Central Force Motion and Reduced Mass

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Central Force Motion and Reduced Mass “Central-Force-Motion.doc” Central Force Motion and Reduced Mass Consider an isolated system consisting of 2 particles m interacting under a central force f(r). Their masses are 2 Center of m1, m2 at vector positions r1, r2 respectively. Mass r = r1- r2 r = r1 - r2 r = | r | = | r1 - r2 | r2 r R m ^r = – 1 r r1 •• ^ The equations of motion are: m1 r 1 = f(r) r (a) •• ^ and m2 r 2 = -f(r) r (b) The equations are said to be "coupled", ie. they are interdependent and the knowledge of the solution of one is needed to solve the other (and vice versa) as they are both dependent on ^r . The problem is solvable if we create two new co-ordinates, (just like normal mode co-ordinates in vibrations and waves) which are superpositions of r1 and r2. It is convenient - because of the physical interpretation of the quantities - to use the co-ordinates: (m1r1 + m2r2) r = r1 - r2 and R = (m1 + m2) R is the position of the centre of mass of the system (by definition), and the magnitude of r is simply the distance between the two masses. The equation of motion for R is straight forward as there are no external forces. •• R = 0 which has the solution R = Ro + Vt. It depends on the choice of origin and initial conditions, let Ro and V = 0 (ie. velocity of centre of mass = 0). Rearranging (a) and (b): •• •• 1 1 ^ r 1 – r 2 = + f(r) r (m1 m2 ) m m 1 2 •• •• ^ or ( r 1 – r 2) = f(r) r (m1 + m2 ) m1m2 let us define µ = reduced mass = m1 + m2 •• •• ^ •• •• •• then µ( r 1 - r 2) = f(r) r and as r = r 1 - r 2 then µ••r = f(r) ^r is the equation of motion for r. (c) Equation (c) is the identical equation of motion for a single particle of mass µ being acted on by a force f(r) ^r . No trace of the 2 particle problem remains. (Unfortunately this method cannot be generalised. There is no way to reduce the equations of motion of 3 or more interacting particles to equivalent one body equations, and for this reason the exact solution of the 3 body problem is unknown.) Notice that | r | is the distance between the 2 bodies (not the distance to the centre of mass). Ze2 In our case f(r) = (although it can equally apply to gravity and hence planetary systems.) 2 4πε0r Now consider the orbital angular momentum: L = r x µv ( = µvr if mutually orthogonal) (d) ie.: by replacing m by µ in central force formula involving 2 bodies you reduce the problem to that of one hypothetical body with exactly the same physics as in single particle motion (equation (c)). Equation (d) can be proved by considering the rotation of 2 m bodies about a common centre of mass, connected by a 'thin' rod 2 of length R. Rotation Axis The moment of inertia of this system about an axis passing through the centre of mass, and perpendicular to the plane m1 containing the masses is (by definition): r 2 2 2 2 I = m1r1 + m2r2 = Σmiri (e) r 1 R But from moments about centre of mass: m1r1 = m2r2 (by definition) (Σmiri = 0) 2 2 ∴(m1 + m2) I = (m1 + m2) m1r1 + (m1 + m2) m2r2 2 2 2 2 2 = m1m2r1 + m1 r1 + m1m2r2 + m2r2 2 2 = m1m2r1 + m1m2r1r2 + m1m2r2 + m1m2r1r2 2 2 = m1m2 (r1 + 2r1r2 + r2 ) 2 = m1m2 (r1 + r2) m m 1 2 2 2 ∴I = (r1 + r2) = µR (f) m1 + m2 2 From the definition of angular momentum: L = Σmiviri = Σmi(riω)ri = Σmiri ω Substituting in equations (e) and (f): L = Iω = µR2ω for 2 body systems. However as v = Rω then L = µR2ω = µR x Rω = µRv (i.e.: equation (d)). Instead of 2 bodies rotating about a centre of mass, all the relevant physics is contained in the equation of motion of a hypothetical particle of mass µ. .
Recommended publications
  • Particle Nature of Matter
    Solved Problems on the Particle Nature of Matter Charles Asman, Adam Monahan and Malcolm McMillan Department of Physics and Astronomy University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Fall 1999; revised 2011 by Malcolm McMillan Given here are solutions to 5 problems on the particle nature of matter. The solutions were used as a learning-tool for students in the introductory undergraduate course Physics 200 Relativity and Quanta given by Malcolm McMillan at UBC during the 1998 and 1999 Winter Sessions. The solutions were prepared in collaboration with Charles Asman and Adam Monaham who were graduate students in the Department of Physics at the time. The problems are from Chapter 3 The Particle Nature of Matter of the course text Modern Physics by Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses and Curt A. Moyer, Saunders College Publishing, 2nd ed., (1997). Coulomb's Constant and the Elementary Charge When solving numerical problems on the particle nature of matter it is useful to note that the product of Coulomb's constant k = 8:9876 × 109 m2= C2 (1) and the square of the elementary charge e = 1:6022 × 10−19 C (2) is ke2 = 1:4400 eV nm = 1:4400 keV pm = 1:4400 MeV fm (3) where eV = 1:6022 × 10−19 J (4) Breakdown of the Rutherford Scattering Formula: Radius of a Nucleus Problem 3.9, page 39 It is observed that α particles with kinetic energies of 13.9 MeV or higher, incident on copper foils, do not obey Rutherford's (sin φ/2)−4 scattering formula. • Use this observation to estimate the radius of the nucleus of a copper atom.
    [Show full text]
  • Physics Formulas List
    Physics Formulas List Home Physics 95 Physics Formulas 23 Listen Physics Formulas List Learning physics is all about applying concepts to solve problems. This article provides a comprehensive physics formulas list, that will act as a ready reference, when you are solving physics problems. You can even use this list, for a quick revision before an exam. Physics is the most fundamental of all sciences. It is also one of the toughest sciences to master. Learning physics is basically studying the fundamental laws that govern our universe. I would say that there is a lot more to ascertain than just remember and mug up the physics formulas. Try to understand what a formula says and means, and what physical relation it expounds. If you understand the physical concepts underlying those formulas, deriving them or remembering them is easy. This Buzzle article lists some physics formulas that you would need in solving basic physics problems. Physics Formulas Mechanics Friction Moment of Inertia Newtonian Gravity Projectile Motion Simple Pendulum Electricity Thermodynamics Electromagnetism Optics Quantum Physics Derive all these formulas once, before you start using them. Study physics and look at it as an opportunity to appreciate the underlying beauty of nature, expressed through natural laws. Physics help is provided here in the form of ready to use formulas. Physics has a reputation for being difficult and to some extent that's http://www.buzzle.com/articles/physics-formulas-list.html[1/10/2014 10:58:12 AM] Physics Formulas List true, due to the mathematics involved. If you don't wish to think on your own and apply basic physics principles, solving physics problems is always going to be tough.
    [Show full text]
  • Runge-Lenz Method for the Energy Level of Hydrogen Atom Masatsugu Sei Suzuki Department of Physics, SUNY at Binghamton (Date: January 06, 2015)
    Runge-Lenz method for the energy level of hydrogen atom Masatsugu Sei Suzuki Department of Physics, SUNY at Binghamton (Date: January 06, 2015) Runge-Lentz (or Laplace-Runge-Lentz) vector In classical mechanics, the Runge–Lenz vector (or simply the RL vector) is a vector used chiefly to describe the shape and orientation of the orbit of one astronomical body around another, such as a planet revolving around a star. For two bodies interacting by Newtonian gravity, the LRL vector is a constant of motion, meaning that it is the same no matter where it is calculated on the orbit; equivalently, the LRL vector is said to be conserved. More generally, the RL vector is conserved in all problems in which two bodies interact by a central force that varies as the inverse square of the distance between them; such problems are called Kepler problems. The hydrogen atom is a Kepler problem, since it comprises two charged particles interacting by Coulomb's law of electrostatics, another inverse square central force. The RL vector was essential in the first quantum mechanical derivation of the spectrum of the hydrogen atom, before the development of the Schrödinger equation. However, this approach is rarely used today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplace%E2%80%93Runge%E2%80%93Lenz_vector Wolfgang Pauli in 1926 used the matrix mechanics of Heisenberg to give the first derivation of the energy levels of hydrogen and their degeneracies. Pauli's derivation is based on the Runge- Lenz vector multiplied by the particle mass. [W. Pauli, Z. Physik 36, 336 (1926).] 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1807.10685V1 [Physics.Gen-Ph] 25 Jul 2018 Hamilton (1834), Liouville (1836), Jacobi (1843), and Poincar´E(1889) [1] and Xia (1992) [2]
    Kepler's third law of n-body periodic orbits in a Newtonian gravitation field Bohua Sun1 1Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa email:[email protected] This study considers the periodic orbital period of an n-body system from the perspective of dimension analysis. According to characteristics of the n-body system with point masses (m1; m2; :::; mn), the gravitational field parameter, α ∼ Gmimj , the n-body system reduction mass Mn, and the area, An, of the periodic orbit are selected as the basic parameters, while the period, Tn, and the system energy, jEnj, are expressed as the three basic parameters. Using the Bucking- ham π theorem, We obtained an epic result, by working with a reduced gravitation parameter αn, 3=2 p then predicting a dimensionless relation TnjEnj = const × αn µn (µn is reduced mass). The const= pπ is derived by matching with the 2-body Kepler's third law, and then a surprisingly simple 2 relation for Kepler's third law of an n-body system is derived by invoking a symmetry constraint Pn Pn 3 1=2 3=2 π i=1 j=i+1(mimj ) inspired from Newton's gravitational law: TnjEnj = p G Pn . This for- 2 k=1 mk mulae is, of course, consistent with the Kepler's third law of 2-body system, but yields a non-trivial 3 3 3 1=2 3=2 π h (m1m2) +(m1m3) +(m2m3) i prediction of the Kepler's third law of 3-body: T3jE3j = p G .A 2 m1+m2+m3 numerical validation and comparison study was conducted.
    [Show full text]
  • Solutions Fall 2004 Due 5:01 PM, Monday 2004/11/01
    Physics 202H - Introductory Quantum Physics I Homework #06 - Solutions Fall 2004 Due 5:01 PM, Monday 2004/11/01 [65 points total] “Journal” questions. Briefly share your thoughts on the following questions: – About how much time per week are you spending on the various aspects of this course, outside of scheduled class times? (ie: lab, assignments, non-assignment pre-reading, general studying, etc.?) About how much time do you think that you SHOULD be spending on the various aspects of this course? Do you have any suggestions on how the course could be arranged to reduce the course workload without significantly reducing the amount and depth of material covered? – Any comments about this week’s activities? Course content? Assignment? Lab? 1. (From Eisberg & Resnick, Q 4-9, pg 120) For the Bohr hydrogen atom orbits, the potential energy is negative and greater in magnitude than the kinetic energy. What does this imply? Limit your discussion to about 50 words or so. [10] Solution: The value of the potential energy depends on where the zero of potential energy is defined. For electric charge systems, it is usually most convenient to define zero to be at “infinite” distance, thus for an attractive force such as between an atomic nucleus (positive charge) and an electron (negative charge), the potential energy will be negative, since as the two charges come closer together, their potential energy decreases. Since zero potential energy is defined to be the situation when the electron is freed from the nucleus, the kinetic energy of any bound electron must be less in magnitude than the magnitude of the potential energy.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1406.5866V1 [Nlin.SI]
    Kepler unbound: some elegant curiosities of classical mechanics Niall J. MacKay and Sam Salour Department of Mathematics, University of York, UK ABSTRACT: We describe two exotic systems of classical mechanics: the McIntosh-Cisneros-Zwanziger (‘MICZ’) Kepler system, of motion of a charged particle in the presence of a modified dyon; and Gibbons and Manton’s description of the slow motion of well-separated solitonic (‘BPS’) monopoles using Taub NUT space. Each system is characterized by the conservation of a Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector, and we use elementary vector techniques to show that each obeys a sub- tly different variation on Kepler’s three laws for the Newton/Coulomb two-body problem, including a new modified Kepler third law for BPS monopoles. 1. Introduction Newtonian gravity is one of the joys of the undergraduate syllabus, and the first great triumph of western mathematical science. The motion of a planet about the sun is first reduced to a single motion about the centre of mass (the ‘reduced two-body problem’). When the motion is bound (we call this the ‘Newton Kepler problem’), orbits are ellipses, and obey Kepler’s laws. The problem of the classical motion of electrically-charged particles (the ‘Kepler-Coulomb problem’) is essentially the same—although we know that quantum mechanics will supervene. Thus two of the classic problems of physical motion (the orbit of a planet about the sun, and the orbit of electrons about an atomic nucleus) have a special, simple mathematical structure. arXiv:1406.5866v1 [nlin.SI] 23 Jun 2014 The underlying reason is that such problems have the maximum number of conserved quan- tities possible for 3D motion (and in fact this is true of a third classic problem, the harmonic oscillator, although we shall not treat this here).
    [Show full text]
  • The Two-Body Problem
    The Two-Body Problem • Newtonian gravity • 2 point masses – good approx for stars r m2 r = r1 - r2 m1 R rˆ = r / r r1 r2 O total mass : M = m1 + m2 m1 r1 + m2 r 2 – O: origin centre of mass : R = M AS 4024 Binary Stars and Accretion Disks Two-Body motion • Newtons laws of motion + law of gravitation Equations of motion : - Gm m F = m r&& = 1 2 rˆ F = m r&& = -F 1 1 1 r 2 2 2 2 1 add the equations m1 r&&1 + m2 r&&2 = 0 integrate dt m1 r&1 + m2 r&2 = A again m1 r1 + m2 r 2 = A t + B definition of R M R = A t + B •\ Centre of mass moves with constant velocity – ( unless acted on by an external force ) AS 4024 Binary Stars and Accretion Disks Relative Motion • Important for eclipses • Subtract two equations of motion -G M r&& = &r& -r&& = rˆ 1 2 r 2 • Multiply by m = m1 m2 / M = “reduced mass” - G M m - G m m m &r& = rˆ = 1 2 rˆ r 2 r 2 • Relative orbit is as if: – orbiter has reduced mass m = reduced mass – stationary central mass is M = total mass. AS 4024 Binary Stars and Accretion Disks The Relative Orbit m = m1 m2 M r&(t) r(t) M = m1 + m2 Important for Eclipses AS 4024 Binary Stars and Accretion Disks 2 EllipticalBarycentric Orbits Orbits R2 (t) R1(t) Important for Radial Velocities AS 4024 Binary Stars and Accretion Disks Barycentric Orbits • Important for radial velocity curves m1 R1 + m2 R2 = 0 centre of mass frame m1 + m2 M M r = R1 - R2 = R1 = R1 = - R2 m2 m2 m1 equations of motion : G m G m R&& = - 2 r R&& = - 1 (- r) 1 r 3 2 r 3 3 – Eliminate r using r = f(R1) and r = f(R1) : 3 R 3 R && G m2 1 && G m1 2 R1 = - 2 3 R2 = - 2 3 M
    [Show full text]
  • 2. the Gravitational Two-Body Problem 2.1 the Reduced Mass
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Almae Matris Studiorum Campus Celestial Mechanics - A.A. 2012-13 1 Carlo Nipoti, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universit`adi Bologna 26/3/2013 2. The gravitational two-body problem 2.1 The reduced mass [LL] ! Two-body problem: two interacting particles. ! Lagrangian 1 1 L = m jr_ j2 + m jr_ j2 − V (jr − r j) 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 ! Now take the origin in the centre of mass, so r1m1 + r2m2 = 0, and define r ≡ r1 − r2, so m2 r1 = r m1 + m2 m1 r2 = − r m1 + m2 ! Substituting these in the Lagrangian, we get 1 L = µ∗jr_j2 − V (r); 2 where m m m m µ∗ ≡ 1 2 = 1 2 m1 + m2 M is the reduced mass, where M ≡ m1 + m2 is the total mass. ! So the two-body problem is reduced to the problem of the motion of one particle of mass µ∗ in a central field with potential energy V (r). 2 Laurea in Astronomia - Universita` di Bologna 2.2 Kepler's problem: integration of the equations of motion [LL; R05] ! In the case of gravitational potential Gm1m2 V (jr1 − r2j) = − ; jr1 − r2j so Gm m Gµ∗M V (r) = − 1 2 = − r r ! A widely used notation in celestial mechanics is µ ≡ GM = G(m1 +m2), where µ is called the \gravitational mass". Note that µ does not have units of mass, while µ∗ and M have units of mass. ! The problem is reduced to the motion of a particle of mass m = µ∗ in a central field with potential energy / 1=r: this is known as Kepler's problem.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Theory of the Reduced Mass
    Review of the isotope effect in the hydrogen spectrum 1 Balmer and Rydberg Formulas By the middle of the 19th century it was well established that atoms emitted light at discrete wavelengths. This is in contrast to a heated solid which emits light over a continuous range of wavelengths. The difference between continuous and discrete spectra can be readily observed by viewing both incandescent and fluorescent lamps through a diffraction grating. Around 1860 Kirchoff and Bunsen discovered that each element has its own characteristic spec- trum. The next several decades saw the accumulation of a wealth of spectroscopic data from many elements. What was lacking though, was a mathematical relation between the various spectral lines from a given element. The visible spectrum of hydrogen, being relatively simple compared to the spectra of other elements, was a particular focus of attempts to find an empirical relation between the wavelengths of its spectral lines. In 1885 Balmer discovered that the wavelengths λn of the then nine known lines in the hydrogen spectrum were described to better than one part in a thousand by the formula λ = 3646 n2=(n2 4) A˚ (angstrom); (1) n × − where n = 3; 4; 5; : : : for the various lines in this series, now known as the Balmer series. (1 angstrom 10 9 = 10− m.) The more commonly used unit of length on this scale is the nm (10− m), but since the monochromator readout is in angstroms, we will use the latter unit throughout this write-up. In 1890 Rydberg recast the Balmer formula in more general form as 1/λ = R(1=22 1=n2) (2) n − where again n = 3; 4; 5; : : : and R is known as the Rydberg constant.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hydrogen Atom
    Chapter 6 The Hydrogen Atom 6.1 The One-Particle Central-Force Problem Before studying the hydrogen atom, we shall consider the more general problem of a single particle moving under a central force. The results of this section will apply to any central-force problem. Examples are the hydrogen atom (Section 6.5) and the isotropic three-dimensional harmonic oscillator (Prob. 6.3). A central force is one derived from a potential-energy function that is spherically symmetric, which means that it is a function only of the distance of the particle from the origin: V = V r . The relation between force and potential energy is given by (5.31) as (1F2= - ٌV x, y, z = -i 0V 0x - j 0V 0y - k 0V 0z (6.1 The partial derivatives in 1(6.1) can2 be found1 > by2 the chain1 > rule2 [Eqs.1 (5.53)–(5.55)].> 2 Since V in this case is a function of r only, we have 0V 0u r,f = 0 and 0V 0f r,u = 0. Therefore, 1 > 2 1 > 2 0V dV 0r x dV = = (6.2) 0x y,z dr 0x y,z r dr a b a b 0V y dV 0V z dV = , = (6.3) 0y x,z r dr 0z x,y r dr where Eqs. (5.57) and (5.58)a haveb been used. Equationa b (6.1) becomes 1 dV dV r r F = - xi + yj + zk = - (6.4) r dr dr r 1 2 where (5.33) for r was used. The quantity1 r r in (6.4)2 is a unit vector in the radial direc- tion.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4 Central Forces
    Chapter 4 Central forces If the force between two bodies is directed along the line connecting the (centres of mass of) the two bodies, this force is called a central force. Since most of the fundamental forces we know about, including the gravitational, electrostatic and certain nuclear forces, are of this kind, it is clear that studying central force motion is extremely imortant in physics. Moreover, the motion of a system consisting of only two bodies interacting via a central force is one of the few problems in classical mechanics that can be solved completely (once you add a third body it becomes, in general, unsolveable). Examples of such systems are the motion of planets and comets around a star, or satellites around a planet, or binary stars; and classical scattering of atoms or subatomic particles. The full description of atoms and subatomic particles requires quantum mehcanics, but even here the classical analysis of central forces can yield a great deal of insight. In the two-body problem we start with a description in terms of 6 coordinates, namely the three (cartesian) coordinates of each of the two bodies. We shall see that it is possible to reduce this to just 2, and for some purposes only 1 effective degree of freedom. This reduction will happen in 3 steps: 1. We can treat the relative motion as a 1-body problem. 2. The relative motion is 2-dimensional (planar). 3. We can use angular momentum conservation to treat the radial motion as 1- dimensional motion in an effective potential. 4.1 One-body reduction, reduced mass We start with a system of two particles, with coordinates ~r1 and ~r2.
    [Show full text]
  • Laws of Gravity II General Problem Two-Body Problem
    Laws of Gravity II General problem d r d v F d 2 r G m r −r Kepler's three laws applicable if m<<M (one moving body, 1-body) i =v , i =a = ji Hence, i = j j i i i ∑ j≠i 2 ∑j≠i 2 d t d t mi d t ∣r j−r i∣ ∣r j−r i∣ What if m & M are comparable? Nx3 coupled second-order diferential equations! Two moving bodies (2-body) L=m GM a(1−e2) Use 'reduced mass' 1-body: For N=2 with m1≫m2 , we approximate r 1≃0 √ d2 r GM r G M m applications: binary stars, galaxies, (dwarf) planets (pluto-charon), So that =− E=− 2 2 2a detecting extra-solar planets, ... d t r r d A L with r=r 2 , M=m1 , and m=m2 = =const Three-body... d t 2m N-body... Solving this yields: 4π2 P2= a3 (K III) G M 2-body: Energy, Angular Momentum & Kepler's Laws Two-body problem: reduce it to an equivalent one-body problem Angular momentum L=m1 r1×v 1+m2 r 2×v 2=m rm×vm using the concept of 'reduced mass': d r (where v = m =v −v ) m d t 1 2 1 1 G m m 1 Gm M Let r =r −r , M=m +m Energy E = m v 2+ m v 2− 1 2 = m v 2− An imaginary particle of mass μ, m 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 ∣r −r ∣ 2 m r distance r away from CM (center of mass) 1 2 m Let r , r , r be measured from CM 'the reduced mass particle' m 1 2 Hence, as for 1-body case (m≪M), we have with m1 r 1+m2 r 2=0 r 2 Gm M 1 L=m √GM am(1−e ),E=− m 2am 1 m2 m1 We have r 1= rm , r 2=− rm , and 2 r M M 2 4 π 3 2 together with Kepler's three Laws, e.g., P = a GM m G m1 m2 Gm M ∣F 12∣=∣F 21∣= 2 = 2 ∣r 1−r 2∣ rm m2 m m m m where m= 1 2 rm m1+m2 CM M M General problem Kepler in the astronomer's toolkit d r d v F d2 r G m r −r i =v , i =a = ji Hence,
    [Show full text]