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Why must a constraint force be normal?

If we impose that a particle follows a holonomic constraint, so that it always remains on a surface defined by some function $f(x_1,x_2,x_3)=0$ with $f:\mathbb{R^3}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$, we get a ...
16π Cent's user avatar
  • 131
-1 votes
1 answer
51 views

Proving the relation $\frac 1 2 \left[\nabla^2,r \right] = \frac 1 r + \frac \partial {\partial r}$ (quantum mechanics exercise) [closed]

I'm trying to prove this relation in my quantum mechanics exercise book $$\frac 1 2 \left[\nabla^2,r \right] = \frac 1 r + \frac \partial {\partial r}.$$ Here's my attempt: Expand the Laplacian ...
Ian Hsiao's user avatar
  • 301
-2 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the General formula of gradient of $r^n$? [closed]

so, the question is that r is the separation vector from a fixed point $(x',y',z')$ to the point $(x,y,z)$ and let $r$ be its length. the answer to the question of what is the general formula of $$\...
user343766's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
159 views

One object moves along the cycloid at a constant rate, how about its acceleration? [closed]

We know that the parametric equation: $$x=R(\theta+\sin(\theta))$$ $$y=-R(1+\cos(\theta))$$ and the constant velocity $c$. How do I prove that the acceleration of the object in the $y$ direction is ...
Joy's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
1 answer
435 views

Find the distance travelled between $t=0$ and $t=5$ [closed]

The position vector of a particle is given as $\vec r = \frac43 t^{3/2}\hat i - \frac{1}{2} t^2\hat j + 2 \hat k$, $t$ is in seconds. Find the distance travelled between $t = 0$ and $t = 5$ seconds. ...
Mritunjay Kumar's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
204 views

Can you apply product rule to arg of a bra-ket?

I found the following expression in a paper: $$ \frac{d}{dt}\arg\langle\phi_+|\dot{\phi_-}\rangle $$ where the $\arg$ term is the argument of the complex number given by inner product between two ...
TribalChief's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
84 views

Acceleration in a non-inertial reference frome - derevation

The general velocity equation for a point B in on body rotating and translating about point A with respect to the inertial reference frame say 'xyzo' can be expressed as, $\vec{r_{B/o}} = \vec{r_{A/o}...
Raptor's user avatar
  • 17
-1 votes
1 answer
149 views

Basic vector calculus: Show that $\nabla \vec{r} = \vec{1}$ [closed]

Show that $\nabla \vec{r} = \vec{1}$ My instructor in my E & M class put the $r$ and $1$ in bold. I am not sure what a bold one means. From my work I get $1ii + 1jj + 1zz$.
WAS's user avatar
  • 119
-1 votes
2 answers
273 views

How can I show that the acceleration vector for uniform circular motion undergoes uniform rotation?

Does it suffice to show that the dot product between the acceleration vector and the derivative of the acceleration vector = 0?
slothropp's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
482 views

Partial Derivative of a scalar (absolute distance) with respect to its position vector

Imagine we want to take the partial derivative of a quantity, we will call it $\rho_i = f(F(r_{ij}))$ with respect to a particle's position vector, $\vec{r}_k$. In mathematical terms, this would be ...
cwm5412's user avatar
  • 15
0 votes
1 answer
274 views

Kinetic energy derivation: Why is $\frac{d \mathbf v}{dt} \cdot \mathbf v= \frac 12 \frac{d}{dt}(v^2)~?$

In Goldstein's Classical Mechanics 3rd edition, page 3, the Kinetic energy is derived by considering the work done on a particle by an external force $\mathbf F$ from point $1$ to point $2$ $$W_{12}=\...
user avatar
-1 votes
3 answers
69 views

Vector question, differentials, Electromagnetism

I was reading this demonstration of electric potential in my book: Let $q$ be a point charge at point $P$ The Electric field created at point $M$ by $q$ is : $$\vec{E}(M) = \...
mwa1's user avatar
  • 685
0 votes
1 answer
268 views

Gradient of two-particle system

I'm working on problem 5.1a from Griffiths Intro to QM and given that: $$\mathbf R \equiv \frac{m_1\mathbf{r_1} + m_2 \bf r_2}{m_1+m_2}$$ and $\bf r \equiv \bf r_1 - \bf r_2$ I need to show that, $$\...
Logan's user avatar
  • 207
0 votes
1 answer
68 views

The vector r points from $P'(x',y',z')$ to $P(x,y,z)$ [closed]

For some reason this question is giving me a hard time :( The vector $r$ points from $P'(x',y',z')$ to $P(x,y,z)$. (a) Show that if $P$ is fixed and $P'$ is allowed to move, then $\nabla'(\frac{1}{r}...
sci-guy's user avatar
  • 817
1 vote
4 answers
9k views

Dot product of vector and its derivative with respect to time? How does $L \cdot\frac{dL}{dt} = \frac{1}{2}\frac{d(L^2)}{dt}$? [closed]

How does: $$L \cdot\frac{dL}{dt} = \frac{1}{2}\frac{d(L^2)}{dt}$$ where L is a vector (I dunno how to make it bold in the equation). How do they reach to this right hand side equation? And what is ...
user135688's user avatar