In: Physics
Consider a spherical pendulum (like the one in the Physics Auditorium Bldg.), compared to a plane pendulum, it is allowed to move in 3 dimensions describing a cone as it swings around.
a. Choose appropriate coordinates to describe the system and write down a Lagrangian describing the motion of a mass m attached to the end of such a pendulum of length L.
b. Use the Lagrangian to find the equations of motion of the system.
c. Find first integrals (if they exist). d. Find the generalized momenta.