A novel pendulum is described and analyzed; its spherical bob can roll on a track of the same arc as its swing when suspended by a cord. Comparison of the motion in the two cases shows the effect of the rotational motion in rolling. The motion is analyzed with and without the Lagrangian, and is thus appropriate to analytical mechanics or general physics courses.
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© 1979 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1979
American Association of Physics Teachers
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