- #1
Xyius
- 508
- 4
1.) The Problem Statement:
a.) Find the Lagrangian of a pendulum where the height of the hinge is oscillating in the y direction and is is defined as a function ##y_0=f(t)##
b.) Add a function (a gauge transformation) of the form ##\frac{d F(\theta,t)}{dt}## to the original lagrangian ##\mathcal{L}## to obtain a new lagrangian ##\mathcal{L}'=T'-V'## where ##T'## is the "usual kinetic energy of a pendulum" and ##V'## is the potential of a time varying gravitational field. Compare their Hamiltonians
2.) Relevant Equations
Lagranges equations
3.) Attempt at a Solution
Part a I got. The Lagrangian I got is the following. (I can go into more detail about how I got this if required)
[tex]\mathcal{L}=\frac{1}{2}m\left( l^2 \dot{\theta}^2 + \dot{y}^2_0(t) + 2 \dot{y}_0(t)l \dot{\theta} \sin\theta \right) - mg \dot{y}_0(t)+mgl\cos\theta[/tex]
I know this answer is correct because for when ##y_0(t)=a\cos\omega t## it yields the equation of motion that is the same as the result in the text with a function of this form.
Part b is where I am stuck. When I see "potential of a time varying gravitational field," I think something of the form ##m g(t) y##. The only idea I can come up with is to write the function ##\frac{dF}{dt}## in a form that cancels out most of the terms of the original Lagrangian, but only keeps the kinetic term, ##\frac{1}{2}l^2\dot{\theta}^2## and other terms so that I can write the potential in the form I desire. But I cannot seem to make any headway with this, and I am very iffy on if this approach is correct or not. I think I understand the premise of the problem, instead of viewing the pendulum to have an oscillating hinge, instead cast the problem as a normal pendulum in an oscillating gravitational field. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions??
a.) Find the Lagrangian of a pendulum where the height of the hinge is oscillating in the y direction and is is defined as a function ##y_0=f(t)##
b.) Add a function (a gauge transformation) of the form ##\frac{d F(\theta,t)}{dt}## to the original lagrangian ##\mathcal{L}## to obtain a new lagrangian ##\mathcal{L}'=T'-V'## where ##T'## is the "usual kinetic energy of a pendulum" and ##V'## is the potential of a time varying gravitational field. Compare their Hamiltonians
2.) Relevant Equations
Lagranges equations
3.) Attempt at a Solution
Part a I got. The Lagrangian I got is the following. (I can go into more detail about how I got this if required)
[tex]\mathcal{L}=\frac{1}{2}m\left( l^2 \dot{\theta}^2 + \dot{y}^2_0(t) + 2 \dot{y}_0(t)l \dot{\theta} \sin\theta \right) - mg \dot{y}_0(t)+mgl\cos\theta[/tex]
I know this answer is correct because for when ##y_0(t)=a\cos\omega t## it yields the equation of motion that is the same as the result in the text with a function of this form.
Part b is where I am stuck. When I see "potential of a time varying gravitational field," I think something of the form ##m g(t) y##. The only idea I can come up with is to write the function ##\frac{dF}{dt}## in a form that cancels out most of the terms of the original Lagrangian, but only keeps the kinetic term, ##\frac{1}{2}l^2\dot{\theta}^2## and other terms so that I can write the potential in the form I desire. But I cannot seem to make any headway with this, and I am very iffy on if this approach is correct or not. I think I understand the premise of the problem, instead of viewing the pendulum to have an oscillating hinge, instead cast the problem as a normal pendulum in an oscillating gravitational field. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions??