Hamiltons equations of motion in terms of poisson bracket

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on Hamilton's equations of motion expressed through the Poisson bracket, specifically the expression df/dt = {f, H} + ∂f/∂t. It clarifies that when the function f is defined as a function of phase-space variables q and p, the partial time derivative ∂f/∂t equals zero. This is due to the definition in Hamiltonian formalism where phase-space variables q and p are independent of time, leading to specific partial derivatives being zero.

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  • Understanding of Hamiltonian mechanics
  • Familiarity with Poisson brackets
  • Knowledge of phase-space variables (q, p)
  • Basic calculus, particularly partial derivatives
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rahulor
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In Hamiltonian formulation there is an expression
df / dt = { f , H } + ∂f / ∂t
where f is function of q, p and t.
While expressing Hamiltons equations of motion in terms of Poisson Bracket,
i.e if the function f = q of p then its partial time derivative ∂f / ∂t becomes zero..
Please explain why?
 
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In the Hamilton formalism, by definition, the phase-space variables (q,p) are not explicitly time dependent. Of course, solving the Hamilton equations of motion leads to the trajectory of the system in phase space as function of time, but that's not what's meant in the phase-space formulation before the equations of motion are solved.
 
p, q, and t are independent variables so \frac{\partial p}{\partial p}=1, \frac{\partial p}{\partial q}=0, \frac{\partial p}{\partial t}=0, \frac{\partial q}{\partial p}=0, \frac{\partial q}{\partial q}=1, \frac{\partial q}{\partial t}=0, \frac{\partial t}{\partial p}=0, \frac{\partial t}{\partial q}=0, \frac{\partial t}{\partial t}=1, by definition.
 

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