- #1
Dixanadu
- 254
- 2
Homework Statement
Hey guys,
Here is the question:
A pointlike mass [itex]m[/itex] can slide along a rigid rod of length [itex]l[/itex] and negligible mass. One extremity of the rod is fixed at the origin [itex]O[/itex] of an inertial system [itex](x,y,z)[/itex], and the rod forms a constant angle [itex]α[/itex] with the [itex]z[/itex]-axis. The rod rotates about the [itex]z[/itex]-axis with constant angular velocity [itex]ω[/itex]. Gravity acts in the negative [itex]z[/itex]-direction.
(i) How many degrees of freedom does the system have?
(ii) Write down the Lagrangian and the Lagrange equations.
(ii) Recast the system as a 1-dimensional motion in an effective potential. Find an expression for the effective potential and determine the equilibrium positions as well as their stability
Homework Equations
[itex]T=1/2mv^{2}[/itex]
Lagrangian: [itex]L = T - V[/itex]
Lagrange Equation: [itex]\frac{d}{dt}\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{q}} = \frac{\partial L}{\partial q}[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Here are my solutions:
(i) one degree of freedom - the distance from the origin to the point mass. call this distance [itex]r[/itex].
(ii) I won't put the calculations here, I'll just give my results:
Lagrangian [itex]L = T - V = \frac{1}{2}m[\dot{r}^{2}+r^{2}ω^{2}sin^{2}α] - mgrcosα[/itex]
Lagrange equation: [itex]\ddot{r}-rω^{2}sin^{2}α + gcosα = 0 [/itex]
(iii)
Okay, so here is the issue. How do you get the effective potential from this? and do I just differentiate that to get the equilibrium positions and then differentiate again to determine stability?