EP 222: Classical Mechanics

Tutorial Sheet 7: Solution

This tutorial sheet contains problems related to Hamiltonian formalism of classical me-
chanics.
1. Consider a double pendulum composed of two identical pendula of massless rods of
length l, and masses m, attached along the vertical direction. Obtain the Hamiltonian
of this system, and derive Hamilton’s equations of motion.
Soln:

We showed in the lectures that using the point of suspension of the upper pendulum as
the origin of the coordinate system, the Lagrangian of a double pendulum consisting
of equal masses m, and equal length (l) pendula is given by
1
L = ml2 θ̇12 + ml2 θ̇22 + ml2 cos(θ1 − θ2 )θ̇1 θ̇2
2
+ 2mgl cos θ1 + mgl cos θ2 .
Using the definition of the generalized momenta, we have
∂L
p1 =
∂ θ̇1
∂L
p2 = ,
∂ θ̇2
leading to
p1 = 2ml2 θ̇1 + ml2 cos(θ1 − θ2 )θ̇2
p2 = ml2 θ̇2 + ml2 cos(θ1 − θ2 )θ̇1 .

We can solve for θ̇1 and θ̇2 in terms of p1 and p2 , to obtain

p1 − p2 cos(θ1 − θ2 )
θ̇1 = (1)
ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 ))
2p2 − p1 cos(θ1 − θ2 )
θ˙2 = . (2)
ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 ))

1
 Hamiltonian is defined as the Legendre transform of the Lagrangian

H = p1 θ̇1 + p2 θ̇2 − L,

where the generalized velocities θ̇1 and θ̇2 are expressed in terms of generalized mo-
menta p1 and p2 , using Eqs (1) and (2) above
   
p1 − p2 cos(θ1 − θ2 ) 2p2 − p1 cos(θ1 − θ2 )
H = p1 + p2
ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 )) ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 ))
 2  2
2 p1 − p2 cos(θ1 − θ2 ) 1 2 2p2 − p1 cos(θ1 − θ2 )
− ml − ml
ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 )) 2 ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 ))
  
2 p1 − p2 cos(θ1 − θ2 ) 2p2 − p1 cos(θ1 − θ2 )
− ml cos(θ1 − θ2 )
ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 )) ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 ))
− 2mgl cos θ1 − mgl cos θ2 .

This, after some tedious algebra, can be simplified to

 2 
1 p1 2
H= + p2 − p1 p2 cos(θ1 − θ2 )
ml2 (1 + sin2 (θ1 − θ2 )) 2
− 2mgl cos θ1 − mgl cos θ2 .

Question: Is the Hamiltonian same as total energy for this system, i.e., H = T + V ?
Answer: We studied in the lectures that it is the case if the following two conditions are
followed: (a) Potential energy is independent of generalized velocity, which is the case
here, and (b) kinetic energy is a homogeneous function of degree 2 of the generalized
velocities, which in this case means that ∂∂Tθ̇ θ̇1 + ∂∂Tθ̇ θ̇2 = 2T , which can be verified to
1 2
be true here. Hence, the given Hamiltonian is the total energy of the system.

2. The Lagrangian for a system can be written as

ẏ p
L = aẋ2 + b + cẋẏ + f y 2 ẋż + g ẏ − k x2 + y 2 ,
x
where a, b, c, f, g, and k are constants. What is the Hamiltonian? What quantities
are conserved?
Soln: Hamiltonian will be

H = px ẋ + py ẏ + pz ż − L,

where
∂L
px =
∂ ẋ
∂L
py =
∂ ẏ
∂L
pz = .
∂ ż

2
 Thus
px = 2aẋ + cẏ + f y 2 ż (3)
b
py = + cẋ + g (4)
x
pz = f y 2 ẋ (5)
Here, Eqs. (4) and (5) give separate expressions for ẋ in terms of momenta, so it is
better to first compute the Hamiltonian in terms of velocities, and then eliminate them
to get the momenta. With this we have
b
H = ẋ(2aẋ + cẏ + f y 2 ż) + ẏ( + cẋ + g) + ż(f y 2 ẋ)
x
2 ẏ 2
p
− aẋ − b − cẋẏ − f y ẋż − g ẏ + k x2 + y 2
x p
= aẋ + cẋẏ + f y 2 ẋż + k x2 + y 2
2
p
= ẋ(2aẋ + cẏ + f y 2 ż) − aẋ2 + k x2 + y 2
pz pz p
= ( 2 )px − a( 2 )2 + k x2 + y 2
fy fy
pz pz p
= ( 2 )(px − a 2 ) + k x2 + y 2
fy fy
Above, we used Eqs. (3) and (5) to eliminate the velocities. This Hamiltonian cannot
be total energy because it is easy to verify that the velocity dependent part of it is not
a second degree homogeneous function of velocities. However, Hamiltonian is not an
explicit function of time, therefore, it is conserved. Furthermore, it does not depend
on z, i.e., z is a cyclic coordinate, therefore, pz will also be conserved.
3. A dynamical system has the Lagrangian
q̇22
L = q̇12 + + k1 q12 + k2 q̇1 q̇2 ,
a + bq12
where a, b, k1 , and k2 are constants. Find the equations of motion in the Hamiltonian
formalism.
Soln: As before
H = q̇1 p1 + q̇2 p2 − L,
with
∂L
p1 = = 2q̇1 + k2 q̇2
∂ q̇1
∂L 2q̇2
p2 = = + k2 q̇1
∂ q̇2 a + bq12
These can be solved to obtain q̇1 /q̇2 in terms of p1 /p2
{−2p1 + k2 (a + bq12 )p2 }
q̇1 = (6)
{k22 (a + bq12 ) − 4}
{(a + bq12 )(k2 p1 − 2p2 )}
q̇2 = (7)
{k22 (a + bq12 ) − 4}

3
But the velocity dependent part of the Lagrangian is a homogeneous function of degree
2 in the velocities, there is a part which is totally independent of the velocity. Thus,
Hamiltonian will be total energy

q̇22
H = q̇12 + 2
+ k2 q̇1 q̇2 − k1 q12 .
a + bq1

With this
2 2
{−2p1 + k2 (a + bq12 )p2 } 1 {(a + bq12 )(k2 p1 − 2p2 )}
H= 2 +
{k22 (a + bq12 ) − 4} (a + bq12 ) {k22 (a + bq12 ) − 4}2
{−2p1 + k2 (a + bq12 )p2 } {(a + bq12 )(k2 p1 − 2p2 )}
+ k2 × − k1 q12
{k22 (a + bq12 ) − 4} {k22 (a + bq12 ) − 4}
p21 (a + bq12 )p22 k2 (a + bq12 )p1 p2
= 2 2
+ 2 2
− 2 2
− k1 q12 .
{4 − k2 (a + bq1 )} {4 − k2 (a + bq1 )} {4 − k2 (a + bq1 )}

Hamilton’s equations of motion are

∂H
q̇i =
∂pi
∂H
ṗi = − .
∂qi
Thus, we have

∂H 2p1 − k2 (a + bq12 )p2

q̇1 = =
∂p1 {4 − k22 (a + bq12 )}
∂H (a + bq12 )(2p2 − k2 p1 )
q̇2 = =
∂p2 {4 − k22 (a + bq12 )}

These equations are the same as Eqs. (6) and (7) above. The other two Hamilton’s
equations are
∂H
ṗ1 = −
∂q1
2bk22 q1 p21 2bq1 p22
=− 2 −
{4 − k22 (a + bq12 )} {4 − k22 (a + bq12 )}
2bk22 q1 (a + bq12 )p22 2k2 bq1 p1 p2
− 2 2
+
2
{4 − k2 (a + bq1 )} {4 − k22 (a + bq12 )}
2k23 b(a + bq12 )q1 p1 p2
+ 2 + 2k1 q1 ,
{4 − k22 (a + bq12 )}

and, because q2 is a cyclic coordinate, we have

∂H
ṗ2 = − = 0.
∂q2

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4. A Hamiltonian of one degree of freedom has the form

p2 ba kq 2
H= − bqpe−αt + q 2 e−αt (α + be−αt ) + ,
2a 2 2
where a, b, α, and k are constants.

(a) Find a Lagrangian corresponding to this Hamiltonian

Soln: Here we have the reverse problem, compared to earlier ones. We have to
obtain the Lagrangian from the Hamiltonian, using the formula

L = pq̇ − H, (8)

where p will be eliminated using the Hamilton’s equation

∂H p
q̇ == − bqe−αt
∂p a
=⇒ p = a(q̇ + bqe−αt ) (9)

Using Eq. (9) in (8), we obtain the Lagrangian in terms of q and q̇

a2 (q̇ + bqe−αt )2
L = q̇a(q̇ + bqe−αt ) − + baq(q̇ + bqe−αt )e−αt
2a
ba kq 2
− q 2 e−αt (α + be−αt ) −
2 2
aq̇ 2 kq 2 abα 2 −αt
= − + baq q̇e−αt − q e
2 2 2
aq̇ 2 kq 2

d 1
= − + abq 2 e−αt ,
2 2 dt 2

so that
dF
L = L0 + ,
dt
2 2
with L0 = a2q̇ − kq2 and F (q, t) = 21 abq 2 e−αt . Note that L0 is the Lagriangian

for a one-dimensional simple Harmonic oscillator of mass a, and force constant k.

(b) Is it possible to find an equivalent Lagrangian that is not explicitly dependent on
time?
Soln: Above we showed that the original Lagrangian L differs from a time inde-
pendent Lagrangian L0 by a total time derivative. Which means that L and L0
are equivalent.
(c) If you are able to solve part (b), what is the Hamiltonian corresponding the new
Lagrangian, and what is the relationship between the two Hamiltonians?
Soln: It is obvious that the Hamiltonian H0 corresponding to L0 will also be
that for 1D SHO
P2 1 2
H0 = + kQ ,
2a 2

5
 where new canonical variables are P = q̇ and Q = q, so that the original Hamil-
tonian is
ba
H = H0 − bqpe−αt + q 2 e−αt (α + be−αt ).
2
On using the fact that p = a(q̇ + bqe ) = a(P + bQe−αt ), we obtain
−αt

ba 2 −αt
H = H0 − abQ(P + bQe−αt )e−αt + Q e (α + be−αt )
2
−αt 1 2 2 −2αt baα 2 −αt
= H0 − abQP e − ab Q e + Qe
2 2

5. (a) The Lagrangian for a system of one degree of freedom can be written as
m 2 2
q̇ sin ωt + q̇qω sin 2ωt + q 2 ω 2 .


L=
2
What is the corresponding Hamiltonian? Is it conserved?
Soln: We have
∂L 1
p= = mq̇ sin2 ωt + mqω sin 2ωt
∂ q̇ 2
1
(p − 2 mqω sin 2ωt)
=⇒ q̇ =
m sin2 ωt
So that

H = pq̇ − L
p(p − 12 mqω sin 2ωt) m (p − 21 mqω sin 2ωt)2
= −
m sin2 ωt 2 m2 sin4 ωt
m (p − 12 mqω sin 2ωt) 1
− qω 2 sin 2ωt − mω 2 q 2
2 m sin ωt 2
which leads to a tedious time-dependent expression

p2
 
1 1
H= −
2m sin2 ωt 2 sin4 ωt
 
1 1 1
− pqω sin 2ωt −
2 sin2 ωt 2 sin4 ωt
 
1 2 2 2 1 1
= mω q sin 2ωt − −1 ,
2 2 sin2 ωt 4 sin4 ωt

which is not conserved because of its explicit time dependence.

(b) Introduce a new coordinate defined by

Q = q sin ωt.

6
Find the Lagrangian in terms of the new coordinate and the corresponding Hamil-
tonian. Is H conserved?
Soln: We make the substitutions in the Lagrangian
Q
q=
sin ωt
Q̇ − ωQ cot ωt
q̇ = ,
sin ωt
and after some tedious algebra we obtain the Lagrangian in terms of new variables
1 1
L = mQ̇2 + mω 2 Q2 .
2 2
∂L
Clearly, the Hamiltonian in new coordinates (with P = ∂ Q̇
= mQ̇) will be

P2 1
H= − mω 2 Q2 ,
2m 2
which depends on canonical variables P and Q, both of which are explicitly time
dependent. Therefore, Hamiltonian will not be conserved.