A “User-Friendly” Approach to the Dynamical Equations of Non-Holonomic Systems

Two effective methods for writing the dynamical equations for non-holonomic systems are illustrated. They are based on the two types of representation of the constraints: by parametric equations or by implicit equations. They can be applied to linear as well as to non-linear constraints. Only the basic notions of vector calculus on Euclidean 3-space and on tangent bundles are needed. Elementary examples are illustrated.