- #1
Physkid12
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- 0
Homework Statement
A long light inflexible rod is free to rotate in a vertical plane about a fixed point O. A particle of mass m is fixed to the rod at a point P a distance l from O. A second particle of mass m is free to move along the rod, and is attracted to the point O by an elastic force of strength k. The system is subject to gravity g. The constant k is given by k = mg/2l.
State the degrees of freedom and choose appropriate coordinates[/B]
Homework Equations
None[/B]
The Attempt at a Solution
I believe the degree of freedom is 2 with coordinates being θ: the angle of the rod and the distance of the second particle from the origin O. Although I am stuck on which coordinate I should use for that distance
Thanks![/B]