- #1
Saketh
- 261
- 2
My physics career up to this point has been introductory mechanics (an AP Physics: Mechanics course), centered around Newton's second law - [tex]\vec{F} = m\vec{a}[/tex]. Having finished the course, I sought new methods of solving problems.
I stumbled upon a tome; Goldstein's Classical Mechanics, third edition. After flipping through the first few chapters, I found something that was jaw-dropping and intriguing, but extremely confusing. This was the Lagrangian method of solving mechanics problems, using the identity that [tex]L \equiv T - V[/tex]. Wanting to learn more, I opened up a textbook online, written by David Morin, a professor at Harvard. However, the approach there confused me as well.
I am fluent in the mathematics behind the Lagrangian method, but the physics of it confuses me. The authors of the textbooks appear to apply constraints as if it were their second nature, while I am struggling to understand how to apply the constraint. Naturally, this is due to my inability to understand the concept, but I cannot seem to find a gentler introduction to the Lagrangian method. David Morin praises the method, saying that it is better than [tex]\vec{F} = m\vec{a}[/tex] almost all of the time.
My questions are:
Thank you for your assistance!
(P.S. I thought this was more appropriate for the Classical Physics forum, since it is neither my homework nor classwork.)
I stumbled upon a tome; Goldstein's Classical Mechanics, third edition. After flipping through the first few chapters, I found something that was jaw-dropping and intriguing, but extremely confusing. This was the Lagrangian method of solving mechanics problems, using the identity that [tex]L \equiv T - V[/tex]. Wanting to learn more, I opened up a textbook online, written by David Morin, a professor at Harvard. However, the approach there confused me as well.
I am fluent in the mathematics behind the Lagrangian method, but the physics of it confuses me. The authors of the textbooks appear to apply constraints as if it were their second nature, while I am struggling to understand how to apply the constraint. Naturally, this is due to my inability to understand the concept, but I cannot seem to find a gentler introduction to the Lagrangian method. David Morin praises the method, saying that it is better than [tex]\vec{F} = m\vec{a}[/tex] almost all of the time.
My questions are:
- Will the Lagrangian method increase the efficiency of solving [tex]\vec{F} = m\vec{a}[/tex] mechanics problems? (I realize this is subjective)
- Where can I find a gentler introduction to the Lagrangian method and the principle of least action, preferably geared to someone coming from an [tex]\vec{F} = m\vec{a}[/tex] background?
Thank you for your assistance!
(P.S. I thought this was more appropriate for the Classical Physics forum, since it is neither my homework nor classwork.)