Questions tagged [classical-mechanics]
Mathematics of classical mechanics, including Hamiltonian mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics, applications of symplectic geometry to mechanics, deterministic chaos, resonance etc.
191 questions
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Has this notion of "variation along the diagonal of a not-necessarily-smooth function" been studied before?
I am interested in knowing whether something along the lines of the "diagonal variation" defined below has been studied before. In spirit, the basic idea is that it is a kind of ...
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Transport theorem in space craft control: tracking a reference angular velocity
I am reading the book named "Analytical mechanics aerospaces systems" by Schaub and Junkins.
In section 7.2, the task is to control the spacecraft to track a specified angular velocity $w_r$ ...
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Inverse problem of the calculus of variations for autonomous second-order ODEs
Consider the following particular case of the inverse problem of the calculus of variations: given a system of second-order equations
$$
\ddot{q}^i = f^i(q, \dot{q}, t), \quad i = 1, \dots, n, \label{...
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Can the equation of motion with friction be written as Euler-Lagrange equation, and does it have a quantum version?
My (non-expert) impression is that many physically important equations of motion can be obtained as Euler-Lagrange equations. For example in quantum fields theories and in quantum mechanics quantum ...
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Construction of an optimal electron cage
I will describe the question first in 2D, but my interest is in $\mathbb{R}^3$.
An electron $x$ will shoot from the origin along an initial vector $v$. You know the speed $|v|$ but not the direction.
...
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Rigorous treatment of Ostrogradsky's instability theorem?
The Ostrogradsky instability theorem says that if a Lagrangian depends on more than the position and velocity, the corresponding Hamiltonian is unbounded below. This has been suggested as a reason why ...
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Applicability of van Holten's algorithm for symmetries in classical mechanics
Background
van Holten's algorithm (see e.g. here and here) is a way of constructing or recognizing dynamical/hidden symmetries in classical mechanics by looking for Killing tensors on the ...
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Some details about Kirillov-Kostant Poisson bracket
Let $G$ be a finite dimensional Lie group with Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$. The Kirillov-Kostant Poisson bracket on $\mathfrak{g}^*$ is defined as $$\{\cdot ,\cdot \} :C^{\infty}(\mathfrak{g}^*)\times ...
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How quickly will billiard trajectories cluster?
Suppose you launch $n$ point-particles on
distinct reflecting nonperiodic billiard trajectories
inside a convex polygon. Assume they all have the same speed.
Define an $\epsilon$-cluster as a ...
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Classical limit of quantum mechanics
There is a well-known principle that one can recover classical mechanics from quantum mechanics in the limit as $\hbar$ goes to zero. I am looking for the strongest statement one can make concerning ...
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How to interpret the vector fields $F_p(x,u,Du)$ in a Lagrangian optimization problem
Let $\Omega$ be an open bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ with $C^1$ boundary. Let
$$
\begin{matrix}
F: \mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R}^N \times \mathbb{R}^{nN} \to \mathbb{R},& \\
(x,z,p) \mapsto F(...
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Definition of a moment map with physical context
This was originally posted on Math Stack Exchange, but without an answer. I thus move it here, and hope it's not because I express it unclearly.
Suppose $(M,\omega)$ is a symplectic manifold "well" ...
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reference for Noether's theorem
What is a good reference for a geometric version of Noether's theorem about Lagrangians, symmetries and conserved currents?
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Interpretation of the action in classical mechanics
In classical mechanics the dynamics on a manifold $M$ are characterised by the minimisation of a functional
$$ \min_{q \in C^\infty(\mathbb{R},M)} \int_{\mathbb{R}}L(q(t),\dot{q}(t))dt, $$
where $L:TM\...
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Maximal length of trajectories in billiard
Consider discrete rectangular billard on lattice with integer dimensions a*b and n balls with radius $\frac{\sqrt 2}{2}$ and ...
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Integral expression for the Poisson bracket
I already asked this in the physics forum but without much attention, so I thought it might attract more attention here.
Is there an integral expression for the Poisson bracket that can be derived ...
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isotropy of the cotangent lift of a group action
I asked this question in stack exchange but have not received an answer, so I am posting it here.
Given a group action on a manifold (e.g. configuration space of coordinates), cotangent-lift it to the ...
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Symplectic (or alike) integrator for system with Coulomb singularity and time-dependent potentials
I am trying to calculate classical trajectories for a single a ion and a single electron inside an RF trap. Therefore, I am dealing with a two-body system that possesses:
Coulomb potential with a ...
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A model of pillows
(The same system with slightly different questions has been asked in MSE.)
Let $\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^2$ be some simply connected planar domain. We seek for a mapping $\mathbf{r}:\Omega\rightarrow \...
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$2\mathrm{d}$ area maximizing short embeddings
Think of a beach ball on an pool of water or sand.
Let $\left(\mathcal{M}^2,g\right)$ be a surface homeomorphic to a sphere, endowed with a Riemannian metric $g$, and $\left(\mathcal{N}^2,h\right)$ a ...
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Hyperbolic system of PDEs with elliptic-like boundary contions
Let $\Omega_1$ and $\Omega_2$ be (simply connected) domains on $\mathbb{R}^2$, with coordinates $(x,y)$ and $(X,Y)$ respectively. Given a (smooth) function $Z(X,Y)$ such that $Z\left(\partial \Omega_2 ...
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Determinant as a Hamiltonian
Are there two symplectic structures $\omega_1, \omega_2$ on $M_{2n}(\mathbb{R})$ such that the function $Det:M_{2n}(\mathbb{R})\to \mathbb{R}$ is completely integrable with respect to $\omega_{1}$...
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On moments of inertia of planar and 3D convex bodies
The following observation can be readily proved using the perpendicular axes theorem and intermediate value theorem: "Given any planar figure C, through any point on it, there is at least one ...
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Geometric interpretation of the half-derivative?
For $f(x)=x$, the half-derivative of $f$ is
$$\frac{d^{\frac{1}{2}}}{dx^{\frac{1}{2}}} x = 2 \sqrt{\frac{x}{\pi}} \;.$$
Is there some geometric interpretation of (Q1) this specific derivative, and, (...
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Navier-Stokes fluid dynamics, Einstein gravity and holography
There was some activity a while ago, like 10 years ago, string theoreists try to relate
the fluid dynamics, for example, governed by Navier-Stokes equation,
to
the Einstein gravity, and its ...
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Mathematical formulation of beam: get stress/strain from forces and momentum
I'm working with static beams with Euler–Bernoulli model which ODE is
$$
\dfrac{d^2}{dx^2} \left(EI \cdot \dfrac{d^2w}{dx^2}\right) = q(x).
$$
With a beam along the $x$ axis, the solution consists of ...
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Planar linkage that traces a circle from its exterior?
Q.
Is there a linkage in the plane that traces out a circle $C$
in such a manner that the interior of the disk bounded
by $C$ is never intersected by any link througout the motion?
What I mean ...
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Mechanics: Model beam using differential vectorial formulation
At the Wikipedia there are the differential formulation for Euler-Bernoulli Beam \eqref{1} and Timoshenko Beam \eqref{2}
$$
\begin{align}
&\dfrac{d^2}{dx^2}\left(EI\dfrac{d^2w}{dx^2}\right) = q(x) ...
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Nonlinear-PDE arising from flat conformal Chebyshev nets
Consider a flat, simply connected surface endowed with the Riemannian metric $g_0=e^{2\Omega(u,v)}\left(\mathbb{d}^2u +\mathbb{d}^2v \right)$, so that $\Omega(u,v)$ is an arbitrary harmonic function. ...
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How to mix Lagrange mechanics + KKT conditions?
Question: How can I mix the concepts of Lagrange Mechanics and KKT conditions? I've learned that Lagrange Mechanics derivation comes from variational calculus, and in some formulations, we can add ...
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Is it possible for the Lagrange multiplier to satisfy some constraints themselves?
I am using the field-theoretic langauge, so that we think of some action functional
\begin{equation}
S[f_l,T_{ij}]=\int_0^1 dt \int_{[0,1]^3}d^3\overrightarrow{x}\mathcal{L}(f_l(\overrightarrow{x}, t),...
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In the context of field-theoretic classical Lagrangian mechanics, can we choose the Lagrange multipliers to be time-independent? - from Physics SE
I originally posted this question on Physics SE, but I think it is more like a math question since I need rigorous justification.
Could anyone please provide any insight to the below question:
Let us ...
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When sticks fall, will they weave?
Imagine $n$ $z$-vertical sticks uniformly spaced around a unit-radius circle in the $xy$-plane.
At $t{=}0$, each is randomly $\epsilon$-perturbed from the vertical, and they fall under
the influence ...
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Equations for an algebraic gömböc
A gömböc is a $3$-dimensional convex body (having uniform density) which has exactly one stable and one instable equilbrium position (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6mb%C3%B6c).
Such a convex ...
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Why does the solution to pendulum problem with the geometric approach of Jacobi metric does not correspond to the solution with Lagrangian approach? [closed]
When we solve the pendulum problem with EL equation, we get to the differential equation $\ddot{q}+\frac{g}{l}\sin q=0$
but when I apply the substitution $t \rightarrow t\sqrt\frac{g}{l}$ and ...
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Rigid-body in a central field: orbital and attitude motion
Question
I would like to find a nice set of explicit coordinates for the family (parametrised by angular momentum) of reduced systems representing a rigid-body in a central field
in which the orbital ...
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Generalising Bäcklund transform to solve $\omega''(t)=t\sin\omega(t)$
Bäcklund transformations may be used also in ODE to solve non-linear problems; for instance, it's well known that for the equation
$$
\frac{\mathrm{d}^2\omega}{\mathrm{d}t^2}=\sin\omega
\tag{*}\label{...
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How to quantify the non-commutativity of human body motion? [closed]
Some years ago, there was that question on this forum:"How to quantify noncommutativity?".
I am asking that question in a context, human movement, which implies kinematic chains (like in ...
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Mathematical physics without partial derivatives
Remark: All the answers so far have been very insightful and on point but after receiving public and private feedback from other mathematicians on the MathOverflow I decided to clarify a few notions ...
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Polygonal billards programs
I'm looking for software that will give billiard trajectories in arbitrary plane polygons. After much work I was able to produce this figure.
(source)
It was a good exercise, but at this point I ...
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Which convex bodies roll straight?
Let $K$ be a convex body in $\mathbb{R}^3$.
Suppose $K$ is held at some position and orientation on an inclined plane,
and released.
Let there be sufficient friction so that it rolls without slippage.
...
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Resources on screw theory in classical mechanics
I am considering a classical mechanics problem with a fairly complicated system where I think it might be possible to simplify the calculations using the formalism of screw theory and screw algebras, ...
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The "Dzhanibekov effect" - an exercise in mechanics or fiction? Explain mathematically a video from a space station
The question briefly:
Can one explain the "Dzhanibekov effect" (see youtube videos from space station or comments below) on the basis of the standard rigid body dynamics using Euler's equations? (Or ...
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Decidability of 3 body problem
Is there a result showing that something along the lines of the three body problem is undecidable? Or are they known to be decidable or neither?
I mean problems along the lines of the following ...
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Non-linear, hyperbolic, 2nd order system of PDEs
This is a cross-post.
In the context of two dimensional elasticity theory, when considering deformations of flat membranes into spherical caps, one encounters the following hyperbolic system
\begin{...
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What is the role of contact geometry in the hamiltonian mechanics?
Let us assume someone is interested in the study of Hamiltonian mechanics.
What are good examples to illustrate him of the usefulness of contact geometry in this context?
On one hand the Hamiltonian ...
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Derivative of eigenpair with respect to matrix
Suppose that $A$ is real and symmetric matrix (or tensor) of dimension $3 \times 3$, with its spectral decomposition
$$A = \sum_{i=1}^3 \lambda_i\ n_i\otimes n_i$$
where $\lambda_i$, $n_i$ and $\...
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Implications for a simple deterministic chaos definition
Among many others, one definition of deterministic chaos terms "chaotic" a classical dynamical system that satisfies the following three properties:
sensitive dependence to initial ...
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Vertical bundles of higher order tangent bundles
Let $M$ be a smooth (finite dimensional, Hausdorff and second countable) manifold. Let $T^kM$ be the manifold of equivalence class of curves that their derivates (in charts) agree up to order $k$. Let ...
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Generalizing square wheels rolling on inverted catenaries
It is not uncommon to see in a science museum a bicycle with
square wheels that rides smoothly over a washboard-like
surface made from inverted catenary curves (e.g., at the Münich museum).
The square ...
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