This situation is worked as an example of Lagrangian mechanics in
section 10.4 of the second edition of Fowles' "Analytic Mechanics".
The chosen generalized coordinates are the horizontal displacement of
the wedge and the displacement of the particle along the wedge ramp.
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Emeritus)
www.winbeam.com/~trebor
trebor@winbeam.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernard Cleyet" <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>
To: "Forum for Physics Educators" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 5:59 PM
Subject: [Phys-l] A different normal force. Was: Re: The Normal Force
| . . .
| | A wedge sits on a frictionless surface and a particle sits on the
| slopping surface of the wedge, w/ mass m (wedge is mass M). Find
the
| reaction force as a function of the masses and the angle of the
wedge.
| I tried the PE - KE (looks as it'll work, but just got too harry (70
| repeating). So I switched to trying to fine the general cords. for
the
| L. And got stuck. Anyone help?
| . . .
| bc