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Main Author: Biasi, Anxo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.05400
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author Biasi, Anxo
author_facet Biasi, Anxo
contents This paper provides an enjoyable example through which several concepts of classical mechanics can be understood. We introduce an equation that models the motion of a cat in the presence of a person. The cat is considered as a point particle moving in a potential induced by the person. We demonstrate that this approach to the problem reproduces characteristic behaviors of these curious animals. For instance, the fact that cats do not typically come when they are called, or that they remain longer on the lap of their favorite person; even "zoomies" are reproduced (cats randomly run back and forth across the house). We use this model problem to explore topics of current research such as stochastic equations and periodically driven systems. The pedagogical value of this work and its potential use in teaching are discussed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_05400
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle On cat-human interaction from the viewpoint of physics: an equation of motion
Biasi, Anxo
Physics Education
This paper provides an enjoyable example through which several concepts of classical mechanics can be understood. We introduce an equation that models the motion of a cat in the presence of a person. The cat is considered as a point particle moving in a potential induced by the person. We demonstrate that this approach to the problem reproduces characteristic behaviors of these curious animals. For instance, the fact that cats do not typically come when they are called, or that they remain longer on the lap of their favorite person; even "zoomies" are reproduced (cats randomly run back and forth across the house). We use this model problem to explore topics of current research such as stochastic equations and periodically driven systems. The pedagogical value of this work and its potential use in teaching are discussed.
title On cat-human interaction from the viewpoint of physics: an equation of motion
topic Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.05400