The bowl has to be perfect so that when you drop a ball on the edge it takes the same time to reach the center as any other spot on the edge.
2007-06-05 14:50:23 · 2 answers · asked by House, M.D. 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
All this implies is radial symmetry. It doesn't tell us anything about the actual shape of the bowl going from the edge to the centre, just that it's the same shape in every direction.
2007-06-05 14:55:08 · answer #1 · answered by Scarlet Manuka 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it is supposed to take the same time to reach the center no matter where in the bowl you release it? That would determine the curve which, when rotated, sweeps out the bowl. However, this is a fairly hard problem to solve, not exactly just "calculus". Is it possible you have already learned about the brachistocrone problem?
2007-06-05 15:04:49 · answer #2 · answered by donaldgirod 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋