# E-L equations only hold for independent variables?

1. Mar 21, 2015

### Coffee_

http://www.cs.cornell.edu/courses/cs6650/2008fa/images/thumb_EL.jpg

In the derivation when you minimize action you assume that all the variations in coordinates are independent and thus conclude that each term has to be zero. When this isn't the case anymore one doesn't reach this conclusion.

Question 1: Is the above correct,

If yes, here follows the real reason for this post:

Question 2: One can also derive the E-L equations from d'Alemberts principle of virtual work. One arrives at the same equations. However it seems that no explicit assumption of the variables being independent was ever made. Where does this assumption hide in this derivation?

2. Mar 22, 2015

### MisterX

Often if there is a constraint relating the variables so they aren't independent, then the method of Lagrange multipliers may be used in conjunction with the Lagrangian at the unconstrained coordinates. For example if we have a constraint relating the variables $\int dt\; g(\mathbf{q}(t), \dot{\mathbf{q}}(t)) = 0$ Then solutions may be found by using
$$\left[\frac{\partial}{\partial q_i} - \frac{d}{dt}\frac{\partial }{\partial \dot{q}_i}\right]\left[ \mathcal{L} + \lambda g\right] = 0$$ This does relate to the the variations not being independent. You can see an explanation of that on page 156 here.

3. Mar 22, 2015

### Coffee_

Hey, I might just being slow but this doesn't answer my question directly or does it? You are talking about constraints here between the coordinates, what I'm talking about is the potential as used in $L=T-V$ being a function of the time. Or more correct, the forces in space being the gradient of a time dependent function. Can I then still use the standard E-L equations?

4. Mar 23, 2015

### Coffee_

Da
Sorry for my previous reply, I mixed thus thread up with another question I posted. So to conclude, if I have dependent variables in the lagrangian I cant just use the standard method?

5. Mar 23, 2015

### MisterX

Yes if the $q_i$ and $\dot{q}_i$ are not independent you must use a modified E-L equation.