COMMENTS ON FIRST PROBLEM SET - FALL 2002

	1.1, b&c: The parameter "tau" is a constant with dimensions of
time.  Very often there will be some relation, strongly dependent on
the system in question, between the constants "tau" and "omega".  Note
that the product of "tau" and "omega" is a dimensionless constant.

	1.1, d,e&f: There isn't much room for ambiguity, but "Q" and
"Q(t)" are not the same thing.  "Q" is the modulus of "Q(t)", but
that's not a standard notation.

	1.2: The lengths of the wires, given as "a", are assumed to be
constant.  In addition, the square is assumed to retain its shape
(e.g., the intersections of the wires are assumed to be right angles.
	Both parts are more 8.012-type rather than 8.01-type problems,
but the point of this subject is to extend what you know, of course.
Part (a) has a neat interpretation, which I'd be glad to share if we
ever have our first recitation.

	1.3: Read part (b) first!  That is, the value of the phase of
any oscillator is not uniquely defined.  The assumption given in part
(b) determines how to interpret the phase angle.

	1.5: Those of us who have been learning or teaching out of
Prof. French's texts for many years (guess how many!) recognize this
as a "French Problem," in that it combines both symbolic and numerical
analysis.  For starters, is this "high-Q" or "low-Q"?