Physicspupil

July 3, 2025

202507031737 心相續流

中國人：今生看已過，願結後生緣。

法國人：Déjà vu. Au revoir. The past participle of voir (to see) is vu (seen).

韓國人：임이여 물을 건너지 마오. 임은 결국 물을 건너시네. 물에 빠져 죽었으니, 장차 임을 어이할꼬.（公無渡河，公竟渡河。墮河而死，當奈公何。）

法國人：Ne laissez pas faire. Fait accompli. The noun form/past participle of the verb faire (to do) is fait (deed/fact: what is done).

May 10, 2025May 10, 2025

中國人：「行有餘力，則以學文」英譯 If he has any energy to spare from such action, let him devote it to making himself cultivated 的 he、him、himself 是「第三身單數代名詞（third person singular pronoun）」的「主格（nominative ）」、「受格（accusative）」、「與格（dative）」。「雖曰未學，必謂之學」英譯 Grant a man his having received instruction, even though he may say that he has never been taught 的 his 則是「屬格（genitive）」。文法性（gender）一般可分為陽性（masculine）、陰性（feminine）、中性（neuter）；不同於生物性（sex）或雄（male）或雌（female）。

英國人：接中古英語之緒，he、him、his、himself 實不薄巾幗，有類 man 統稱「世人」蓋亦女丈夫有之；陰在陽之內，不在陽之對。

中國人：惟今 he 在 she 之內、man 不在 woman 之外。未學而學，學而未學。唉。

December 10, 2024December 12, 2024

202412100018 Cognates

中國人：曾不肯約己困宜家，但長恐失身難事親。

菲律賓人：Hindi gusto ko nag-iisa, o waláng magmahabang dulang; pero ako lang sa pamilya, puwede ko ‘Mano po’ para magulang.

西班牙人：規則動詞 gustar (-AR) 的及物用法（el verbo transitivo）見於第三人稱的單數（gusta）或複數（gustan），將 me、te、se、nos、os、se 等反身代名詞（los pronombres reflexivos）作直接受詞（el complemento directo）為其前驅、主詞（sujeto）而其扈從。不規則動詞 poder (-ER) 的輔助用法（el verbo auxiliar）則依後一動詞不定式（infinitivo）次第達致。連續詞（conjunción）/ 介繫詞（preposición）如 o、pero、para 和名詞（nombre o sustantivo）如 familia、mano 按下不表，人口能殖之謂云爾。

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024

202409051606 Pastime Exercise 012

About the figure below, tell some stories as probable as probable can be.

Roughwork.

Ignoring gravitational effect, denote the initial and the final velocity before and after impact by $\mathbf{u}=(u_x,u_y)$ and $\mathbf{v}=(v_x,v_y)$ . Taking the positive an up and a right, then $u_x,u_y,v_x<0$ and $v_y>0$ . Under conservation of momentum,

$\begin{aligned} m|\mathbf{u}|+M|\mathbf{U}| & =m|\mathbf{v}|+M|\mathbf{V}| \\ m|(u_x\,\hat{\mathbf{i}}+u_y\,\hat{\mathbf{j}})| + M|(\mathbf{0})| & = m|(v_x\,\hat{\mathbf{i}}+v_y\,\hat{\mathbf{j}})| + M|(\mathbf{0})| \\ |u_x| & = |v_x| \\ |u_y| & = |v_y| \\ \textrm{( } |u_i| & = |v_i| \textrm{ )}\\ \end{aligned}$

and conservation of energy

$\begin{aligned} \frac{1}{2}mu^2 + \frac{1}{2}MU^2 & = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{2}MV^2 \\ m(u_x^2+u_y^2) + M(0)^2 & = m(v_x^2+v_y^2) + M(0)^2 \\ u_x^2+u_y^2 & = v_x^2 + v_y^2 \\ \sum u_i^2 & = \sum v_i^2 \\ \end{aligned}$

Therefore

$\begin{aligned} \frac{|u_x|}{|u_y|} & = \frac{|v_x|}{|v_y|} \\ \tan\theta_i & = \tan\theta_r \\ \theta_i & = \theta_r \\ \end{aligned}$

(to be continued)

August 22, 2024

202408221017 Exercise 5.68

A particle moves along the space curve

$\mathbf{r}=e^{-t}\cos t\,\hat{\mathbf{i}}+e^{-t}\sin t\,\hat{\mathbf{j}}+e^{-t}\,\hat{\mathbf{k}}$ .

Find the magnitude of the (a) velocity and (b) acceleration at any time $t$ .

_{Extracted from Spiegel, M. R. (1971). Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists.}

Roughwork.

Let displacement

$\mathbf{r}=r_x\,\hat{\mathbf{i}}+r_y\,\hat{\mathbf{j}}+r_z\,\hat{\mathbf{k}}$

where

$\begin{aligned} r_x(t) & = e^{-t}\cos t \\ r_y(t) & = e^{-t}\sin t \\ r_z(t) & = e^{-t} \\ \end{aligned}$

then velocity

$\mathbf{v}=v_x\,\hat{\mathbf{i}}+v_y\,\hat{\mathbf{j}}+v_z\,\hat{\mathbf{k}}$

where

$\begin{aligned} v_x & = \frac{\mathrm{d}r_x}{\mathrm{d}t} \\ & =\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(e^{-t}\cos t) \\ v_x(t)& = -e^{-t}\sin t-e^{-t}\cos t \\ v_y & = \frac{\mathrm{d}r_y}{\mathrm{d}t} \\ & =\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(e^{-t}\sin t) \\ v_y(t)& = e^{-t}\cos t-e^{-t}\sin t \\ v_z & = \frac{\mathrm{d}r_z}{\mathrm{d}t} \\ & =\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(e^{-t}) \\ v_z(t)& = -e^{-t} \\ \end{aligned}$

then acceleration

$\mathbf{a}=a_x\,\hat{\mathbf{i}}+a_y\,\hat{\mathbf{j}}+a_z\,\hat{\mathbf{k}}$

where

$\begin{aligned} a_x & = \frac{\mathrm{d}v_x}{\mathrm{d}t} \\ & =\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(-e^{-t}\sin t-e^{-t}\cos t) \\ a_x(t)& = 2e^{-t}\sin t\\ a_y & = \frac{\mathrm{d}v_y}{\mathrm{d}t} \\ & =\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(e^{-t}\cos t-e^{-t}\sin t) \\ a_y(t)& = -2e^{-t}\cos t\\ a_z & = \frac{\mathrm{d}v_z}{\mathrm{d}t} \\ & =\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}t}(-e^{-t}) \\ a_z(t)& = e^{-t} \\ \end{aligned}$

Cheat.

$\mathbf{r}(t) = \underbrace{e^{-t}}_{\textrm{(1)}}\underbrace{(\cos t,\sin t, 1)}_{\textrm{(2)}}$

where

$\begin{aligned} \textrm{(1):}&\enspace \textrm{radial centripetal} \\ \textrm{(2):}&\enspace \textrm{circumferential anticlockwise} \\ \end{aligned}$

_{By courtesy of WolframAlpha}

In a cylindrical coordinate system, the position of a particle can be written as

$\mathbf{r}=\rho\,\hat{\boldsymbol{\rho}}+z\,\hat{\mathbf{z}}$ .

The velocity of the particle is the time derivative of its position,

$\mathbf{v}=\displaystyle{\frac{\mathrm{d}\mathbf{r}}{\mathrm{d}t}}=\dot{\rho}\,\hat{\boldsymbol{\rho}}+\rho\dot{\varphi}\,\hat{\boldsymbol{\varphi}}+\dot{z}\,\hat{\mathbf{z}}$ ,

where the term $\rho\dot{\varphi}\,\hat{\boldsymbol{\varphi}}$ comes from the Poisson formula

$\displaystyle{\frac{\mathrm{d}\hat{\boldsymbol{\varphi}}}{\mathrm{d}t}}=\dot{\varphi}\,\hat{\mathbf{z}}\times\hat{\boldsymbol{\rho}}$ .

Its acceleration is

$\mathbf{a}=\displaystyle{\frac{\mathrm{d}\mathbf{v}}{\mathrm{d}t}}=(\ddot{\rho}-\rho\dot{\varphi}^2)\,\hat{\boldsymbol{\rho}}+(2\dot{\rho}\dot{\varphi}+\rho\ddot{\varphi})\,\hat{\boldsymbol{\varphi}}+\ddot{z}\,\hat{\mathbf{z}}$ .

_{Kinematics in Wikipedia on Cylindrical coordinate system}

Stop wandering! You are facing up to

$\begin{aligned} v=|\mathbf{v}|=\sqrt{v_x^2+v_y^2+v_z^2} & = \cdots \\ a=|\mathbf{a}|=\sqrt{a_x^2+a_y^2+a_z^2} & = \cdots \\ \end{aligned}$

But then, I’m fond of opting out.

This problem is not to be attempted.

August 21, 2024August 22, 2024

202408211136 Exercise 14.C.10

A stone is thrown vertically upwards so that its height, $s$ metres, above the ground, after $t$ seconds is given by $s=40t-5t^2$ . Find

(a) its velocity after $2\,\mathrm{s}$ ;
(b) its height above the ground when it is momentarily at rest;
(c) its initial velocity;
(d) its velocity when it is $15\,\mathrm{m}$ above the ground, giving your answer correct to the nearest $\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$ .

_{Extracted from K. S. Teh & C. Y. Loh. (2007). New Syllabus Additional Mathematics (8e)}

Roughwork.

Initially (i.e., at $t=0$ ), the stone is

$s(t=0)=40(0)-5(0)^2=0\,\mathrm{m}$

above the ground, i.e., at ground level $s=0$ .

$\begin{aligned} & s = 40t-5t^2 = t(40-5t) \\ \Rightarrow & \begin{cases} s =0 \Leftrightarrow t = \{0\}\cup\{ 8\} \\ s > 0 \Leftrightarrow t\in (0,8) \\ s < 0 \Leftrightarrow t<0\enspace\textrm{(rej.)}\enspace\textrm{\scriptsize{OR}}\enspace t>8 \\ \end{cases} \\ \end{aligned}$

Take upward positive. The (vertical) displacement of the stone is

$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{s}(t) & =s(t)\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ & = (40t-5t^2)\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ \end{aligned}$

its (vertical) instantaneous velocity

$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{v}(t) & = v(t)\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ & = \frac{\mathrm{d}s(t)}{\mathrm{d}t}\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ & = (40t-5t^2)'\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ & = (40-10t)\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ \end{aligned}$

and its (vertical) instantaneous acceleration

$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{a}(t) & = a(t)\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ & = \frac{\mathrm{d}v(t)}{\mathrm{d}t}\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ & = (40-10t)'\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ \mathbf{a} & = -10\,\hat{\mathbf{j}} \\ \end{aligned}$

so are the answers to

(a) $\mathbf{v}(2)$
(b) $t'\in\{ t:v(t)=0\}\enspace\rightsquigarrow\enspace s(t')$
(c) $\mathbf{v}(0)$
(d) $t'\in\{ t:\mathbf{s}(t)=+15\,\hat{\mathbf{j}}\} \enspace\rightsquigarrow\enspace \mathbf{v}(t')$

This problem is not to be attempted.

August 20, 2024August 20, 2024

202408201533 Example 13.8

Let $\displaystyle{x=\frac{y-2}{y+2}}$ .

(a) Find $\displaystyle{\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}}$ in terms of $y$ .
(b) Make $y$ the subject of the given function. Hence, find $\displaystyle{\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}}$ in terms of $x$ .
(c) Are the answers obtained in (a) and (b) different? Explain your assertion.

_{Extracted from S. W. Li et al. (2002). New Progress in Additional Mathematics Book 3}

Roughwork.

$\begin{aligned} x & = \frac{y-2}{y+2} \\ x & = \frac{y+2-4}{y+2} \\ \textrm{Eq. (1):}\quad x=f(y) & = 1-\frac{4}{y+2} \\ \frac{4}{y+2} & = 1-x \\ \frac{4}{1-x} & = y+2 \\ \textrm{Eq. (2):}\quad y=g(x) & = \frac{4}{1-x} - 2 \\ \end{aligned}$

domain: what can go into a function
codomain: what may possibly come out of a function
range: what actually comes out of a function

_{Kevin Sookocheff on Range, Domain, and Codomain (2018)}

Write, for function $f$ ,

$\begin{aligned} \textrm{domain: }& \mathbb{R}\backslash\{ -2\} \\ \textrm{codomain: }& \mathbb{R} \\ \textrm{range: }& \mathbb{R} \\ \end{aligned}$

and for function $g$ ,

$\begin{aligned} \textrm{domain: }& \mathbb{R}\backslash\{ 1\} \\ \textrm{codomain: }& \mathbb{R} \\ \textrm{range: }& \mathbb{R} \\ \end{aligned}$

We see $f$ discontinuous at $-2$ ; and $g$ , at $1$ ; whereas non-differentiable.

(to be continued)

August 19, 2024August 20, 2024

202408191743 Geometry 0

$\forall$ : for all/any/each/every
$\exists$ : there exist(s)/is/are

If, in any event $(x,y,z,t)$ :

i. no two points $a$ and $b$ occupy the same position. I.e.,

$\forall\, t\, \nexists\, a(\neq b)\enspace\textrm{s.t. }(x_a,y_a,z_a)=(x_b,y_b,z_b)$

ii. none any point $a$ occupies more than one position. I.e.,

$\forall\,a,t\,\exists\, !\mathbf{r}\enspace\textrm{s.t. }a\stackrel{\mathbf{r}(t)}{\longmapsto}(x_a,y_a,z_a)$

such points are said to be mass particles; or else massless particles.

(to be continued)

June 12, 2024June 13, 2024

202406021604 觀海

英國人：福勒兄弟（Fowlers）所著《英文正統》（The King’s English (1906)）當其時也，質之不逮文，故倡以 “prefer the Saxon word to the Romance”。美國作家海明威（Ernest Hemingway）的《漁翁釣海》（The Old Man and the Sea），物一無文；英國作家貝洛克（Hilaire Belloc）的《背水尋山》（Hills and the Sea），唯識無境。

中國人：「入乎其內，故能寫之。出乎其外，故能觀之。入乎其內，故有生氣。出乎其外，故有高致。」

May 10, 2024June 13, 2024

202405101842 Exercise 16.67

The cross product of a vector with itself is

A. the vector $\mathbf{i}^2+\mathbf{j}^2+\mathbf{k}^2$ .
B. the vector $\mathbf{i}+\mathbf{j}+\mathbf{k}$ .
C. the zero vector.
D. the scalar quantity $1$ .
E. the scalar quantity $0$ .

_{Extracted from Stan Gibilisco. (2006). Technical Math Demystified.}

Erratum.

Option A should be a scalar.

Roughwork.

Most commonly, it is the three-dimensional Euclidean space $\mathbf{E}^3$ (or $\mathbb{E}^3$ ) that models physical space $\mathbf{R}^3$ (or $\mathbb{R}^3$ ).

_{Wikipedia on Three-dimensional space}

The Euclidean metric is given by

$\mathbf{G}=(g_{\alpha\beta})\equiv \begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \\\end{bmatrix}$

and so line element $\mathrm{d}s$

$\begin{aligned} \mathrm{d}s^2 & = g_{\alpha\beta}\,\mathrm{d}x^\alpha\,\mathrm{d}x^\beta \\ & = (\mathrm{d}x^1)^2 + (\mathrm{d}x^2)^2 + (\mathrm{d}x^3)^2 \\ & = \mathrm{d}x^2+\mathrm{d}y^2+\mathrm{d}z^2 \\ \end{aligned}$

or distance

$d=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2+(z_2-z_1)^2}$

is equivalent to applying twice the Pythagorean equation

$a^2+b^2=c^2$

to two points $(x_1,y_1,z_1)$ and $(x_2,y_2,z_2)$ with respect to the standard basis $(\mathbf{e}_x,\mathbf{e}_y,\mathbf{e}_z)$ :

$\begin{cases} \hat{\mathbf{i}}=\mathbf{e}_x=(1,0,0) \\ \hat{\mathbf{j}}=\mathbf{e}_y=(0,1,0) \\ \hat{\mathbf{k}}=\mathbf{e}_z=(0,0,1) \\ \end{cases}$

of a Cartesian coordinate system. To carry a point from one position to another, a vector $\mathbf{v}$ has both magnitude $v=|\mathbf{v}|$ and direction $\hat{\mathbf{v}}=\frac{\mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|}$ . Scalar multiplication $c\mathbf{v}$ will scale its magnitude by some factor $c$ (the scalar) without change in its direction. I.e.,

$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{u} & \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}c\mathbf{v} \\ u & = |\mathbf{u}| = |c\mathbf{v}| = c|\mathbf{v}|\\ & = cv \\ \hat{\mathbf{u}} & = \frac{\mathbf{u}}{|\mathbf{u}|} = \frac{c\mathbf{v}}{c|\mathbf{v}|} = \frac{\mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|} \\ & = \hat{\mathbf{v}} \\ \end{aligned}$

Vector multiplication is for whose vectors be the products scalar or vector. For instance, we have

Dot product (aka scalar product) of two vectors $\mathbf{u}=(u_x,u_y,u_z)$ and $\mathbf{v}=(v_x,v_y,v_z)$

$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{u}\cdot\mathbf{v} & = \sum_{x,y,z}u_iv_i \\ & = u_xv_x+u_yv_y+u_zv_z \\ & = |\mathbf{u}| |\mathbf{v}|\cos\theta \\ \end{aligned}$

as a scalar quantity; but their cross product (aka vector product)

$\begin{aligned} \mathbf{u}\times\mathbf{v} & = \begin{vmatrix} \hat{\mathbf{i}} & \hat{\mathbf{j}} & \hat{\mathbf{k}} \\ u_x & u_y & u_z \\ v_x & v_y & v_z \\ \end{vmatrix} \\ & = (u_yv_z-u_zv_y, u_zv_x-u_xv_z, u_xv_y-u_yv_x) \\ & = |\mathbf{u}||\mathbf{v}|\sin\theta\,\hat{\mathbf{n}} \\ \end{aligned}$

a vector quantity. Added on are tensor product $\mathbf{u}\otimes\mathbf{v}$ , wedge product $\mathbf{u}\wedge\mathbf{v}$ , and more.

This problem is not to be attempted.

Posts

202507031737 心相續流

202505101654 學而

202412100018 Cognates

202409051606 Pastime Exercise 012

202408221017 Exercise 5.68

202408211136 Exercise 14.C.10

202408201533 Example 13.8

202408191743 Geometry 0

202406021604 觀海

202405101842 Exercise 16.67