- #1
metalnitesh
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Homework Statement
A point of mass m is placed on a frictionless plane that is tangent to the Earth’s surface. Determine Hamilton’s
equations taking:
(a) the distance x
(b) the angle q
as the generalized coordinate.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Take the distance x as the distance from the point of contact of the plane with the surface
angle q is the angle made with the normal to the plane through the center of the earth
my soln. is L= 1/2*m*(x(dot)^2) - m*g*(sqrt(x^2+a^2)-a)
(here a is the radius of the Earth )
Rest is elementary
Is this correct ?
Since its a standard problem in many textbooks does anyone know the exact solution ?