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34 votes
6 answers
5k views

Is symplectic reduction interesting from a physical point of view?

Do you think that symplectic reduction (Marsden Weinstein reduction) is interesting from a physical point of view? If so, why? Does it give you some new physical insights? There are some possible ...
student's user avatar
  • 1,222
25 votes
5 answers
8k views

Can the equation of motion with friction be written as Euler-Lagrange equation, and does it have a quantum version?

My (non-expert) impression is that many physically important equations of motion can be obtained as Euler-Lagrange equations. For example in quantum fields theories and in quantum mechanics quantum ...
asv's user avatar
  • 21.8k
22 votes
6 answers
15k views

Angle Maximizing the Distance of a Projectile

It is well-known that to maximize the horizontal distance traveled by a projectile fired from the ground at a given speed, one should fire it at a $45^\circ$ angle. What's less-known, though not too ...
David Corwin's user avatar
  • 15.4k
15 votes
9 answers
4k views

Newton equations, second order equation and (im)possible motions

I am am currently studying Newtonian mechanics from a conceptional and axiomatic point of view. Now, if I am not mistaken, one (but surely not all) statement of Newtons second law about nature is, ...
student's user avatar
  • 1,222
8 votes
1 answer
432 views

Two interacting bodies in an external field

Hope, MO is the right place for this question (if not so: where would you pose it?). Consider a two-body system in classical mechanics. As long as the interaction depends only on the distance of the ...
Hans-Peter Stricker's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
697 views

Which motion is exclusive in 3D or higher dimensions?

Hi guys, I have a simple question Linear movement can be found in 1D, 2D and 3D world objects Rotation can be found in 2D and 3D world objects. Now, are there any kind of motion can only be found ...
est's user avatar
  • 101
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Applications of Hamiltonian formalism to classical mechanics

In many courses in theoretical classical mechanics Hamiltonian formalism takes an important place. However I did not see it applied to problems of classical mechanics (unless one expands the scope of ...
asv's user avatar
  • 21.8k
3 votes
0 answers
103 views

Is there any connection between Lagrange points and the icosahedron?

Given the Newtonian two-body problem, one can ask if there are any orbits that allow a test particle to maintain a fixed configuration relative to the two bodies. In other words, in a frame that ...
Oliver Nash's user avatar
  • 1,444
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Derivation of Bessel functions

I am writing a summary on a work on Fluid Dynamics that develops irrotational flow states that appear to interact amongst each other according to the equations of Electromagnetism http://arxiv.org/abs/...
user34091's user avatar