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101 votes
1 answer
8k views

Dropping three bodies

Consider the usual three-body problem with Newtonian $1/r^2$ force between masses. Let the three masses start off at rest, and not collinear. Then they will become collinear a finite time ...
Richard Montgomery's user avatar
48 votes
2 answers
7k views

Geometric interpretation of the half-derivative?

For $f(x)=x$, the half-derivative of $f$ is $$\frac{d^{\frac{1}{2}}}{dx^{\frac{1}{2}}} x = 2 \sqrt{\frac{x}{\pi}} \;.$$ Is there some geometric interpretation of (Q1) this specific derivative, and, (...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
39 votes
3 answers
6k views

On linear independence of exponentials

Problem. Let $\{\lambda_n\}_{n\in\mathbb N}$ be a sequence of complex numbers . Let's call a family of exponential functions $\{\exp (\lambda_n s)\}_{n\in\mathbb N}$ $F$-independent (where $F$ is ...
Andrey Rekalo's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
237 views

Movement of repelled particles in a ball

EDIT: Given a system of $N\geq 3$ charged point particles in $\mathbb{R}^3$ of the same charge which interact according to Coulomb law (thus they repell one from each other). Is it possible that ...
asv's user avatar
  • 21.8k
4 votes
2 answers
592 views

Can one obtain this ODE as an Euler-Lagrange equation?

Some of the second order ODE can be considered as Euler-Lagrange equations for an appropriate Lagrangian. However this is true not for arbitrary second order equation. But some of important equations ...
alexa's user avatar
  • 53
4 votes
1 answer
363 views

Nonlinear ODE to linear PDE?

I am interested in when and how one can trade a non-liner ODE for a linear PDE. To explain what this could look like here is a physics-inspired discussion. Consider a classical mechanical system with ...
Weather Report's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
135 views

Motivation for the existence of periodic solutions [closed]

I have been reading the book Critical Point Theory and Hamiltonian System by Mawhin and Willem, as well as several other papers on the existence of periodic solutions for equations of the form $$\ddot{...
digiboy1's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
559 views

Find a second integral for Arnold's example

Consider Arnold's example for Arnold diffusion 1964. $$H=I_1^2/2+I_2^2/2+\epsilon(1-\cos\theta_2)(1+\mu(\sin\theta_1+\sin t)) $$ We can first make it a system of three degrees of freedom. Then we ...
John Galt's user avatar
  • 197
2 votes
1 answer
162 views

Inverse problem of the calculus of variations for autonomous second-order ODEs

Consider the following particular case of the inverse problem of the calculus of variations: given a system of second-order equations $$ \ddot{q}^i = f^i(q, \dot{q}, t), \quad i = 1, \dots, n, \label{...
A. J. Pan-Collantes's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
141 views

Formulation of contour variational problem

I am having difficulty formulating a problem, which involves optimizing a contour shape, into a well-posed variational form that would give a reasonable answer. Within a bounded region on the $xy$ ...
user135626's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
131 views

Brachistochrone for a rolling sphere with slippage

I was recently looking into generalisations of the brachistochrone problem: for example, in this article the authors study the brachistochrone with Amontons-Coulomb friction where a bead slides along ...
Hollis Williams's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
60 views

Optimal contour shape for variational problem over captured area

Let's assume we have a continuous and finite scalar function $f(x,y)$ over the $xy$ plane ($\mathbb{R}^{2}$) and this function is to be integrated over a bounded area (surface) $A\subset\mathbb{R}^{2}...
user135626's user avatar