The sliding ladder problem revisited in phase space.

This paper solves the problem of a sliding ladder for the cases with and without friction at the wall and at the floor. Solutions for arbitrary initial conditions are obtained by strict application of the fundamental principles of mechanics. The validity of these solutions is discussed in context with the loss of contact of the ladder with the wall. A phase space representation is used to visualize for which initial conditions the ladder stays in contact with the wall and at which angle it would lose contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]