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Development and Mathematical Analysis of Double Gravity Well Exhibit

Alternative Title: Propagation: A Journal of Science Communication

Author: Sanyal, Indranil
Dasgupta, Nataraj

Keywords: Mathematical Analysis
Gravity- Mathematical Models

Publisher: National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata

Description: Double Gravity Well is a highly interesting exhibit, demonstrating the movement of a ball of mass 'm' simultaneously under the attractive forces of two centers of gravitation. When attempts to simulate the exact space-time curvature of such a force field by trial and error method failed, we resorted to a mathematical modelling using 3-D analytical geometry and plotted the exact surface. We then devised a practical method of fabrication calculating the cross sections of the Surface at regular intervals. The solution of the equation of motion of the ball was worked out by solving the Euler–Lagrange Equation in elliptical coordinates. The solution shows unpredictable trajectories of the ball in the space-time curvature which is highly sensitive to initial conditions. We also extended the method in exploring fields with three or more gravity wells. The exhibit demonstrates some important phenomena in classical mechanics, classical electrodynamics, molecular physics and planetary physics and in some other fields.

Description: Includes bibliographical references.

Source: National Council of Science Museums

Type: Article

Received From: National Council of Science Museums


DC Field Value
dc.title.alternative Propagation: A Journal of Science Communication
dc.contributor.author Sanyal, Indranil
Dasgupta, Nataraj
dc.date.accessioned 2017-06-15T05:48:23Z
dc.date.available 2017-06-15T05:48:23Z
dc.description Includes bibliographical references.
dc.description.abstract Double Gravity Well is a highly interesting exhibit, demonstrating the movement of a ball of mass 'm' simultaneously under the attractive forces of two centers of gravitation. When attempts to simulate the exact space-time curvature of such a force field by trial and error method failed, we resorted to a mathematical modelling using 3-D analytical geometry and plotted the exact surface. We then devised a practical method of fabrication calculating the cross sections of the Surface at regular intervals. The solution of the equation of motion of the ball was worked out by solving the Euler–Lagrange Equation in elliptical coordinates. The solution shows unpredictable trajectories of the ball in the space-time curvature which is highly sensitive to initial conditions. We also extended the method in exploring fields with three or more gravity wells. The exhibit demonstrates some important phenomena in classical mechanics, classical electrodynamics, molecular physics and planetary physics and in some other fields.
dc.source National Council of Science Museums
dc.format.extent 5p.
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.language.iso English
dc.publisher National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata
dc.subject Mathematical Analysis
Gravity- Mathematical Models
dc.type Article
dc.date.copyright 2010
dc.format.medium text
DC Field Value
dc.alternativetitle Propagation: A Journal of Science Communication
dc.contributor.author Sanyal, Indranil
Dasgupta, Nataraj
dc.date.accessioned 2017-06-15T05:48:23Z
dc.date.available 2017-06-15T05:48:23Z
dc.description Includes bibliographical references.
dc.description.abstract Double Gravity Well is a highly interesting exhibit, demonstrating the movement of a ball of mass 'm' simultaneously under the attractive forces of two centers of gravitation. When attempts to simulate the exact space-time curvature of such a force field by trial and error method failed, we resorted to a mathematical modelling using 3-D analytical geometry and plotted the exact surface. We then devised a practical method of fabrication calculating the cross sections of the Surface at regular intervals. The solution of the equation of motion of the ball was worked out by solving the Euler–Lagrange Equation in elliptical coordinates. The solution shows unpredictable trajectories of the ball in the space-time curvature which is highly sensitive to initial conditions. We also extended the method in exploring fields with three or more gravity wells. The exhibit demonstrates some important phenomena in classical mechanics, classical electrodynamics, molecular physics and planetary physics and in some other fields.
dc.source National Council of Science Museums
dc.format.extent 5p.
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.language.iso English
dc.publisher National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata
dc.subject Mathematical Analysis
Gravity- Mathematical Models
dc.type Article
dc.date.copyright 2010
dc.format.medium text