Advanced General Physics

Homework Assignment 1
Fall 2017
In class this week, we discussed the solution to the differential equation for a mass
on a spring. The force exerted by a spring is:

Fspring = − kx
where x is the distance that the spring is stretched or compressed from its equilibrium
point.
Using Newton’s Law, F = ma, we get a differential equation to be solved to determine
the position of the mass as a function of time, x(t).

d2 x d2 x k
ma = − kx m = − kx = − x
dt2 dt2 m
r
d2 x k
= − ω2x where ω=
dt2 m

As we saw in class, the general solution can be written in three forms:

(I) x(t) = Aeiωt + A∗ e−iωt

where A is an arbitrary complex constant and A∗ is its complex

conjugate:

A = Re(A) + iIm(A) A∗ = Re(A) − iIm(A)

(II) x(t) = B cos ωt + C sin ωt

where B and C are arbitrary real constants.

(III) x(t) = D cos(ωt − δ)

where D and δ are arbitrary real constants.

Each form of the solution has two arbitrary constants that are determined by the
state of the system (the mass), x(0) and v(0), at the initial time, t = 0.

1
Problem 1
For the case of v(0) = 0, determine the constant B and C in terms of x(0).
Problem 2
For the case of x(0) = 0, determine the constant B and C in terms of v(0).
Problem 3
For the case of both x(0) and v(0) non zero, determine the constant B and C in terms
of x(0) and v(0).

dx(t)
For the above, you will want to find v(t) = using the fact that:
dt

d cos θ d sin θ
cos(0) = 1 sin(0) = 0 = − sin θ = cos θ
dθ dθ
Problem 4
For the case of v(0) = 0, determine the constant D and δ in terms of x(0).
Problem 5
For the case of x(0) = 0, determine the constant D and δ in terms of v(0).
Problem 6
For the case of both x(0) and v(0) non zero, determine the constant D and δ in terms
of x(0) and v(0).
Problem 7
Use the famous Euler relation: eiθ = cos θ + i sin θ
to derive a relationship between the real and imaginary parts of A and the constants
B and C.
Problem 8
Using the result from Problem 7), determine the values of the Re(A) and Im(A) in
terms of x(0) for the case of v(0) = 0
Problem 9
Using the result from Problem 7), determine the values of the Re(A) and Im(A) in
terms of v(0) for the case of x(0) = 0

Problem 10
Let’s assume that we have designed an ”anti-spring” that exerts a force F = +kx.
The differential equation for the motion of the mass would then be:
r
d2 x k
2
= + ω2x where ω=
dt m

What is the general solution to this differential equation?