Conservation Principles for Systems With a Varying Number of Degrees-of-Freedom

Abstract

This paper is the third in a trilogy dealing with simple, nonholonomic systems which, while in motion, change their number of degrees-of-freedom (defined as the number of independent generalized speeds required to describe the motion in question). The first of the trilogy introduced the theory underlying the dynamical equations of motion of such systems. The second dealt with the evaluation of noncontributing forces and of noncontributing impulses during such motion. This paper deals with the linear momentum, angular momentum, and mechanical energy of these systems. Specifically, expressions for changes in these quantities during imposition and removal of constraints are formulated in terms of the associated changes in the generalized speeds.