On the adequacy of Newtonian particle mechanics for solving the rigid double pendulum problem

Abstract

In an earlier article in this journal [W. Stadler, Am. J. Phys. 50, 595 (1982)], an attempt was made to solve for the motion of a three-particle rigid double pendulum using only the axioms of Newtonian particle mechanics. In the process of solution, an incomplete set of equations was used which led to the erroneous conclusion that the Newtonian axioms are insufficient to solve the problem. It is shown in the present article that when the rigid double pendulum problem is formulated with four particles, together with appropriate constraints, the problem can be solved entirely with the Newtonian axioms.