Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/ii/paper-3/9c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 ii Paper 3 9C Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Put and . The Euler-Lagrange equations are and , where . Adding shows that is conserved. Subtracting gives the equation of a simple pendulumThe relative equilibria are and modulo . The relative energy has a strict minimum at zero, proving stability there. Linearization gives near zero and near , so the latter is unstable. The small-oscillation period is . These are equilibria of the relative angle; a nonzero conserved total angular momentum permits common rotation of both particles.
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