Jump to content

Variational Mechanics

Featured Replies

What exactly is variational mechanics and variational calculus ?

Variational calculus deals with finding optimal curves and such. Things like geodesics (shortest path). I don't know what you mean by variation mechanics.

  • Author

Variation mechanics : Its a branch of mechanics thats based on variational calculus.

All I know is that Lagrange is to variational mechanics what Newton is to classical mechanics.

Ah, ok. Well, Langragian mechanics and General relativity both use the shortest path between two points as the path of a particle.

  • Author

Which provides a more accurate description of nature Newtonian or Variational mechanics ? Or is it that they differ only in mathematical terms ?

Langragian and Newtonian mechanics differ only in mathematical terms. General relativity differs from Newtonian and Langragian mechanics greatly.

  • 2 months later...

Most of Lagrangian mech applications I do are implemented via energy principles, and actually are pretty identical to principles such as the principle of virtual work or virtual power (equilibrium stuff). I think the mathematical constructs have some added value in comparison to other stuff if you're working for example with dynamics problems or need to include something with similar mathematical aspects, like optimization using numerical methods etc. The math is really elegant, though.

Lagrangian mechanics is fundamental to quantum field theory too. In fact, all of the modern high energy theories are described by Lagrangians (of more precisely, Lagrange densities). This is mainly because the Path Integral formalism of QFT weights each possible 'path' between initial and final conditions with the expenential of the action required for the path. The prefered path is then the one with the least action.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Having studied Lagrangian mechnics somewhat by now, I must say I didn't understand the mathematical derivations used, but the methods of applications were mostly very mechanical and the differential equations obtained in the end did not seem humanly solvable.

Does your "very mechanical" refer to what field of application you were studing or just that the applications were simplistic? Classical or quantum? I think they just look far worse than they actually are, the notation can do that sometimes.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.