Questions tagged [classical-mechanics]
Mathematics of classical mechanics, including Hamiltonian mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics, applications of symplectic geometry to mechanics, deterministic chaos, resonance etc.
36 questions
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, (...
- 151k
25
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Hanging a ball with string
What is the shortest length of string that suffices to hang
a unit-radius ball $B$?
This question is related to an earlier MO question, but I think different.
Assume that the ball is frictionless.
...
- 151k
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
The Lagrangian formulation of mechanics without going through variational principles.
In some texts on classical mechanics and not only, the Euler--Lagrange equations of motion are directly obtained as solution of variational problems.
On the other side, sometimes reading about ...
- 4,306
63
votes
8
answers
14k
views
Fair but irregular polyhedral dice
I am interested in determining a collection of geometric conditions that will guarantee that a convex polyhedron
of $n$ faces is a fair die in the sense that, upon random rolling, it has an equal $1/n$...
- 151k
25
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Can the equation of motion with friction be written as Euler-Lagrange equation, and does it have a quantum version?
My (non-expert) impression is that many physically important equations of motion can be obtained as Euler-Lagrange equations. For example in quantum fields theories and in quantum mechanics quantum ...
- 21.8k
37
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Billiard dynamics under gravity
Has the dynamics of billiards in a polygon subject to gravity been
studied?
What I have in mind is something like this:
Still Snell's Law ...
- 151k
19
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Applications of symplectic geometry to classical mechanics
It is claimed that classical mechanics motivates introduction of symplectic manifolds. This is due to the theorem that the Hamiltonian flow preserves the symplectic form on the phase space.
I am ...
- 21.8k
11
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Derivative of eigenvectors of a matrix with respect to its components
Suppose that $B$ is a real, positive-definitive symmetric ($3\times3$) matrix (more accurately, $B$ is a tensor) with distinct eigenvalues, and that we can write it as
$$
B= \sum_{i=1}^3 \lambda_{i}(...
- 221
4
votes
2
answers
182
views
A Stochastic Dynamical Billiard
Consider the following stochastic dynamical system.
Fix $a > 0$, $b > 0$ and $v > 0$, and let $\mathbf{r}(t)=(x(t),y(t))$ be the position at time $t$ of a point which moves in the rectangle ...
- 652
171
votes
8
answers
86k
views
The "Dzhanibekov effect" - an exercise in mechanics or fiction? Explain mathematically a video from a space station
The question briefly:
Can one explain the "Dzhanibekov effect" (see youtube videos from space station or comments below) on the basis of the standard rigid body dynamics using Euler's equations? (Or ...
- 24.9k
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 ...
- 22.3k
34
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Is symplectic reduction interesting from a physical point of view?
Do you think that symplectic reduction (Marsden Weinstein reduction) is interesting from a physical point of view? If so, why? Does it give you some new physical insights?
There are some possible ...
- 1,222
33
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Does there exist a shot in ideal pocket billiards?
Assume you have one shot with the cue ball in pocket billiards (a.k.a. pool), with
the game idealized in that no spin is placed on the cue ball in
the initial shot, all collisions between billiard ...
- 151k
27
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Hamiltonian, Lagrangian and Newton formalism of mechanics
If my thinking is wrong please let me know. I have little knowledge on beyond-college physics.
For research purposes, I read a few introductions to these three formalisms of classical mechanics [1,2,...
- 8,071
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Which convex bodies roll along closed geodesics?
An ellipsoid could be rolled (without slippage) on a horizontal plane so that its point
of contact traces out a closed geodesic on its surface:
...
- 151k
19
votes
2
answers
7k
views
*The* open problem in General Relativity?
Q. Is there a single, clear mathematical question that has emerged as
the open problem in General Relativity?
I ask this on the ~100th anniversary of Einstein's (4-page!) 1915 paper,
"Die ...
- 151k
19
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Classical limit of quantum mechanics
There is a well-known principle that one can recover classical mechanics from quantum mechanics in the limit as $\hbar$ goes to zero. I am looking for the strongest statement one can make concerning ...
- 433
19
votes
6
answers
3k
views
reference for Noether's theorem
What is a good reference for a geometric version of Noether's theorem about Lagrangians, symmetries and conserved currents?
- 921
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Example of ODE not equivalent to Euler-Lagrange equation
I am looking for an explicit (preferably simple) example of an ODE with time-independent coefficients in $\mathbb{R}^3$ such that there does not exist an Euler-Lagrange equation
$$\frac{\partial L}{\...
- 21.8k
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Polygonal billards programs
I'm looking for software that will give billiard trajectories in arbitrary plane polygons. After much work I was able to produce this figure.
(source)
It was a good exercise, but at this point I ...
- 22.8k
10
votes
1
answer
494
views
Ping-pong progress through a quincunx
A quincunx or
Galton board consists of
staggered pegs from which ping-pong balls bounce and eventually display
a binomial / normal distribution in catch-bins. I am wondering if the
downward progress ...
- 151k
9
votes
1
answer
728
views
When does a Lagrangian dynamical system have an equivalent Hamiltonian description?
Let a Lagrangian dynamical system with $n$ degrees of freedom and configuration space $\mathbb{R}^n$
(i.e. phase space $\mathbb{R}^{2n}$), which is described by $L=L(q_{i},\dot{q}_{i},t)$, $i=1,2,......
- 7,746
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Oloid and sphericon: rolling develops entire surface
Wikipedia says that,
"The oloid is one of the only known objects, along with some members of the sphericon family, that while rolling, develops its entire surface."
Below are illustrations of ...
- 151k
9
votes
0
answers
368
views
Periodic orbits of a spinning ball in a square
Periodic orbits of a billiard ball bouncing in a square have been well-studied.
I am seeking similar analysis of what is sometimes called a rough ball, one
whose high friction causes it to pick up ...
- 151k
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Bertrand theorem - central forces
Here is a version of Bertrand theorem. Let us consider a force $F(r)$ which depends only on the distance to a given point. If all trajectories which remain bounded are closed, then either $F(r)=ar$ ...
- 551
7
votes
0
answers
479
views
Question about theorem in Arnold's book on action-angles variables
I have a question about the action-angle theorem on p. 283 in Arnold's textbook on classical mechanics.(I added the link to this book in the last part of this question)
If you don't have the book or ...
- 259
7
votes
2
answers
740
views
How quickly will billiard trajectories cluster?
Suppose you launch $n$ point-particles on
distinct reflecting nonperiodic billiard trajectories
inside a convex polygon. Assume they all have the same speed.
Define an $\epsilon$-cluster as a ...
- 151k
7
votes
2
answers
274
views
Well-definedness of single-particle smooth billiards flow
Single-particle billiards systems in a domain with corners, or multi-particle billiards in a domain with smooth boundary, can exhibit singularities in finite time. (The former phenomenon is well known;...
- 19.7k
7
votes
0
answers
336
views
Hanging a cube with string
This is a variation on a (much) earlier MO question, Hanging a ball with string.
Here instead the task is to arrange a net of string to hang
a unit cube. Assume:
The string is inelastic.
There is no ...
- 151k
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Practical example of Hamiltonian reduction
I know what is the Liouville integrability: given a Hamiltonian with $n$ degrees of freedom, with $n$ independent constants of motion in involution, the Hamiltonian can be brought to the form $H(p_1, \...
- 469
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Dense orbits in billiards
This should be true in a more general setting, but for simplicity consider billiards that are connected, compact subsets of the plane with boundary $C^2$ except at finitely many points. A ball (or a ...
- 445
5
votes
0
answers
166
views
Pocket billiards with balls in general position
There were at least two earlier MO questions about ideal pocket billiards.
(Ideal: frictionless, perfectly elastic collisions.)
Perfectly centered break of a perfectly aligned pool ball rack.
Does ...
- 151k
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 ...
- 53
4
votes
0
answers
158
views
On moments of inertia of planar and 3D convex bodies
The following observation can be readily proved using the perpendicular axes theorem and intermediate value theorem: "Given any planar figure C, through any point on it, there is at least one ...
- 5,979
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 $xy$ ...
- 183
1
vote
1
answer
330
views
Global reduction of Hamiltonian with an integral of motion (Poincare' reduction)
This question is related to a previous one; now I better understand the problem and I can more clearly state what is the question.
Background
I refer to the following concepts:
Liouville ...
- 469