Characteristics of a Two-Body Holonomic Constraint Mechanical System

Abstract

Two massive blocks are connected with a massless unstretchable line of 2l. One of the masses is placed on a horizontal frictionless table, l distance away from the edge of the table the other one is held horizontally equidistance from the edge along the extension of the line. The latter is released from rest. As it falls under gravity’s pull, it drags the one on the table. It is the interest of this investigation to analyze the kinematics of the system. Because of the holonomic constraint of the system, analysis of the problem encounters complicated super nonlinear coupled differential equations. Utilizing Mathematica we solve the equations numerically. Applying the solutions we quantify numerous kinematic quantities; most interestingly we evaluate the run-time, and the trajectory of the falling block. Analysis is robust allowing us to address the “what if” scenarios.