PHYS 380: STUDY GUIDE FOR PART I.
ONE DIMENSIONAL PARTICLE MOTION
Outline:
1. Review of elementary problems
2. Limiting cases
a) Taylor series
1,2,3
4
3. Review of general equation of motion in 1-D:
F(x,dx/dt,t) = m d²x/dt²
4. Review of numerical approximation methods
5. F(t) = m d²x/dt²
or: F(t) = m dv/dt
6. F(dx/dt) = m d²x/dt²
or: F(v) = m dv/dt
5
6
7. F(x) = m d²x/dt²
a) conservative forces and potential energy
b) solving motion problems
c) energy diagrams
d) oscillations near stable equilibrium
7,8,9
8. Free fall problems
a) with air resistance near earth's surface
b) without air resistance from great height
10
9. 2nd order linear differential equations
a) homogenous: simple harmonic oscillator with friction
b) inhomogeneous: forced harmonic oscillator
11,12
10. Principle of superposition
13
Homework: (collected)
Problem #1: Do the computer homework program: Motion Graphs on Vol. 1
(Your best score counts. In this case you do not have to worry about limiting cases or
approximate numerical solutions.)
Problem #2: Do the computer homework program: Gravitational Deflection (Trajectories) on Vol.
1. (Your best score counts. In this case you do not have to worry about limiting cases or
approximate numerical solutions.)
Problem #3: Do the computer homework program: Newton's 2nd Law on Vol 1. (Your best score
counts. In this case you do not have to worry about limiting cases or approximate numerical
solutions.)
PHYS 380
Study Guide for Part 1
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Problem #4: Derive the first 3 non-zero terms of the power series expansion for:
a) cos(x) ; b) 1/[1+x] ; and c) eax . For each case, be sure to demonstrate with at least two
values of x how close the first three terms of the series come to giving the "correct" (calculator)
answer. You do not have to worry about limiting cases for this problem.
Problem #5: Given that the force on a particle of mass 5 kg initially at rest at the location x o = 0 m
is F(t) = 10 Nt * sin2( [2 rad/sec]*t). Suggestion: in this problem use the symbol m for the value
of 5 kg, Fo for the value 10 Nt, and use the symbol  for the value of 2 rad/sec. Only use the
numerical values when plotting the graphs for x(t) and v(t).
a) find v(t);
b) find x(t);
c) Since the Taylor series expansion for sin() to first order gives sin()  , find x(t) and v(t) for a
particle of mass, m, initially at rest at the location xo = 0 m given F(t) = 10 Nt * ([2 rad/sec]*t)2 .
d) Plot v(t) from part a with the v(t) from part c over a range of times from t = 0 seconds to t = 1
second; then plot x(t) from part b with the x(t) from part c over a range of times from t = 0
seconds to t = 1 second.
e) Since the average of sin2() = ½, find x(t) and v(t) when a constant force of F(t) = 5 Nt is
applied, that is, F(t) = ½ Fo .
f) Plot v(t) from part a with the v(t) from part e over a range of times from t = 0 seconds to t = 100
seconds; then plot x(t) from part b with the x(t) from part e over a range of times from t = 0
seconds to t = 100 seconds.
HINT: 0t sin²( t) dt = 1/2 (t - [sin( t) cos( t)/ ]). Extra 10% if you can derive the result for the above
integral.
Problem #6: Assume a plane of mass m initially at rest is accelerated by a jet engine that
develops a constant thrust of Fo and the jet encounters an air resistance of FAR(v) = –bv2.
a) Find v(t) for the plane.
b) Is there a terminal velocity for the plane under these circumstances? If so, what is it (in terms
of the parameters given)?
HINT: 0a (du / [1-u²]) = 1/2 ln[1+a] - 1/2 ln[1-a].
Extra 10% if you can derive the solution for the above integral.
Problem #7: Find x(t) and v(t) for a particle of mass, m, projected up from the earth’s surface
with the escape speed for the earth. Neglect air resistance.
Problem #8: Consider a particle of mass m that has the potential energy function:
PE(x) = ax2 – bx3 , where a and b are positive constants.
a) Graph PE(x) versus x. (Your choice for values for a and b as long as both a and b are
positive.)
b) Is there a potential energy “well” near the origin? If so, find the critical velocity for the particle
when it is at the position x=0 for the particle to be able to escape from this well.
c) Find the force, F(x) that is associated with this potential energy.
PHYS 380
Study Guide for Part 1
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Problem #9: Consider a potential energy of the form: PE(x) = -a/x6 + b/x12 where a and b are
positive constants. (This is one model for the potential energy for the force between two atoms
in a diatomic molecule.) Assume one molecule is very heavy and doesn’t move much, and the
other molecule is very light in comparison with mass, m, and does move in one dimension (x)
based on the force due to the above potential energy function.
a) Graph PE(x) versus x. (Your choice for values for a and b as long as both a and b are
positive.)
b) Find the equilibrium distance between the two molecules (the equilibrium position of the
lighter atom).
c) Find the frequency of small oscillations of the light atom about it’s equilibrium position in the
molecule.
HINT:  (dy /  [1-y²]) = arcsin(y) ; or HINT: let sin(A) = x  [k/2 E]
Problem #10. Use the method of successive approximation to find the first order expression for
v(t) for the case of dropping an object from near the earth with air resistance F AR = -bv2.
Problem #11: Find x(t) and v(t) for a particle of mass, m, subject to a spring force of –kx and a
damping force of –bv if it is displaced an initial distance of xo from the equilibrium position. Do
this for the OVERDAMPED case.
Problem #12: Find x(t) and for a particle of mass, m, subject to a spring force of –kx (but no
damping force) and an applied force, F(t) = Fo sin(t).
Problem #13: Fourier Series: Find the expressions for the coefficients for the Fourier Series for a
square wave.
PHYS 380
Study Guide for Part 1
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Study Questions: (for the test, not for collected homework)
1. Be able to recognize cases where the Force is a constant, and set up the appropriate
equations of motion (i.e., v = vo + at and x = xo + vot + ½at²)
2. Be able to perform a Taylor series expansion of any function of one variable.
3. Be able to
a) set up the differential equation;
b) reduce this equation to an integration (or integrations) to find the equations of motion
[ i.e., x(t) and v(t) ]; for the following cases:
(1) F(t) ;
(2) F(v) ;
(3) F(x) ;
(4) F(x,v,t) .
4. Be able to graph a potential energy function, V(x); and when given the total energy, E, be able
to describe qualitatively what the motion will look like for this situation.
5. Be able to look at possible solutions for a particular problem and decide which are reasonable
and which are definitely not correct:
a) by using dimensional analysis;
b) by looking at limiting cases:
(1) x(t=0) = ? and v(t=0) = ?
(2) x(t=∞) = ? and v(t=∞) = ?
(3) x(t) = ? and v(t) = ? as any of the parameters goes to zero or goes to infinity.
6. Be able to draw a quick qualitative (without units or scales) graph of the following functions.
Indicate if the function occupies all four quadrants or is restricted.
Indicate if the function approaches any asymptotes.
a) Linear
b) Quadratic (x2)
c) Square root (x1/2)
d) Exponential
e) Log
f) Sine
g) Cosine
h) Tangent
i) Cosh (hyperbolic cosine)
j) Sinh (hyperbolic sine)
k) Tanh (hyperbolic tangent)