Physics 351: Problem Set 1 Solutions

1. Trigonometric Identities:
eix = cos x + i sin x ; where i =
cos x =

eix +eix
2

and sin x =

eix eix
2i

(a) Show that sin u v = sin u cos v cos u sin v:

sin u v

=
=
=

=
=

ei(uv) ei(uv)
eiu eiv eiu eiv
=
2i
2i
1
[(cos u + i sin u)(cos v i sin v) (cos u i sin u)(cos v i sin v)]
2i
1
[cos u cos v i cos u sin v + i sin u cos v sin u sin v]
2i
1
[cos u cos v i cos u sin v i sin u cos v sin u sin v]
2i
1
[2i sin u cos v 2i cos u sin v]
2i
sin u cos v cos u sin v

(b) Show that cos u v = cos u cos v sin u sin v:

cos u v

=
=
=

=
=

ei(uv) + ei(uv)
eiu eiv + eiu eiv
=
2
2
1
[(cos u + i sin u)(cos v i sin v) + (cos u i sin u)(cos v i sin v)]
2
1
[cos u cos v i cos u sin v + i sin u cos v sin u sin v]
2
1
+ [cos u cos v i cos u sin v i sin u cos v sin u sin v]
2
1
[2 cos u cos v 2 sin u sin v]
2
cos u cos v sin u sin v

2. French 1-1:
Define the vector z by z = z1 z2 , where z1 = a + ib, z2 = c + id
(a) Show that |z| = |z1 ||z2 |. First we calculate |z1 | and |z2 | so we know what to
look for when finding |z|.
p
p
|z1 | =
(a + ib)(a ib) = a2 + b2
p
p
|z2 | =
(c + id)(c id) = c2 + d2
p
p
|z1 ||z2 | =
(a2 + b2 )(c2 + d2 ) = a2 c2 + a2 d2 + b2 c2 + b2 d2

Now lets turn our attention to |z|:

|z| = |z1 z2 | = |(a + ib)(c + id)| = |(ac bd) + i(ad + bc)|
p
p
=
(ac bd)2 + (ad + bc)2 = a2 c2 + b2 d2 2abcd + a2 d2 + b2 c2 + 2abcd
p
=
a2 c2 + a2 d2 + b2 c2 + b2 d2 = |z1 ||z2 |

(b) Show that the angle between z and the x axis (call this ) is the sum of the
angles made by z1 and z2 separately. Recall that z = (acbd)+i(ad+bc). Since
z is an imaginary number we can consider its real part to be its x coordinate
and its imaginary part to be is y coordinate. Then we know that the tangent
of the angle z makes with the x axis is the imaginary part of z over the real
part of z.
tan

d
+b
ad + bc
ad + bc
=
= c dab
bd
ac bd
ac(1 ac )
1 ca

We can apply the same logic from above to z1 and z2 namely that, tan 1 =
and tan 2 = dc . Then,

tan

d
c

b
a
d b
ca

b
a

tan 1 + tan 2
.
1 tan 1 tan 2

Using the identity given as a hint we have,

tan

tan 1 + tan 2
= tan (1 + 2 ).
1 tan 1 tan 2

This implies that = 1 + 2 .

3. French 1-4a:
Define z = Aei . Now take a derivative of z with respect to .
dz
= iAei = iz.
d
Multiply both side by d and we have, dz = izd. To make sense of this result let us
consider two vectors z and z 0 that differ by a small amount dz (See attached figure).
If we want to go from z to z 0 (akin to a simple rotation of the vector) then the vector
dz tells us how we should move in the complex plane. Since z is a complex number
we know z = a + bi and dz = (b + ai)d. So if I want to rotate z to z 0 I need to
move to the left on the real axis by bd and up on the imaginary axis and amount
ad.
2

It is also clear to see this relationship for two special cases, when z is completely
real and when z is completely imaginary. If z = a then a positive rotation of the
vector in the complex plane would mean that it starts out moving in a completely
imaginary direction (Seen in the attached figure). Similarly, if z = bi then a positive
rotation begins its movement in the negative real direction.
4. French 1-9:
We want to know how much $ii is worth. We start by rearranging our given expression with the identity,
i = eln i .
So we have
ii = (eln i )i = ei ln i .
Notice also that

= ln (e 2 ) = ln (cos + i sin ) = ln i.
2
2
2
Plugging this result into the previous equation gives us

ii = ei ln i = eii 2 = e 2 = 0.21.
So $ii is 21 cents. Its worth it !
5. French 1-11:
(a) Find the constants A, , and . To find A recall that the cosine function takes
on values between -1 and 1. The wave oscillates with a 5cm amplitude, this
means that the maximal value of our given x(t) = A cos (t + ) minus the
minimal value must be equal to 5cm.
5cm = A(1 (1)) = 2A.
So A = 2.5cm. To find we use the fact that cosine is 2 periodic. More
specifically we know that the argument of the cosine at any time t must be
equal to the argument at t + T where T is the given period of the function.
(t + T ) +
T

= (t + ) + 2
= 2
2
=
T
= 2f
= 2(1Hz)
= 2Hz.

To find we use the initial condition that x(0) = 0.

0
0

= x(0) = A cos ((0) + )

= A cos .

We know A doesnt equal zero so that means cos must equal zero. This
happens when = n
2 , n = 1, 3, 5, . . .. So the possible solutions are
x(t) = (2.5cm) cos ((2Hz)t +

n
), n = 1, 3, 5, . . . .
2

(b) Now we find the derivatives of our function in the previous part evaluated at
t = 38 sec. For simplicity lets choose n = 1.
8
x( sec)
3
dx 8
( sec)
dt 3
d2 x 8
( sec)
dt2 3

(2.5cm) cos ((2Hz)( sec) + ) = 2.17cm

3
2
8

cm
= (2.5cm)(2Hz) sin ((2Hz)( sec) + ) = 7.85
3
2
s
8

cm
= (2.5cm)(2Hz)2 cos ((2Hz)( sec) + ) = 85.47 2 .
3
2
s
=

6. French 2-3:
Find the beat period resulting from the combination of y1 = A cos 10t and y2 =
A cos 2t. Recall from the chapter readings that the beat frequency is simply the
difference between the two individual frequencies.
b = 12 10 = 2.
2

The resulting beat period is then T =

in the attached figure.

= 1 sec. The resulting wave can be seen

7. Membrane Waves:
(a) Show [E] = []. We are given


Z
E=

1
1
+
r1
r2

2
dA.

Now write the equation with the dimensions of each individual term
2
1
1
[E] =
[] [ ] + [ ] [dA]
r1
r2

2
Z
1
1
=
[] [ ] + [ ] [L]2
L
L
Z
1
=
[][ ]2 [L]2
L
Z
=
[].


Therefore, [E] = [].

4

(b) Show that [] =

[M ]
[T L] .

We are given an equation involving ,

F
A
[F ]
[A]
[M L]
[T 2 L2 ]
[M ]
[T 2 L]

dv
dz
[dv]
= []
[dz]
[L]
= []
[T L]
1
= []
[T ]
[M ]
[] =
.
[T L]
=

[M ]
(c) We know from the previous part that [] = [T
L] and [] = [E] =
want to solve for the exponents in the following equation,
c

b 
[M ][L]2
[M ]
[ ] = [T ] = []a []b []c = [L]a
.
[T ]2
[T L]

[M ][L]2
[T ]2 .

We

This gives us three equations to solve corresponding to each unit

0
0
1

= b+c
= a + 2b c
= 2b c.

Solving these equations tells us b = c, a = 3c, and c = 1. So,

(dimensionlessconstant)

3
.

(d) If we added z to our list of parameters we would have another exponent, d,

to solve for. However, z has the same units as so we still only have three
fundamental units to make equations from. This gives us three equations and
four unknowns,
0
0
1

= b+c
= a + 2b c + d
= 2b c.

We cannot solve for all of the unknowns. The closest we can get is

(dimensionlessconstant) a z3a .

Side note: A full hydrodynamic theory treatment of this problem reveals a = 6

and d = 3.

cos(10 t)

Amplitude

1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8
Time (s)
cos(12 t)

1.2

1.4

1.6

0.8
1
Time (s)
cos(10 t) + cos(12 t)

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.2

1.4

1.6

Amplitude

1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1

Amplitude

2
1
0
-1
-2

0.8
Time (s)