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Part CCSIR NET December 2024the-cross-term-changes-the-effective-inertia

The cross term changes the effective inertia

Consider the system of two particles with total kinetic energy T = (5/2)ẋ2+l2θ^{2} + l^{2}\thetȧ2+2l^{2} + 2lẋθ\thetȧcos⁡θ\cos \theta, and Lagrangian L = (5/2)ẋ2+l2θ^{2} + l^{2}\thetȧ2+2l^{2} + 2lẋθ\thetȧcos⁡θ+2\cos \theta + 2gl cos⁡θ\cos \theta, where x,θx, \theta are generalized coordinates, and g, l are positive constants. Then the non-zero frequency of the normal mode of the system with small oscillations (|θ\theta| ≪ 1) is

  1. A.(5/3)g/l(5/3)\sqrt{g/l}
  2. B.5g/(3l)\sqrt{5g/(3l)}✓ Correct
  3. C.(5/2)g/l(5/2)\sqrt{g/l}
  4. D.5g/(2l)\sqrt{5g/(2l)}

You have the answer. Trap Analysis is why the other three were written.

Not a worked solution repeated four times — the specific reasoning error each wrong option was built to reward, and why this one tests execution slip.

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50 are analysed free — try those first.

The trap it tests

Execution slip

The idea was right. The computation was not.

Drill statements like this

Related counterexample: The generalised momentum ∂L/∂q̇ always equals mass × velocity

More on this topic

The chapter behind this: Lagrangian mechanics — free to read

From Classical Mechanics › Lagrangian formalism and generalised coordinates

Last revised . Found a mistake? Tell us — corrections are the fastest thing we act on.

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