How many constraints are there when the particle is moving in a plane

[roshan2004]

How many constraints are there when the particle is moving in a plane and on three dimensional space and what are they?

 

[arildno]

Ask yourself:

1. How many spatial quantities must be specified in order to uniquely determine the particle's position as a function of time?

2. How many equations exist that relate those spatial quantities to each other?

1. tells you the degrees of freedom of the system, 2. the constraints upon the system.

 

[roshan2004]

For number one,obviously there are three spatial quantities for describing the particle's position for the particle in three dimension and two for the particle in plane. However I am sorry that I couldn't figure out the second one.

 

[arildno]

Suppose the plane the particle is to move on lies in a 3-D world.

How many constraints are then put on the particle's motions?

 

[roshan2004]

I guess it is two

 

[arildno]

I guess it is two

Why?

How many equations in x,y and z are needed to specify a particular plane?

 

[roshan2004]

Three

 

[arildno]

Do you even know how to specify a plane with the help of equation(s)??

 

[roshan2004]

in the form of ax+by+cz=0

 

[arildno]

in the form of ax+by+cz=0

And how many equations is that expression??

 

[roshan2004]

only one