# Finding Angular Frequency of Small Oscillations about an Equilibrium

1. Feb 19, 2010

### Oijl

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Consider a system of one generalized coordinate theta, having the following Lagrangian equation of motion:

r and b are constants
m is mass

(1/3)mb$$^{2}$$$$\ddot{\theta}$$ = r(r+b)$$\theta$$ + r$$^{2}$$$$\theta$$$$^{3}$$ + gr$$\theta$$

And this potential energy (if it matters):

U = mg(r+b) - mgr$$\theta$$$$^{2}$$

There is an equilibrium point where theta is equal to zero.

Find the angular frequency of small oscillations about $$\theta$$ = 0.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Using the potential energy, can't I just say

U = (1/2)k$$\theta$$$$^{2}$$
where
k = 2mgr
so that I can write
$$\omega$$ = (k/m)^(1/2)
$$\omega$$ = (2gr)^(1/2)
and call that the angular frequency?

But the problem asks me to do it the Lagrangian way.

So
$$\omega$$ = (2$$\pi$$)/$$\tau$$

How can I find tau?

2. Feb 19, 2010

### ideasrule

Clever, but it's not right. You can see this by comparing the units of U=(1/2)kx^2 with those of U = (1/2)k$$\theta$$$$^{2}$$: both U's have the same unit, both x doesn't have the same unit as theta, so the two k's must have different units. That means the equation omega=(k/m)^1/2 is not correct.

To start, do you know the characteristic differential equation for simple harmonic motion? Try to get the Lagrangian equation of motion into that form, remembering that theta^3 is much smaller than theta for small values of theta.