Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigS
Ok .. so this one's got me stumped, also.
(I'm sure what Steven says is correct, but my brain needs more !!  )
If a vertical wire is fastest of all, then why wouldn't a wire, slightly off the vertical, also be faster than a Brachistochrone Curve (cycloid) ? |
Craig,
It depends if a cycloid can be formed in the first place.
The vertical wire not only takes of the shortest distance and time, but also a cycloid cannot reach the bottom point if the endpoints are vertically aligned.
If the wire is even slightly off vertical the cycloid path will take the shortest time if it is able to reach the lower point.
Regards
Steven