- #1
pbilous
- 2
- 1
Hi, I am confused by a point which should be relatively simple. When we consider classical motion of a particle in a central field U(r), we write the total energy E = T + U, where T is the kinetic energy. The kinetic energy contains initially r, r' and φ' (where ' denotes the time derivative). We replace φ' via the angular momentum L, which is an integral of motion due to the rotational symmetry. The kinetic energy takes then the form T=mr'2/2 + L2/(2mr2). Finally we attribute the latter term to the potential energy and introduce the effective potential Ueff = U + L2/(2mr2). The energy E remains the same under such term redistiribution and we obtain effectively 1D motion in potential Ueff.
Now the question. If we consider the Lagrangian L = T - U instead of energy E =T + U and carry out the same procedure, then such "redistribution" of the terms would lead to different effective potential Veff = U - L2/(2mr2). Why is then the way with E "better" than the one with L?
Alternatively one could formulate it as follows. When we shift the term L2/(2mr2) to the potential energy Ueff = U + L2/(2mr2), the total energy E = T + U remains the same, but at the same time the Lagrangian L = T - U changes by L2/(mr2). Doesn't it describe already a completely different system? Why wouldn't we choose to preserve L instead of E and introduce Veff = U - L2/(2mr2)?
Now the question. If we consider the Lagrangian L = T - U instead of energy E =T + U and carry out the same procedure, then such "redistribution" of the terms would lead to different effective potential Veff = U - L2/(2mr2). Why is then the way with E "better" than the one with L?
Alternatively one could formulate it as follows. When we shift the term L2/(2mr2) to the potential energy Ueff = U + L2/(2mr2), the total energy E = T + U remains the same, but at the same time the Lagrangian L = T - U changes by L2/(mr2). Doesn't it describe already a completely different system? Why wouldn't we choose to preserve L instead of E and introduce Veff = U - L2/(2mr2)?