Recent content by dougla

Actually it turns out the sphere constraint is identical to the sloped block constraint, though obviously the slope varies. Since we know that (\dot{x}_2 - \dot{x}_1)^2 + (\dot{y}_2 - \dot{y}_1)^2 = 0 then 2(x_2 - x_1)(\ddot{x}_2 - \ddot{x}_1) + (\dot{x}_2 - \dot{x}_1)^2 + 2(y_2 -...

Can I treat the instantaneous force as the force on a sloped block? The constraint on this one is a(x_2 - x_1) + b(y_2 - y_1) = c which differentiates into a(\ddot{x}_2 - \ddot{x}_1) + b(\ddot{y}_2 - \ddot{y}_1) = 0 which is nice and linear. Whereas the circle constraint is (x_2 -...

Yes, Fout is an applied force acting on the center of mass of the sphere. I don't think F12 is merely the component of Fout in the direction of c2, though obviously it's a scalar multiple of c2. Consider if Fout were coming from directly opposite S2. In that case, it would be like pushing two...

Note that cos(x) = sin(x + pi/2)

Homework Statement My physics classes were a long time ago, and I can't for the life of me remember how to solve this problem: If I have two spheres s1 and s2 touching, of mass m1 and m2, with radii r1 and r2, and centers c1 and c2, and I have a force Fout normal to the surface of s1, how do I...