Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism - Download Free PDF
Last updated on Jul 1, 2025
Latest Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism MCQ Objective Questions
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 1:
The Lagrangian of a system is
\( L = \frac{15}{2} m \dot{x}^2 + 6 m \dot{x} \dot{y} + 3 m \dot{y}^2 - m g (x + 2 y) \)
Which one of the following is conserved?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 1 Detailed Solution
Solution:
L = (15/2) m x2 + 6mxẏ + 3my2 − mg(x + 2y)
⇒ (∂L/∂ẏ) − ∂L/∂y = 0 ⇔ 6mẍ + 6mÿ + 2mg = 0 .......(2)
Use operation 2(1) − (2)
24mẍ + 6ẏ = 0 ⇒ d/dt (4x + y) = 0 ⇒ 4ẋ + ẏ = 0 ⇒ 12ẋ + 3ẏ = c
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 2:
The point of support of a simple pendulum, of mass 𝑚 and length 𝑙, is attached to the roof of a taxi as shown in the figure. The taxi is moving with uniform velocity 𝑣. The Lagrangian for the
pendulum is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 2 Detailed Solution
Calculation:
The Lagrangian is given by L = T - V
T = (1/2) m ( ẋ2 + ẏ2 )
The x-position at time t is: x = v t + l sinθ ⇒ ẋ = v + l cosθ θ̇
The y-position at time t is: y = -l cosθ ⇒ ẏ = l sinθ θ̇
Thus, T = (1/2) m ( v2 + l2 θ̇2 + 2 v l cosθ θ̇ )
And, V = -m g y = -m g l cosθ
Therefore, the Lagrangian is:
L = (1/2) m l2 θ̇2 + (1/2) m v2 + m l v cosθ θ̇ + m g l cosθ
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 3:
A particle of mass m slides under the gravity without friction along the parabolic path y = ax2 as shown in the figure. Here ‘a' is a constant -
The Lagrangian for this particle is given by-
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 3 Detailed Solution
Calculation:
We are given a particle of mass
To determine the Lagrangian
The kinetic energy
Since
Substituting
The potential energy
The Lagrangian
Final Answer: The correct Lagrangian for the particle is given by option 2:
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 4:
The Lagrangian of a particle in one dimension is L = \(\frac{m}{2}\dot{x}^2-ax^2-V_0e^{-10x}\) where a and V0 are positive constants. The best qualitative representation of a trajectory in the phase space is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 4 Detailed Solution
Explanation:
Corresponding Hamiltonian is given as :
\(H=\frac{P^2}{2m}+ax^2+V_0e^{−10x}\)
Now, clearly, this is not an elliptical relation between p and x. So, we can eliminate options 3 and 4.
- Potential energy \(V(x)=ax^2+V_0e^{−10x}\) has its minimum at x>0.
- When we decrease energy, the phase space closed curve shrinks at a potential minimum or we can say stable equilibrium.
- First graph is to shrink at \(x_0<0\).
- The second graph is to shrink at \(x_0>0\). Hence, is the answer.
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 5:
The Lagrangian of a system of two particles is L = \(\frac{1}{2}\dot{x}^2_1+2\dot{x}^2_2-\frac{1}{2}(x^2_1+x^2_2+x_1x_2)\). The normal frequencies are best approximated by
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 5 Detailed Solution
Explanation:
The equations of motion for the system in terms of the normal coordinates are obtained by applying Euler-Lagrange equations for i = 1, and i = 2.
Euler-Lagrange equations are: \(\frac d{dt} (\frac{∂L}{∂ẋᵢ}) - \frac{∂L}{∂xᵢ} = 0\) for i = 1, 2. So the equations of motion are \( \ddot x₁ - x₁ - 0.5x₂ = 0\) ...(1) & \(4\ddot x₂ - 0.5x₁ - x₂ = 0\) ....(2)
Solve the characteristic equation for eigenvalues (which correspond to the squares of the normal mode frequencies), which is in the form of \( |m - λI| = 0\), where m is the 2x2 matrix of coefficients of terms linear in x, I is the 2x2 identity matrix and λ are the eigenvalues.
This equation gives us a quadratic equation for the eigenvalues: \((1 - λ)(4 - λ) - (0.5)(0.5) = λ² - 5λ + 4 - 0.25 = λ² - 5λ + 3.75 = 0\)
Solving this quadratic equation for λ gives: \(λ = \frac {[5 ± \sqrt{(5)² - 15}]}{(2\times1)} = \frac {[5 ± \sqrt{(25 - 15)]}} { 2} = \frac{[5 ± \sqrt{10}]}{ 2} = \frac {[5 ± √10]} { 2 }\)
The corresponding frequencies are the square roots of these eigenvalues: \(ω = \sqrt{(λ)} = \sqrt{\frac{5 ± √10}{ 2}}\)
So we have two frequencies, ω₁ and ω₂: \( ω₁ = \sqrt{5 - √10}\times{ 2} = 0.4\) (approximately, when rounding) \(ω₂ = \sqrt{\frac {[5 + √10]}{ 2} }= 1\)
Top Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism MCQ Objective Questions
Which of the following terms, when added to the Lagrangian L(x, y, \(\dot x\), \(\dot y\)) of a system with two degrees of freedom, will not change the equations of motion?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 6 Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
The Lagranges equation of motion of a system is given by
\({d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial \dot{q}} - {\partial L \over \partial q} = 0\)
Calculation:
The Lagrangian L depends on
L(x,y,\(̇ x\),\(̇ y\))
\({d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial \dot{x}} - {\partial L \over \partial x} = 0\)
\({d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial \dot{ y}} - {\partial L \over \partial y} = 0 \)
L' = L(x,y,\(\dot x\),\(\dot{y}\))
\({d' \over dt'} {\partial L' \over \partial x} - {\partial L' \over \partial x} = {d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial x} - {\partial L \over \partial x}+ \ddot{y} = 0\)
⇒\(\dot{y} = c_1\)
Similarly \(\dot{x} = c_2\)
The correct answer is option (2).
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 7:
Which of the following terms, when added to the Lagrangian L(x, y, \(\dot x\), \(\dot y\)) of a system with two degrees of freedom, will not change the equations of motion?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 7 Detailed Solution
Concept:
The Lagranges equation of motion of a system is given by
\({d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial \dot{q}} - {\partial L \over \partial q} = 0\)
Calculation:
The Lagrangian L depends on
L(x,y,\(̇ x\),\(̇ y\))
\({d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial \dot{x}} - {\partial L \over \partial x} = 0\)
\({d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial \dot{ y}} - {\partial L \over \partial y} = 0 \)
L' = L(x,y,\(\dot x\),\(\dot{y}\))
\({d' \over dt'} {\partial L' \over \partial x} - {\partial L' \over \partial x} = {d \over dt} {\partial L \over \partial x} - {\partial L \over \partial x}+ \ddot{y} = 0\)
⇒\(\dot{y} = c_1\)
Similarly \(\dot{x} = c_2\)
The correct answer is option (2).
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 8:
The Lagrangian of a system is
\( L = \frac{15}{2} m \dot{x}^2 + 6 m \dot{x} \dot{y} + 3 m \dot{y}^2 - m g (x + 2 y) \)
Which one of the following is conserved?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 8 Detailed Solution
Solution:
L = (15/2) m x2 + 6mxẏ + 3my2 − mg(x + 2y)
⇒ (∂L/∂ẏ) − ∂L/∂y = 0 ⇔ 6mẍ + 6mÿ + 2mg = 0 .......(2)
Use operation 2(1) − (2)
24mẍ + 6ẏ = 0 ⇒ d/dt (4x + y) = 0 ⇒ 4ẋ + ẏ = 0 ⇒ 12ẋ + 3ẏ = c
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 9:
The point of support of a simple pendulum, of mass 𝑚 and length 𝑙, is attached to the roof of a taxi as shown in the figure. The taxi is moving with uniform velocity 𝑣. The Lagrangian for the
pendulum is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 9 Detailed Solution
Calculation:
The Lagrangian is given by L = T - V
T = (1/2) m ( ẋ2 + ẏ2 )
The x-position at time t is: x = v t + l sinθ ⇒ ẋ = v + l cosθ θ̇
The y-position at time t is: y = -l cosθ ⇒ ẏ = l sinθ θ̇
Thus, T = (1/2) m ( v2 + l2 θ̇2 + 2 v l cosθ θ̇ )
And, V = -m g y = -m g l cosθ
Therefore, the Lagrangian is:
L = (1/2) m l2 θ̇2 + (1/2) m v2 + m l v cosθ θ̇ + m g l cosθ
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 10:
A particle of mass m slides under the gravity without friction along the parabolic path y = ax2 as shown in the figure. Here ‘a' is a constant -
The Lagrangian for this particle is given by-
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 10 Detailed Solution
Calculation:
We are given a particle of mass
To determine the Lagrangian
The kinetic energy
Since
Substituting
The potential energy
The Lagrangian
Final Answer: The correct Lagrangian for the particle is given by option 2:
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 11:
The Lagrangian of a particle in one dimension is L = \(\frac{m}{2}\dot{x}^2-ax^2-V_0e^{-10x}\) where a and V0 are positive constants. The best qualitative representation of a trajectory in the phase space is
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 11 Detailed Solution
Explanation:
Corresponding Hamiltonian is given as :
\(H=\frac{P^2}{2m}+ax^2+V_0e^{−10x}\)
Now, clearly, this is not an elliptical relation between p and x. So, we can eliminate options 3 and 4.
- Potential energy \(V(x)=ax^2+V_0e^{−10x}\) has its minimum at x>0.
- When we decrease energy, the phase space closed curve shrinks at a potential minimum or we can say stable equilibrium.
- First graph is to shrink at \(x_0<0\).
- The second graph is to shrink at \(x_0>0\). Hence, is the answer.
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 12:
The Lagrangian of a system of two particles is L = \(\frac{1}{2}\dot{x}^2_1+2\dot{x}^2_2-\frac{1}{2}(x^2_1+x^2_2+x_1x_2)\). The normal frequencies are best approximated by
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism Question 12 Detailed Solution
Explanation:
The equations of motion for the system in terms of the normal coordinates are obtained by applying Euler-Lagrange equations for i = 1, and i = 2.
Euler-Lagrange equations are: \(\frac d{dt} (\frac{∂L}{∂ẋᵢ}) - \frac{∂L}{∂xᵢ} = 0\) for i = 1, 2. So the equations of motion are \( \ddot x₁ - x₁ - 0.5x₂ = 0\) ...(1) & \(4\ddot x₂ - 0.5x₁ - x₂ = 0\) ....(2)
Solve the characteristic equation for eigenvalues (which correspond to the squares of the normal mode frequencies), which is in the form of \( |m - λI| = 0\), where m is the 2x2 matrix of coefficients of terms linear in x, I is the 2x2 identity matrix and λ are the eigenvalues.
This equation gives us a quadratic equation for the eigenvalues: \((1 - λ)(4 - λ) - (0.5)(0.5) = λ² - 5λ + 4 - 0.25 = λ² - 5λ + 3.75 = 0\)
Solving this quadratic equation for λ gives: \(λ = \frac {[5 ± \sqrt{(5)² - 15}]}{(2\times1)} = \frac {[5 ± \sqrt{(25 - 15)]}} { 2} = \frac{[5 ± \sqrt{10}]}{ 2} = \frac {[5 ± √10]} { 2 }\)
The corresponding frequencies are the square roots of these eigenvalues: \(ω = \sqrt{(λ)} = \sqrt{\frac{5 ± √10}{ 2}}\)
So we have two frequencies, ω₁ and ω₂: \( ω₁ = \sqrt{5 - √10}\times{ 2} = 0.4\) (approximately, when rounding) \(ω₂ = \sqrt{\frac {[5 + √10]}{ 2} }= 1\)