Effective potential of a particle sliding on an inclined rod

[Dixanadu]

Homework Statement

Hey guys,

Here is the question:

A pointlike mass m can slide along a rigid rod of length l and negligible mass. One extremity of the rod is fixed at the origin O of an inertial system (x,y,z), and the rod forms a constant angle α with the z-axis. The rod rotates about the z-axis with constant angular velocity ω. Gravity acts in the negative z-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

T=1/2mv^{2}
Lagrangian: L = T - V
Lagrange Equation: \frac{d}{dt}\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{q}} = \frac{\partial L}{\partial q}

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 r.

(ii) I won't put the calculations here, I'll just give my results:

Lagrangian L = T - V = \frac{1}{2}m[\dot{r}^{2}+r^{2}ω^{2}sin^{2}α] - mgrcosα


Lagrange equation: \ddot{r}-rω^{2}sin^{2}α + gcosα = 0

(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?

 

[TSny]

Okay, so here is the issue. How do you get the effective potential from this?

If you had a particle of mass m confined to 1-dimension of space (a straight line) and you let r be the distance from the origin, how would you express the kinetic energy T? How would you construct a potential energy function V(r) for this particle so that it would have the same Lagrangian L as your three-dimensional problem of the particle on the rotating wire?

and do I just differentiate that to get the equilibrium positions and then differentiate again to determine stability?

Sounds good.