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Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics

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37 views2 pages

Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics

Uploaded by

haadia shahzad
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics are two powerful formulations of classical mechanics that extend

Newtonian mechanics to more complex systems. Here's an overview of their differences, similarities, and
when to use each:

Similarities

1. Both are reformulations of classical mechanics:

o They describe the motion of systems in terms of generalized coordinates, which can
simplify the analysis of systems with constraints.

2. Derived from the principle of least action:

o Both approaches originate from the same foundational idea, the principle of stationary
action (or least action), which states that the trajectory of a system is such that the
action integral is stationary.

3. General applicability:

o Both methods can be applied to systems in any coordinate system and are suitable for
analyzing complex systems, including those with many degrees of freedom.

Differences

Aspect Lagrangian Mechanics Hamiltonian Mechanics

Lagrangian (L=T−VL = T - V): kinetic Hamiltonian (HH): total energy (H=T+VH = T + V)


Main quantity
energy minus potential energy. expressed in terms of generalized momenta.

Generalized coordinates (qiq_i) and Generalized coordinates (qiq_i) and conjugate


Variables
their time derivatives (q˙i\dot{q}_i). momenta (pip_i).

Equations Euler-Lagrange equations. Hamilton's equations of motion.

Does not explicitly involve phase


Phase space Directly operates in phase space (qi,piq_i, p_i).
space.

Mathematical Canonical transformations, symplectic


Calculus of variations.
tools geometry.

Focuses on the trajectory in


Perspective Focuses on the evolution in phase space.
configuration space.

When to Use Which?

1. Lagrangian Mechanics:
o Use when:

▪ You are dealing with constrained systems or non-Cartesian coordinates.

▪ The system has complex symmetries that make generalized coordinates


convenient.

o Benefits:

▪ Simplifies problems with constraints using Lagrange multipliers.

▪ Easier to derive equations in systems with rotational or other symmetries.

2. Hamiltonian Mechanics:

o Use when:

▪ You want to study the system in phase space, such as for statistical mechanics or
quantum mechanics.

▪ The system involves time-independent conserved quantities, making energy


conservation more explicit.

o Benefits:

▪ Ideal for analyzing stability and long-term behavior (e.g., in celestial mechanics).

▪ Forms the foundation for quantum mechanics via canonical quantization.

▪ Useful for studying integrable systems and chaos.

If you're just starting out, try to solve problems using both methods to gain insight into their strengths
and limitations. Over time, you’ll develop intuition about which approach is more appropriate for a given
situation.

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