.

A mechanical system is scleronomous if the equations of constraints do not contain the time as an explicit variable. Such constraints are called scleronomic constraints.

Application

Main article：Generalized velocity

In 3-D space, a particle with mass \( m\,\! \), velocity \mathbf{v}\,\! \) has kinetic energy

\( T =\frac{1}{2}m v^2 \,\!. \)

Velocity is the derivative of position with respect time. Use chain rule for several variables:

\( \mathbf{v}=\frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt}=\sum_i\ \frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial q_i}\dot{q}_i+\frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial t}\,\!. \)

Therefore,

\( T =\frac{1}{2}m \left(\sum_i\ \frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial q_i}\dot{q}_i+\frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial t}\right)^2\,\!. \)

Rearranging the terms carefully,[1]

\( T =T_0+T_1+T_2\,\!: \)
\( T_0=\frac{1}{2}m\left(\frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial t}\right)^2\,\!, \)
\( T_1=\sum_i\ m\frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial t}\cdot \frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial q_i}\dot{q}_i\,\!, \)
\( T_2=\sum_{i,j}\ \frac{1}{2}m\frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial q_i}\cdot \frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial q_j}\dot{q}_i\dot{q}_j\,\!, \)

where \(T_0\,\!, T_1\,\!, T_2\,\! \) are respectively homogeneous functions of degree 0, 1, and 2 in generalized velocities. If this system is scleronomous, then the position does not depend explicitly with time:

\( \frac{\partial \mathbf{r}}{\partial t}=0\,\!. \)

Therefore, only term \(T_2\,\! \) does not vanish:

\( T = T_2\,\!. \)

Kinetic energy is a homogeneous function of degree 2 in generalized velocities .
Example: pendulum
A simple pendulum

As shown at right, a simple pendulum is a system composed of a weight and a string. The string is attached at the top end to a pivot and at the bottom end to a weight. Being inextensible, the string’s length is a constant. Therefore, this system is scleronomous; it obeys scleronomic constraint

\( \sqrt{x^2+y^2} - L=0\,\!, \)

where \((x,y)\,\! is the position of the weight and \(L\,\! \) is length of the string.
A simple pendulum with oscillating pivot point

Take a more complicated example. Refer to the next figure at right, Assume the top end of the string is attached to a pivot point undergoing a simple harmonic motion

\( x_t=x_0\cos\omega t\,\!, \)

where \(x_0\,\! \) is amplitude, \omega\,\! is angular frequency, and \(t\,\! \) is time.

Although the top end of the string is not fixed, the length of this inextensible string is still a constant. The distance between the top end and the weight must stay the same. Therefore, this system is rheonomous as it obeys constraint explicitly dependent on time

\( \sqrt{(x - x_0\cos\omega t)^2+y^2} - L=0\,\!. \)

.

Scleronomous