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Johann Bernoulli's brachistochrone solution using Fermat's principle of least time

1999; IOP Publishing; Volume: 20; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1088/0143-0807/20/5/301

1361-6404

Herman Erlichson,

Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies

Johann Bernoulli's brachistochrone problem is now three hundred years old. Bernoulli's solution to the problem he had proposed used the optical analogy of Fermat's least-time principle. In this analogy a light ray travels between two points in a vertical plane in a medium of continuously varying index of refraction. This solution and connected material are explored in this paper.