Lagrangian of two masses connected by string on inclined pln

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the Lagrangian for a system of two masses, m1 and m2, connected by a light string over a frictionless pulley with moment of inertia I and radius R. The Lagrangian is expressed as L = 0.5*m1*(q-dot)² + 0.5*m2*(q-dot)² + 0.5*I*(q-dot/R)² + m1*g*q*sin(θ) - m2*g*q. The constraints involve the relationship between the movements of the masses and the angle of the pulley, leading to the equations x + R(π/2 + θ) + y = D and y = Rφ. The discussion emphasizes the need for clarity in variable definitions and suggests using LaTeX for better readability.

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Two masses, m1 and m2, are attached by a light string of length D. Mass m1 starts at rest on an inclined plane and mass m2 hangs as shown. The pulley is frictionless but has a moment of inertia I and radius R. Find the Lagrangian of the system and determine the acceleration of the masses using the Lagrangian. Though there are three coordinates of interest (along the plane for mass m1, down for mass m2, and an angle for the rotation of the pulley), there are two constraints.

Homework Equations


∂L/∂q - d/dt(∂L/∂(q-dot)2) = 0

L = T - V

The Attempt at a Solution


If I define the x-direction to be in the direction of the inclined plane then

L = 0.5*m1*(x-dot)2 + 0.5*m2*(y-dot)2 + 0.5*I*(phi-dot)2 + m1*g*x*sin(θ) + m*g*y

where φ is the angle that the pulley is rotating through

The length of the string is constant so the length of string on the plane plus the bit on the pulley plus the rest that is hanging holding up m2 is equal to D

so x + R(π/2 + θ) + y = D -----> x-dot = -(y-dot) ≡ q-dot

and the other constraint involves the string moving on the pulley without slipping

y = Rφ ----> y-dot = R(φ-dot) ---> q-dot = R(φ-dot)

then L = 0.5*m1*(q-dot)2 + 0.5*m2*(q-dot)2 + 0.5*I*(q-dot/R)2 + m1*g*q*sin(θ) + m*g*(D - R(π/2 + θ) - q)

i don't know if what i have so far is correct. Anybody care to give me a hand? The setup is shown in the attachment.
 

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That all looks right, except that you appear to have renamed m2 as m, and it would be simpler to redefine the zero potential of that so that the term becomes simply -m2gq.
Your work would be much easier to read in LaTeX.
 

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