Brachistochrone problem in nonuniform gravity (Q1102533)

The classical brachistochrone problem for which the solution turns out to be a cycloid, is based on the assumption that during the descent the gravity remains uniform. So the result will be valid only for the narrow region of space in which the variations in gravity can be neglected. The present paper gives a numerical study of brachistochrones taking into account the variation of gravity. The shapes of these curves have also been plotted for the gravitational field of the carth and the times of arrivals at various points have been computed. The times of vertical descent and descent along straight lines have also been computed. A similar analysis will be useful in the field of an electric charge.