Nonlinear Oscillations of a Pair of Charged Rings

Abstract

Two electrically charged rings of different sizes are assembled along their common vertical symmetry axis through their centers. The bottom ring is secured on a horizontal support while the top one is loose. For a set of practical values characterizing the charged rings we envision a scenario where the mutual electric repulsion between the rings and the weight of the top ring results in stable nonlinear oscillations. To quantify the characteristics of the oscillations, we utilize a Computer Algebra System specifically Mathematica [1]. We accompany the analysis with a simulation for a comprehensive visual understanding.