- #1
tomdodd4598
- 138
- 13
Homework Statement
The problem is the following: Using a Lagrangian, find the equations of motion of a mass hanging from a massless string, with the pendulum pivot moving in a horizontal circle at constant angular velocity. I take the mass to be m, the length of the string L, the radius of the circle the pivot traces R and the angular velocity ω.
The attempt at a solution
I believe I am capable of finding the Lagrangian and solving the E-L equations, but I am stuck at defining the coordinates of the mass - it surely needs to be related to the moving pivot but am not sure how, and also don't know which coordinate system I should use.
The problem is the following: Using a Lagrangian, find the equations of motion of a mass hanging from a massless string, with the pendulum pivot moving in a horizontal circle at constant angular velocity. I take the mass to be m, the length of the string L, the radius of the circle the pivot traces R and the angular velocity ω.
The attempt at a solution
I believe I am capable of finding the Lagrangian and solving the E-L equations, but I am stuck at defining the coordinates of the mass - it surely needs to be related to the moving pivot but am not sure how, and also don't know which coordinate system I should use.