Hodograph: A useful geometrical tool for solving some difficult problems in dynamics

摘要

The hodograph is very useful for solving complicated problems in dynamics. By simple geometrical arguments, students can directly obtain the answer to problems that would otherwise be complicated exercises in algebra. Although beyond the level of undergraduates, we also use the hodograph to calculate by variational geometrical techniques, the well-known brachistochrone curve, thus illustrating this approach. (C) 2003 American Association of Physics Teachers. [References: 3]