Generalized momentum and Hamiltonian over a non inertial reference frame

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the dynamics of a particle in a rotating reference frame, specifically focusing on generalized momentum and the Hamiltonian formulation. The original poster presents a problem involving a particle with mass m, angular velocity, and the effects of fictitious forces due to rotation. The task includes deriving generalized momenta in both Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates and finding the Hamiltonian using a Legendre transformation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use coordinate transformations to relate inertial and rotating frames, questioning how to derive kinetic energy and potential energy in this context. Some participants explore the implications of fictitious potentials and their role in the Lagrangian formulation. Others express uncertainty about the relationship between generalized momenta in different reference frames and the appropriate use of the Lagrangian with or without fictitious potential.

Discussion Status

Participants have shared various insights and approaches, with some expressing confidence in their methods while others remain uncertain about specific algebraic manipulations and the physical reasoning behind their choices. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of using different forms of the Lagrangian and how they affect the resulting Hamiltonian.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion arising from the dual reference frames and the treatment of fictitious forces. There is also mention of algebraic mistakes that may have influenced the results, highlighting the complexity of the problem and the need for careful consideration of terms in the Hamiltonian.

Telemachus
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Hi there. I need help to work this out.

A particle with mass m is studied over a rotating reference frame, which rotates along the OZ axis with angular velocity [tex]\dot\phi=\omega[/tex], directed along OZ. It is possible to prove that the potential (due to inertial forces) can be written as:
[tex]V=\omega \cdot L-\frac{1}{2}m(\omega\times r)^2[/tex]
L denotes the angular momentum round the origin O. Determine:
a) The generalized moment taking as generalized coordinates the cartesian coordinates (X,Y,Z) taken over the rotating system.
b) The generalized moment taking as generalized coordinates the cylindrical coordinates [tex](\rho,\phi,Z)[/tex] taken over the rotating system.
c) Use the corresponding Legendre transformation, assuming there are no additional forces to find the Hamiltonian. Demonstrate that the Hamiltonian is:
[tex]H=H_0-\omega \cdot L[/tex]
Where H0 is the hamiltonian for a free particle.

Excuse my english :P

I don't know how to start. I've tried making a transform from x', y',z' inertial coordinates, using a rotation. Let's say:
[tex]x'=X \cos\phi-Ysin\phi[/tex]
[tex]y'=Y\cos\phi+X\sin\phi[/tex]
[tex]z'=Z[/tex]

Should I just use this transformation to get the kinetic energy and then just set L=T-V?

Thanks for your help :)
 
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Last edited:
Alright, it was easier than what I thought. The fictitious potential contained all the terms that appear considering the velocity over the non inertial reference frame. So all what I had to do was [tex]T=\frac{m}{2}(\dot x^2+\dot y^2)[/tex]

I had to use the transformation to realize about it, but I think that what I did is quiet correct. Anyway, I couldn't completely verify the equality in c), I neither did b). On c), I get something that looks pretty much like what it gives, but I've probably made some algebra mistake somewhere, and I get an extra term [tex]H=H_0-\omega \cdot L+\frac{m \omega^2}{2}(x^2+y^2)[/tex]

Anyone?

From the transformation I got:
[tex]\dot x^2+\dot y^2=\dot x'^2+\dot y'^2-2\omega \dot x'^2y'+2\omega \dot y'x'+\omega^2(x'^2+y'^2)[/tex]

Thats the square of the velocity for a particle moving on the rotating frame with a speed [tex]\dot x+\dot y[/tex] with respect to the rotating frame, measured from the inertial reference frame.
 
Last edited:
I finally got what I was looking for, but I'm not sure why. I had to use in the first place the lagrangian obtained using the fictitious potential. From this lagrangian I've obtained the generalized momentums with respect to the rotating frame. That cofuesed me a little bit, because I had moments with respect to both reference frames, I wasn't sure to which corresponded the ones that appeared in the fictitious potential, but now I'm pretty sure those correspond to the moments taken in the inertial reference frame. Once I got the generalized moments, using the lagrangian with the fictitious potential, I had to construct the Hamiltonian, using those moments, but when considering the lagrangian I just had to consider the lagrangian without the fictitious potential. I think that information is already given in the generalized moments. When I was constructing the hamiltonian that I have previously posted, I was considering the Lagrangian as the one with the fictitious potential included. But the result is obtained by considering the lagrangian without that potential, with the kinetic energy just as the sum of the components:
[tex]\dot x+\dot y[/tex]

That is: [tex]H=p_x \dot x+p_y \dot y-\frac{m}{2}(\dot x^2+\dot y^2)[/tex]
Where the momentums are obtained from the Lagrangian with the fictitious potential.

Assuming there is no other potential energy. In that way I obtain the result given by the exercise. I realized about it because just in that way I don't get the extra terms, but I didn't get the more profound reasoning on why it must be done this way, on a deeper physical sense. In the first place I thought of using the fictitious potential in the lagrangian for this hamiltonian, but it's like some combination of things, which confuses me a bit.
 

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