On a calculus of variations problem
The paper is of scientific-methodical character. The classical soap film shape (minimal surface) problem is considered, the film being stretched between two parallel coaxial rings. An analytical approach based on relations to the Sturm-Liouville problem is proposed. An energy terms interpretation of the classical Goldschmidt condition is discussed. Appearance of the soliton potential in course of the second variation analysis is noticed.
math-ph↗