direction. Which of the fol- (a)
m
lowing is conserved for the particle
(a) total linear momentum p2
(b) p 
2

sin 2 
(b) x-component of linear momentum
(c) total angular momentum p2
(c) p 
2

(d) x-component of angular momentum and en- sin 2 

ergy
pr2 p2
(d) 
e  kr m mr 2 sin 2 
39. A particle is moving under a potential V  r  
r 43. The Lagrangian for the Kepler problem is given
which of the following option is correct by :
(a) total energy of the particle is not conserved
(b) linear momentum of the particle is conserved 1 2 2 2 
(c) angular momentum of the particle is conserved L
2
 r

r  r   ,    0 
(d) only z-component of angular momentum is
conserved. Where (r,  ) denote the polar coordinates and
1 2   the mass of the particle is unity. then:
40. Lagrangian of a particle is L  mv  a  v ,
2 (a) p  2r 2


where a is a constant vector. Which of the fol- (b) pr  2r

lowing is conserved. (c) The angular momentum of the particle about

(a) mv only the centre of attraction is a constant
 1 2 (d) The total energy of the particle is time depen-
(b) mv and mv dent.
2

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44. The hamiltonian of the system is Q1  Q2
1
n n 1 pi p j
1 and q2 
ml 22
H    kxi x j
i j 2m 2 Which of the following is a cyclic co-ordinate
Which of following is a constant of motion (a) Q1 (b) Q2
(a) pn–1 (b) pn pn–1 (c) Q1 – Q2 (d) Q1 + Q2
(c) pn (d) none of these
45. The Hamiltonian of the system is p2
49. Hamiltonian of a system is H   mg 
2m 2
1  2 1 2  2A B
2
p
H  pr  2 p  2 2   6  12 1  cos  .
2  r r sin   r r
Where  = constant, then which of the following p2
If the quantity  mg  1  cos   
option is not correct 2m 2
(a) Total energy is not conserved t  gp sin 
A 2 0 
dt is a constant of motion then value
(b) Minimum value of H  , if pi = 0; i = r
B of  is
 and  (a) 2 (b) –2
(c) 1 (d) –1
(c) p is a constant of motion
50. Choose the incorrect statements:
(d) pr , p are not conserved (a) The angular momentum is conserved for sys-
46. Hamiltonian of a system is defiend as tem possessing rotational symmetry.
(b) If the Lagrangina of a system is invariant un-
1  2 1 
2 2
 1 a 
2
H  pr   eBr       e0  ln der translation along a directions, the corre-
2m  2  r r   sponding linear momentum is conserved.

(c) If the Lagrangian of a system is invariant un-
r r  der translation along a direction, we can not
 ln n 
R R  say any thing about the corresponding linear
momentum.
where e, R and n are constant. which of the fol-
(d) For a conservative system, the Hamiltonian is
lowing statement is incorrect
equal to the sum of kinetic and potential ener-
(a) Energy is conserved
gies.
(b) pr is conserved
(c) pr is not conserved
(d) H is independent of r
47. Statement 1:- If Hamiltonian (H) of a dynamical
system is not an explicit function of time, it is a
constant of motion
Statement 2:- if H does contain generalised co-
ordinate qi explicitly, pi is a constant of motion.
Which of the above statement is/are correct
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) both (1) and (2) (d) None of them.
48. Lagrangian of a system is given by
1 2 2 1
ml  q1  q22   Kl 2  q2  q1 
2
L
2 2
1 Q1  Q2
where q1 
ml 2 2

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ANSWER KEY
1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (b)
4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (c)
7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (b)
10. (d) 11. (a) 12. (d)
13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (c)
16. (c) 17. (b) 18. (b)
19. (d) 20. (c) 21. (b)
22. (c) 23. (a) 24. (b)
25. (a) 26. (b) 27. (c)
28. (b) 29. (a) 30. (d)
31. (c) 32. (c) 33. (c)
34. (a) 35. (b) 36. (c)
37. (b) 38. (b) 39. (c)
40. (b) 41. (c) 42. (c)
43. (c) 44. (d) 45. (a)
46. (c) 47. (a) 48. (a)
49. (a) 50. (c)

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