Theoretical and Computational Analysis of the Falling Ladder Problem
Name
42979_2019_19_ReferencePDF.pdf
Size
1.12 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
4bcb94884dece8eee28716e6bd375978
Author(s)
Ghorashi, Ali
Ghorashi, Mehrdaad
Date Issued
September 7, 2019
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Citation
SN Computer Science. 2019 Sep 07;1(1):20
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Abstract
A comprehensive study of the falling ladder problem is presented. The ladder may fall naturally under the influence of gravity alone and at some point lose its contact with the wall or it may be kept in contact with the wall by a physical constraint. Several scenarios about the way the point of contact with the floor is moved are also considered. While solutions for the case of moving this point at constant velocity exist, generating such a motion requires implementation of an actuator. Here, the more general case of moving this point by an actuator at constant acceleration is presented and the required varying actuator force is calculated. Furthermore, computer simulations using MATLAB and the motion analysis tool of SolidWorks are generated to verify the theoretical results. Computer simulations are also used to display a comprehensive set of the findings. The theoretical results given in this paper can be used as benchmarks (in applications like robotics) for generating more realistic computer simulations and animations where elements behaving like the ladder discussed here are part of a mechanism.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-019-0019-7
