The document derives the equations of motion (EOM) for an inverted pendulum. It first sets up the free body diagram and defines terms like the generalized moment of inertia. It then solves the EOM and derives the Mathieu equation, which describes the inverted pendulum with dimensionless terms for driving frequency, time, and amplitude. Finally, it defines an effective potential well for the system and shows how the potential well strength varies with the pendulum angle.