Variations on Sacharov's problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around variations of Sacharov's problem, specifically focusing on a scenario involving a rubber band and a disk placed on it. Participants explore the motion of the disk as the band is drawn with constant speed, as well as historical references to Feynman and his interactions with Sacharov.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a problem involving a rubber band and a disk, noting that the disk's kinetic energy vanishes as time approaches infinity while it rolls away without slipping.
  • Another participant provides a link to Feynman's lectures that include a related problem about a bug on a band, suggesting a connection to the original Sacharov's problem.
  • Some participants express concern about the clarity of another problem from Feynman's lectures, questioning the conditions under which the trajectory has an asymptote.
  • There are references to Feynman claiming he introduced the differentiation of an improper integral, with some participants discussing the historical context and accuracy of this claim.
  • A later reply questions whether Feynman actually made the statement about learning the technique from a textbook, indicating uncertainty about the historical accuracy of the claims made.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the historical claims regarding Feynman and Sacharov, and there is uncertainty about the accuracy of the statements made about Feynman's contributions to mathematical techniques.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reference specific problems and their parameters, but limitations in clarity and assumptions about the historical context remain unresolved.

wrobel
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Here is an interesting problem (in my opinion at least)

A rubber band is placed on a horizontal table and attached to a vertical wall by its left end. A disk of given mass and radius is placed on the band without initial velocity. Then the right end of the band is being drawn with constant speed ##v##. Find the motion of the disk.
It turns out that the kinetic energy of the disk vanishes as ##t\to \infty## while the disk rolls away in the right direction to infinity .
The disk does not slip. Very simple but nonholonomic problem by the way.


Original Sacharov's problem: a bug creeps to the right along the band with a speed ##u## wrt the band. Will the bug catch up a hand which draws the end of the band?

Hope I remember it correctly.
 

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martinbn said:
Feyman says that he gave the problem to Sakharov.
Feynman also said that he invented the differentiation of an improper integral to calculate it. He must have worked under the pseudonym Euler in the 18th century as well.
 
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wrobel said:
Feynman also said that he invented the differentiation of an improper integral to calculate it. He must have worked under the pseudonym Euler in the 18th century as well.
Did he actually say that?
 
martinbn said:
Did he actually say that?
I must apologize, I have just looked through "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" In this text he definitely says that he learnt this technique from a textbook of analysis.
It seems I was guided by this
google
 

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