How to Solve Large Oscillations of a Pendulum?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the equation of motion for large oscillations of a pendulum, specifically the nonlinear differential equation $$x'' + A \sin x = 0$$. Participants explore various methods, including approximations and references to elliptic integrals, while addressing the challenges of finding exact solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the equation $$x'' + A \sin x = 0$$ and suggests that approximations may be necessary for large oscillations.
  • Another participant notes the difficulty of solving the equation exactly with familiar functions, mentioning elliptic integrals and referencing a book by A G Webster that discusses a series for the period of the pendulum.
  • A third participant relates a specific integral involving elliptic integrals and expresses difficulty in aligning it with the earlier presented forms.
  • Another participant provides a link to a paper that describes an analytic solution using Jacobi elliptic functions and offers a simpler explanation of an approximate solution.
  • One participant discusses the reduction of the equation $$x'' + f(x) = 0$$ to an integral form, emphasizing the relationship between energy and motion, and suggests that some integrals may not correspond to elementary functions.
  • A final participant expresses gratitude for the assistance received in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a single method for solving the equation, with multiple competing views and approaches presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the complexity of elliptic integrals and the potential for approximations, indicating that the discussion may involve unresolved mathematical steps and varying levels of familiarity with the topic.

Hamal_Arietis
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When I solve this problem i have the equation:
$$x''+Asinx=0$$
How solve this equation if x large?
I think we use some approximations
 
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It's horrible. You cannot solve it exactly with familiar functions, and it involves things called elliptic integrals. Specialised stuff :eek:I think.
If you like that sort of thing :oldwink: I can tell you there is a treatment in a book so old it is probably available as free e-book somewhere "The Dynamics Of Particles" by A G Webster, pp 45-48. He does give a formula for the period, a series in squared signs of the amplitude.
Maybe you could follow the argument up to the point where Webster gets
t = something multiplied by ∫ between limits one of which is essentially the pendulum angle of something of form
dx/√(1 - k2 sin2(x/2)) . That is the elliptic integral.
I guess you could plot some solutions if you can understand what he is talking about and use Wolfram app or Mathematica to give you the elliptic integrals numerically.

Noting your age I would say this is surely not in your syllabus for a long time, if ever.
 
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If I am not mistaken this form has different subject on the left hand side than the form I gave which was t = ...
If you want to go further I am not the person to ask - but it seems he has these last minutes arrived!. :oldsmile:

What I think it is useful for you to be familiar with is that an equation x'' + f(x) = 0 , which is the equation of a particle moving under a force that depends only on position in one dimension, can be reduced to t = an integral of a function of x by multiplying the equation by 2x' and then the first term is (x2)' . So you can get an equation with x' as LHS, and on the RHS you'll get through just an integral with respect to t of something involving a square root. By the way before square rooting this is just the energy equation. Just if you're lucky this will be an integral that corresponds to functions you know the integral of.

If you're interested you could work this out for simple harmonic motion - second term kx. You should find you get the same results as what is usually done in a more direct way. You can also solve it with 'elementary' integration when the one-dimensional force is inverse square. But in other cases you may also find that the integrals are not any of the 'elementary' ones, as here.
 
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thanks for all helping ^^
 

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