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Rheonomous

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Mechanical system whose constraints are dependent on time

A mechanical system is rheonomous if its equations of constraints contain the time as an explicit variable. Such constraints are called rheonomic constraints. The opposite of rheonomous is scleronomous.

Example: simple 2D pendulum

A simple pendulum

As shown at right, a simple pendulum is a system composed of a weight and a string. The string is attached at the top end to a pivot and at the bottom end to a weight. Being inextensible, the string has a constant length. Therefore, this system is scleronomous; it obeys the scleronomic constraint

x 2 + y 2 − L = 0 {\displaystyle {\sqrt {x^{2}+y^{2}}}-L=0\,\!} ,

where ( x ,   y ) {\displaystyle (x,\ y)\,\!} is the position of the weight and L {\displaystyle L\,\!} the length of the string.

A simple pendulum with oscillating pivot point

The situation changes if the pivot point is moving, e.g. undergoing a simple harmonic motion

x t = x 0 cos ⁡ ω t {\displaystyle x_{t}=x_{0}\cos \omega t\,\!} ,

where x 0 {\displaystyle x_{0}\,\!} is the amplitude, ω {\displaystyle \omega \,\!} the angular frequency, and t {\displaystyle t\,\!} time.

Although the top end of the string is not fixed, the length of this inextensible string is still a constant. The distance between the top end and the weight must stay the same. Therefore, this system is rheonomous; it obeys the rheonomic constraint

( x − x 0 cos ⁡ ω t ) 2 + y 2 − L = 0 {\displaystyle {\sqrt {(x-x_{0}\cos \omega t)^{2}+y^{2}}}-L=0\,\!} .

See also

References

  1. ^ Goldstein, Herbert (1980). Classical Mechanics (2nd ed.). United States of America: Addison Wesley. p. 12. ISBN 0-201-02918-9. Constraints are further classified according as the equations of constraint contain the time as an explicit variable (rheonomous) or are not explicitly dependent on time (scleronomous).
  2. ^ Spiegel, Murray R. (1994). Theory and Problems of THEORETICAL MECHANICS with an Introduction to Lagrange's Equations and Hamiltonian Theory. Schaum's Outline Series. McGraw Hill. p. 283. ISBN 0-07-060232-8. In many mechanical systems of importance the time t does not enter explicitly in the equations (2) or (3). Such systems are sometimes called scleronomic. In others, as for example those involving moving constraints, the time t does enter explicitly. Such systems are called rheonomic.
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