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
2
votes
1
answer
162
views
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
$$
\ddot{q}^i = f^i(q, \dot{q}, t), \quad i = 1, \dots, n, \label{...
0
votes
0
answers
22
views
Has this notion of "variation along the diagonal of a not-necessarily-smooth function" been studied before?
I am interested in knowing whether something along the lines of the "diagonal variation" defined below has been studied before. In spirit, the basic idea is that it is a kind of ...
- 708
1
vote
0
answers
114
views
Applicability of van Holten's algorithm for symmetries in classical mechanics
Background
van Holten's algorithm (see e.g. here and here) is a way of constructing or recognizing dynamical/hidden symmetries in classical mechanics by looking for Killing tensors on the ...
- 127
10
votes
1
answer
400
views
Rigorous treatment of Ostrogradsky's instability theorem?
The Ostrogradsky instability theorem says that if a Lagrangian depends on more than the position and velocity, the corresponding Hamiltonian is unbounded below. This has been suggested as a reason why ...
- 1,924
40
votes
9
answers
5k
views
Interpretation of the action in classical mechanics
In classical mechanics the dynamics on a manifold $M$ are characterised by the minimisation of a functional
$$ \min_{q \in C^\infty(\mathbb{R},M)} \int_{\mathbb{R}}L(q(t),\dot{q}(t))dt, $$
where $L:TM\...
- 1,484
171
votes
8
answers
86k
views
The "Dzhanibekov effect" - an exercise in mechanics or fiction? Explain mathematically a video from a space station
The question briefly:
Can one explain the "Dzhanibekov effect" (see youtube videos from space station or comments below) on the basis of the standard rigid body dynamics using Euler's equations? (Or ...
- 24.9k
1
vote
1
answer
99
views
How to interpret the vector fields $F_p(x,u,Du)$ in a Lagrangian optimization problem
Let $\Omega$ be an open bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ with $C^1$ boundary. Let
$$
\begin{matrix}
F: \mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R}^N \times \mathbb{R}^{nN} \to \mathbb{R},& \\
(x,z,p) \mapsto F(...
- 217
30
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Six yolks in a bowl: Why not optimal circle packing? [closed]
Making soufflé tonight, I wondered if the six yolks took on the
optimal circle packing configuration.
They do not. It is only with seven congruent circles that the optimal
packing places one in the ...
- 151k
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 3,029
14
votes
6
answers
3k
views
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 ...
- 3,871
19
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Applications of symplectic geometry to classical mechanics
It is claimed that classical mechanics motivates introduction of symplectic manifolds. This is due to the theorem that the Hamiltonian flow preserves the symplectic form on the phase space.
I am ...
- 21.8k
33
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why is the billiard problem for obtuse triangles so hard?
This is an incredibly naive question so this may be closed. Nevertheless, I have been reading about the problem asking if every obtuse triangle admits a periodic billiard path, which has been open ...
- 1,087
0
votes
0
answers
157
views
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 ...
1
vote
1
answer
279
views
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 $w_r$ ...
- 191
12
votes
0
answers
398
views
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 \...
- 134
1
vote
1
answer
125
views
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 ...
- 101
3
votes
2
answers
222
views
$2\mathrm{d}$ 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 ...
- 134
2
votes
1
answer
158
views
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 ...
- 134
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 ...
- 21.8k
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Example of ODE not equivalent to Euler-Lagrange equation
I am looking for an explicit (preferably simple) example of an ODE with time-independent coefficients in $\mathbb{R}^3$ such that there does not exist an Euler-Lagrange equation
$$\frac{\partial L}{\...
- 21.8k
48
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Geometric interpretation of the half-derivative?
For $f(x)=x$, the half-derivative of $f$ is
$$\frac{d^{\frac{1}{2}}}{dx^{\frac{1}{2}}} x = 2 \sqrt{\frac{x}{\pi}} \;.$$
Is there some geometric interpretation of (Q1) this specific derivative, and, (...
- 151k
63
votes
8
answers
14k
views
Fair but irregular polyhedral dice
I am interested in determining a collection of geometric conditions that will guarantee that a convex polyhedron
of $n$ faces is a fair die in the sense that, upon random rolling, it has an equal $1/n$...
- 151k
4
votes
0
answers
158
views
On moments of inertia of planar and 3D convex bodies
The following observation can be readily proved using the perpendicular axes theorem and intermediate value theorem: "Given any planar figure C, through any point on it, there is at least one ...
- 5,979
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
Mechanics: Model beam using differential vectorial formulation
At the Wikipedia there are the differential formulation for Euler-Bernoulli Beam \eqref{1} and Timoshenko Beam \eqref{2}
$$
\begin{align}
&\dfrac{d^2}{dx^2}\left(EI\dfrac{d^2w}{dx^2}\right) = q(x) ...
- 253
18
votes
3
answers
627
views
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.
...
- 151k
9
votes
1
answer
660
views
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, ...
- 5,146
9
votes
2
answers
379
views
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.
...
- 151k
6
votes
0
answers
159
views
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. ...
- 134
3
votes
0
answers
107
views
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 ...
- 253
27
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Hamiltonian, Lagrangian and Newton formalism of mechanics
If my thinking is wrong please let me know. I have little knowledge on beyond-college physics.
For research purposes, I read a few introductions to these three formalisms of classical mechanics [1,2,...
- 8,071
2
votes
0
answers
53
views
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 ...
- 21
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 ...
- 21.8k
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
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 ...
- 10.5k
1
vote
0
answers
133
views
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),...
- 3,487
33
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Do bubbles between plates approximate Voronoi diagrams?
For example, soap bubbles:
Image from UPenn:
"A 2-dimensional foam of wet soap bubbles squashed between glass plates, after 10 hours ...
- 151k
5
votes
1
answer
562
views
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" ...
- 5,230
4
votes
1
answer
316
views
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 ...
- 195
37
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Billiard dynamics under gravity
Has the dynamics of billiards in a polygon subject to gravity been
studied?
What I have in mind is something like this:
Still Snell's Law ...
- 151k
19
votes
6
answers
3k
views
reference for Noether's theorem
What is a good reference for a geometric version of Noether's theorem about Lagrangians, symmetries and conserved currents?
- 921
1
vote
0
answers
60
views
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 ...
- 3,487
3
votes
0
answers
239
views
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 ...
- 253
4
votes
0
answers
235
views
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
$$
\frac{\mathrm{d}^2\omega}{\mathrm{d}t^2}=\sin\omega
\tag{*}\label{...
- 134
27
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Stability of the Solar System
Is the Solar System stable?
You can see this Wikipedia page.
In May 2015 I was at the conference of Cedric Villani at Sharif university of technology with this title: "Of planets, stars and ...
user68208
11
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Derivative of eigenvectors of a matrix with respect to its components
Suppose that $B$ is a real, positive-definitive symmetric ($3\times3$) matrix (more accurately, $B$ is a tensor) with distinct eigenvalues, and that we can write it as
$$
B= \sum_{i=1}^3 \lambda_{i}(...
- 221
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 ...
- 1,222
2
votes
0
answers
104
views
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 ...
2
votes
0
answers
114
views
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 ...
22
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Non-chaotic bouncing-ball curves
I was surprised to learn from two
Mathematica Demos by
Enrique Zeleny that an elastic ball bouncing in a V or in a sinusoidal channel
exhibits chaotic behavior:
(The Poincaré map ...
- 151k
19
votes
3
answers
6k
views
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 ...
- 433
20
votes
4
answers
3k
views
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 ...
- 4,306