Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2015/prelims/mathematics-iv/3/b/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford 2015 Prelims Mathematics IV 3 b i Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
If , defineThe linearized equation is , with bounded simple harmonic motionThus the strict stable equilibrium condition isThis is also a sufficient condition for local nonlinear Lyapunov stability. Indeed the equation for the bead on a uniformly rotating wire has the conserved quantityIts derivative is times the governing equation moved to one side, so it vanishes. At , the last two terms have zero first derivative and positive second derivative . Their strict local minimum traps sufficiently small perturbations. The motion is bounded rather than asymptotically returning to rest.
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