Tetherball, Angular Momentum, and Central Forces - Indiana Jones's Whip, Snake Wrapping Around a Tree

Explore the dynamics of tetherball, angular momentum, and central forces in this comprehensive lecture. Dive into the physics behind Indiana Jones's whip and a snake wrapping around a tree. Learn about solving nonlinear ODEs, conservation of angular momentum, and central force problems. Analyze a spring-mass system in the plane as a central force example. Understand how radial motion uncouples from angular motion in these systems. Gain insights into 3D applications of the transport theorem and various real-world scenarios involving rotational dynamics.

Syllabus

3D example of using transport theorem.
Tetherball, wrapping rope around pole like Indiana Jones or landing tree snake.
Solving 2nd order nonlinear ODE in a special form allowing separation of variables.
Conservation of angular momentum and central force problems.
Central force problem example: spring-mass in the plane.
Radial motion uncoupled from angular motion.