最速降线曲线

最速降线(Brachistochrone)

最速降线是指在重力作用下,从点 A 到点 B 物体运动时间最短的曲线。

运动时间公式:

\[ T = \int_{x_A}^{x_B} \frac{\sqrt{1 + [y'(x)]^2}}{\sqrt{2g(y_A - y(x))}} \, dx \]


泛函与欧拉-拉格朗日方程

泛函定义:

\[ I[y] = \int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x, y, y') \, dx \]

对泛函进行微扰:

\[ Y = y + \epsilon \delta(x), \quad \delta(x_1) = \delta(x_2) = 0 \]

\[ I[y + \epsilon \delta(x)] = \int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x, Y, Y') \, dx \]

取极值的必要条件:

\[ \left. \frac{d}{d\epsilon} I[y+\epsilon \delta(x)] \right|_{\epsilon=0} = 0 \]

\[ \frac{dF(\epsilon)}{d\epsilon} = \int_{x_1}^{x_2} \left[ \frac{\partial f}{\partial Y} - \frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{\partial f}{\partial Y'} \right) \right] \delta(x) \, dx = 0 \]

对任意 \(\delta(x)\),得到欧拉-拉格朗日方程:

\[ \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} - \frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{\partial f}{\partial y'} \right) = 0 \]


贝尔特拉米积分(Beltrami Identity)

如果 \(F(y, y')\) 不显含 \(x\),满足欧拉-拉格朗日方程:

\[ \frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{\partial F}{\partial y'} \right) = \frac{\partial F}{\partial y} \]

定义:

\[ E = F - y' \frac{\partial F}{\partial y'} \]

得:

\[ F - y' \frac{\partial F}{\partial y'} = C \]


最速降线求解

泛函:

\[ L(y, y') = \frac{\sqrt{1 + y'^2}}{\sqrt{2g(y_A - y)}} \]

由于不显含 \(x\),使用贝尔特拉米积分:

\[ \frac{\partial L}{\partial y'} = \frac{y'}{\sqrt{2g(y_A - y)} \sqrt{1 + y'^2}} \]

解得:

\[ 1 + y'^2 = \frac{1}{2gC^2 (y_A - y)} \]

\(y = y_A - u\)

\[ \sqrt{\frac{u}{\frac{1}{2gC^2} - u}} \, du = dx \]

\(v = 2gC^2 u\)

\[ dx = \frac{1}{2gC^2} \sqrt{\frac{v}{1 - v}} \, dv \]

\(v = \sin^2 \theta\) 并积分:

\[ x = \frac{1}{2gC^2} \int 2 \sin^2 \theta \, d\theta = \frac{1}{2gC^2} \left( \theta - \frac{\sin 2\theta}{2} \right) + D \]

\[ y = y_A - \frac{\sin^2 \theta}{2gC^2} \]

最终可写成摆线方程:

\[ x = a (\theta - \sin \theta) + x_A \]

\[ y = -a (1 - \cos \theta) + y_A \]

\[ a = \frac{1}{4 g C^2} \]

其中 \(a\) 为滚动圆半径1


参考