Past exam of the short options course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / 6 (Calculus of variations)

Let $g>0$ be the gravitational acceleration, and let $y$ denote positive downward depth. For a frictionless particle released from rest, conservation of energy gives $v^2=2gy$. The arc length element of $(x,-y(x))$ is $ds=\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}dx$, so the travel time and length areFor a finite-time single arch, require $y>0$ in $0<x<1$, $y(0)=y(1)=0$, and interpret the endpoint integrals improperly. At a regular constrained minimizer with $S[y]=L$, the Lagrange multiplier rule for an isoperimetric constraint makes $\sqrt{2g}T+\lambda (S-L)$ stationary. Dropping the constant $-\lambda L$ givesFor $L>1$ the constraint is regular under interior variations: if its first variation vanished for every compactly supported variation, the Euler-Lagrange equation for $S$ would force $y^{\prime }$ constant, hence $y\equiv 0$ and $S=1$, a contradiction. Thus the multiplier is justified for a nondegenerate arch.

The printed case $L=1$ is degenerate. Since $\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}\ge 1$, equality of the length with the horizontal separation forces $y^{\prime }=0$ and $y=0$. A particle initially at rest then has no tangential gravitational acceleration and cannot complete the trip. Its travel time is infinite. The finite-time calculation therefore concerns $L>1$, with endpoint regularity qualified below.

Set $A(y)=y^{-1/2}+\lambda$ and $F(y,y^{\prime })=A(y)\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}$. Since there is no explicit $x$ dependence, the Beltrami identity says $F-y^{\prime }{F}_{y^{\prime }}$ is constant along a stationary curve. One can verify it directly:by the Euler-Lagrange equation. Here $F_{y^{\prime }}=A(y)y^{\prime }/\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}$, soThis identity applies on the open arch where $y>0$. The constant is finite by evaluating at any interior point. Near an endpoint $A(y)>0$, hence $H>0$ everywhere on such an arch. Thus also $A(y)>0$ throughout it.

With $H>0$, setThen the first integral gives $1/\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}=s$. On the descending and ascending halves of the physical track choose respectively $0<\varphi <\pi$ and $\pi <\varphi <2\pi$, so that $y^{\prime }=\cot (\varphi /2)$. Solving for $y$ givesThe unsquared equation requires $1-bs>0$. At $s=1$ this says $b<1$; it is not permissible to retain other values merely because the displayed formula for $y$ has a squared denominator.

For completeness, the Euler-Lagrange equation also gives $y^{\prime \prime }=(A^{\prime }(y)/A(y))(1+y^{\prime 2})<0$. Thus $y^{\prime }$ decreases through zero exactly once, so the chosen parameter runs through the whole single arch without an extra branch. Differentiating the formula for $y$ and dividing by $y^{\prime }=\cot (\varphi /2)$ gives, continuously also at $\varphi =\pi$,Using $x(0)=0$ yieldsSince $\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}=1/\sin (\varphi /2)$, the arc length is obtained by cancelling one factor of $\sin (\varphi /2)$ in $dx/d\varphi$. The conditions $x(2\pi )=1$ and $S=L$ becomeThese determine a unique parameter pair for each $L>1$. To see uniqueness, regard $L$ as the expected value of $1/s$ under a probability density function proportional to $s^2/(1-bs{)}^3$ on $0<u<2\pi$. Differentiation under the integral sign gives the covariance identityThe first argument decreases with $s$ and the second increases. The strict sign follows by applying $(f(s)-f(t))(g(s)-g(t))<0$ to two independent unequal values and averaging; the integrable endpoint singularity of $1/s$ causes no problem. As $b\uparrow 1$, the weight concentrates at $s=1$, so $L\downarrow 1$. As $b=-k\to -\infty$, endpoint estimates give numerator $\sim 2/k^2$ and denominator $\sim 4\log k/k^3$, so $L\sim k/(2\log k)\to \infty$. Continuity then covers every $L>1$. At $b=0$ one recovers the cycloid and $L=4/\pi$.

Smoothness qualification. Near $\varphi =0$,and the other endpoint has $y^{\prime }\to -\infty$. These are smooth graphs on $0<x<1$, not $C^1$ graphs on the closed interval. Indeed a finite endpoint slope would make the conserved $H$ diverge as $y\to 0$. The travel time remains finite becauseThus the printed phrase “smooth solution” must be understood on the interior, with improper endpoint limits. The variational calculation supplies necessary stationary arches; it does not by itself prove global minimality in every larger class of tracks.

Put $f(\varphi )=dx/d\varphi$. Since $\sin ((2\pi -\varphi )/2)=\sin (\varphi /2)$, both $f(2\pi -\varphi )=f(\varphi )$ and $y(2\pi -\varphi )=y(\varphi )$. Using $x(2\pi )=1$ in the integral for $x$ givesHence the physical track $(x,-y)$ is symmetric about $x=1/2$, with $x(\pi )=1/2$. For $0<\varphi <2\pi$, $dx/d\varphi >0$, andis positive before $\pi$ and negative after $\pi$. Therefore the physical height $-y$ has its unique minimum at $x=1/2$, withThe depth $y$ has a maximum there. This proves the intended claim for every finite-time member $L>1$; $L=1$ has the degeneracy described in (a).