A question about Noether theorem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between Noether's theorem and the concept that the work done by a force perpendicular to velocity is zero. A participant clarifies that the usual work theorem suffices to demonstrate this, using Newton's equations of motion, specifically the equation m &ddot;x = F. By multiplying this equation by the velocity vector ˙x, it is shown that if the force F is perpendicular to the velocity ˙x, the work done is zero, confirming that the kinetic energy remains constant. The discussion also touches on the invariance of work under orthogonal coordinate transformations as stated by Noether's theorem, but the exact connection remains unclear to some participants.

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  • Newton's laws of motion
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  • Basic principles of Noether's theorem
  • Vector calculus, particularly dot products
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larsa
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How can I derive that the work of a force perpendicular to velocity is always zero from the theorem of Noether?
I have heard that there is a relation between these two but in Google I found nothing.

Thank you very much
 
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For that you don't need Noether's theorem. The usual work theorem will do. The Newtonian EoM reads
$$m \ddot{\vec{x}}=\vec{F}.$$
Now multiply with ##\dot{\vec{x}}##, and you get
$$m \dot{\vec{x}} \cdot \ddot{\vec{x}}=\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d} t} \frac{m}{2} \dot{\vec{x}}^2 = \vec{F} \cdot \dot{\vec{x}}.$$
Now you if ##\dot{\vec{x}} \perp \vec{F}## the right-hand side is 0, and thus the kinetic energy is constant, i.e., the force doesn't do work.
 
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vanhees71 said:
For that you don't need Noether's theorem.
Yes, but the question has been, how they are related? I came so far to see that Noether says: work as a function of force and position (##\;dW = F(\vec{x}) \cdot \nabla \vec{x}\;##) is invariant under orthogonal coordinate transformations. But how is this related to the fact, that an orthogonal force doesn't add work? (I just don't see the argument.)
 
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fresh_42 said:
Yes, but the question has been, how they are related? I came so far to see that Noether says: work as a function of force and position (##\;dW = F(\vec{x}) \cdot \nabla \vec{x}\;##) is invariant under orthogonal coordinate transformations. But how is this related to the fact, that an orthogonal force doesn't add work? (I just don't see the argument.)
There must be some relation but i can't imagine any. Thank you for your answer
 

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