Paper 4, Section I, D

Classical Dynamics | Part II, 2021

Briefly describe a physical object (a Lagrange top) whose Lagrangian is

L=12I1(θ˙2+ϕ˙2sin2θ)+12I3(ψ˙+ϕ˙cosθ)2MglcosθL=\frac{1}{2} I_{1}\left(\dot{\theta}^{2}+\dot{\phi}^{2} \sin ^{2} \theta\right)+\frac{1}{2} I_{3}(\dot{\psi}+\dot{\phi} \cos \theta)^{2}-M g l \cos \theta

Explain the meaning of the symbols in this equation.

Write down three independent integrals of motion for this system, and show that the nutation of the top is governed by the equation

u˙2=f(u),\dot{u}^{2}=f(u),

where u=cosθu=\cos \theta and f(u)f(u) is a certain cubic function that you need not determine.

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