Re: [Phys-l] time to bottom of ramp

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu>]

On Oct 28, 2006, at 6:14 PM, David Bowman wrote:

> One more point about the curved ramp problem.  I don't know how many
> people noticed that when the ramp is shaped as a circle and object
> slides along it without friction the problem is isomorphic to a
> simple pendulum problem.

I did not think about this similarity but it became obvious. Thanks. In 
both cases the point follows the same trajectory in gravitational 
field. This also implies that the 0.927 ratio should become larger 
(approaching unity) when the h/R ratio becomes smaller (approaching 
zero). Note that h is the initial elevation with respect to the 
horizontal ending.

Ludwik Kowalski
Let the perfect not be the enemy of the good.