 Solution

The time-independent Lagrangian conserves $E=T+V$. Substitute $\dot{x}=-m_{2}l\dot{\varphi }\cos \varphi /M$ into the kinetic energy to obtainThis is the angle-dependent effective inertia of a pendulum with a freely sliding support. Solving for the speed givesOn a monotone increasing segment, the travel time is thereforeThe printed oriented integral assumes that increasing-angle branch. For decreasing motion use $|d\varphi |$ or interchange the limits; if a turning point lies between the two events, split the trajectory into monotone segments and add their positive times. The numerator remains positive for positive masses. At an ordinary turning point the inverse-square-root singularity is integrable; reaching the unstable upright separatrix takes infinite time.