Conditions for Lagrangian Conserved Quantity A(q,p)=qp

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Homework Statement



what condition must satisfy the potential so a Lagrangian [tex]m \dot q \dot q - V(q)[/tex]

has as a conserved quantity [tex]A(q,p)=qp[/tex]


Homework Equations



[tex]A(q,p)=qp[/tex] [tex]m \dot q \dot q - V(q)[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



since we have the conserved quantity A(q,p)=qp [/tex] i believe that a condition for the potential is to be scale-invariant [tex]v(cq)=V(q)c[/tex] for any constant 'c'

the other attempt to solution is this, since 'A' is a conserved quantity then the Poisson brackets should vanish so [tex]{A,H}=0[/tex] using the definition of Poisson bracket i should get an ODe for the potential V(q).
 
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zetafunction said:

Homework Statement



what condition must satisfy the potential so a Lagrangian [tex]m \dot q \dot q - V(q)[/tex]

has as a conserved quantity [tex]A(q,p)=qp[/tex]

Homework Equations



[tex]A(q,p)=qp[/tex] [tex]m \dot q \dot q - V(q)[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



since we have the conserved quantity A(q,p)=qp [/tex] i believe that a condition for the potential is to be scale-invariant [tex]v(cq)=V(q)c[/tex] for any constant 'c'

the other attempt to solution is this, since 'A' is a conserved quantity then the Poisson brackets should vanish so [tex]{A,H}=0[/tex] using the definition of Poisson bracket i should get an ODe for the potential V(q).

Interesting problem, I tried the poisson brackets got a solution check it out if it makes sense to you.

[tex]\frac{\partial}{\partial q}A \frac{\partial}{\partial p}H - \frac{\partial}{\partial p}A \frac{\partial}{\partial q}V = 0[/tex]

[tex]p\frac{\partial}{\partial p}H - q \frac{\partial}{\partial q}V = 0[/tex]

[tex]m\dot q\frac{\partial m\dot q^2}{\partial m\dot q} - q \frac{\partial}{\partial q}V = 0[/tex]

[tex]2\left(\frac{\partial q}{\partial t}\right)^2 = q \frac{\partial}{\partial q}V[/tex]

Now left term is time dependent and the right term is time dependent for this DE to hold for all time both of them must be equal to a constant say [tex]C[/tex]

[tex]C = q \frac{\partial}{\partial q}V[/tex]

which leaves us with

[tex]V(q) = C\ln(q) + C_{1}[/tex]

does this make sense to you? I saw no one gave this one a shot so I tried, but I am not entirely sure.
 
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