Modeling the physics of sliding objects for rotating space elevators

Abstract

We consider the general theoretical problem of how to model the dynamics of objects sliding on moving strings. This study answers an interesting theoretical physics question: what is the general form of the equations governing string motion in the presence of objects sliding along discretized strings? We describe in detail a subtle yet powerful algorithm that can be used to investigate motion of objects sliding along floppy strings. The algorithm was motivated by the fundamental physics of sliding climbers on a unique class of dynamical systems, rotating space elevators (L. Golubovic, S. Knudsen, EPL 86, 34001 (2009) and S. Knudsen, L. Golubovic, Eur. Phys. J. Plus 129, 242 (2014), 130, 243 (2015)). While our algorithm emerges from the study of sliding climber dynamics on space elevators, our results for the dynamics of sliding objects are of a general interest. We designed theoretical tools capable of dealing with strongly nonlinear phenomena involving objects interacting with moving strings of any kind.