The derivative of velocity with respect to a coordinate

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical treatment of the Lagrangian in classical mechanics, particularly focusing on the derivatives of the Lagrangian with respect to position and velocity coordinates. Participants explore the implications of treating position and velocity as independent variables, the formulation of the Lagrangian for systems with multiple bodies, and the relationship between Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why the partial derivatives of the Lagrangian with respect to position and velocity yield specific results, particularly regarding the assumption that speed is constant across locations.
  • It is noted that the Lagrangian is treated as a function of independent variables, with the understanding that position and velocity are dependent along a particle's trajectory.
  • One participant discusses the formulation of the Lagrangian for a system of multiple moving objects and raises questions about the validity of applying Lagrangian mechanics to such systems.
  • Another participant asserts that there is a single Hamiltonian for the entire system, analogous to the single Lagrangian, which describes the collective dynamics of all components involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express both agreement and disagreement on various aspects of the discussion. While some agree on the treatment of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian, others raise questions and propose alternative interpretations, indicating that multiple competing views remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the independence of variables in the context of the Lagrangian, as well as the implications of using phase space versus configuration space in Lagrangian mechanics.

olgerm
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Why ##\frac{\partial (0.5*m*\dot{x}^2-m*g*x)}{\partial x}=-mg##? why ##\frac{\partial \dot{x}}{\partial x}=0##?


Why ##\frac{\partial (0.5*m*\dot{x}^2-m*g*x)}{\partial \dot{x}}=m*\dot{x}## ? why ##\frac{\partial x}{\partial \dot{x}}=0##?

Does it assume that speed is same at every location?
I know that ##\dot{x}=\frac{\partial x}{\partial t}##.
 
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olgerm said:

Why ##\frac{\partial (0.5*m*\dot{x}^2-m*g*x)}{\partial x}=-mg##? why ##\frac{\partial \dot{x}}{\partial x}=0##?


Why ##\frac{\partial (0.5*m*\dot{x}^2-m*g*x)}{\partial \dot{x}}=m*\dot{x}## ? why ##\frac{\partial x}{\partial \dot{x}}=0##?

Does it assume that speed is same at every location?
I know that ##\dot{x}=\frac{\partial x}{\partial t}##.

The Lagrangian is treated as a function of independent variables. In this context ##x## and ##\dot{x}## are treated as independent.

These are dependent along the trajectory of a particle, but the Lagrangian is a function on the whole of your phase space, not just one trajectory.

In phase space a particle may have position ##x## and any velocity ##\dot{x}##.
 
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PeroK said:
The Lagrangian is treated as a function of independent variables. In this context ##x## and ##\dot{x}## are treated as independent.

These are dependent along the trajectory of a particle, but the Lagrangian is a function on the whole of your phase space, not just one trajectory.

In phase space a particle may have position ##x## and any velocity ##\dot{x}##.
##x (t)## is a function depends on ##t## and describes the movement of a mass point. Its Lagrange function $$ \frac 1 2 m {\left[\dot{x}(t)\right]}^2 -mgx(t) $$ which contains the unknown function ##x (t)##. But if the function ##x (t)## is known, it depends only on the independent variable ##t##.

The $$ \frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial \dot x } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial x} = 0$$ Lagrange equation is written using the following substitution (use the left-hand element to replace the right) $$ t \to t $$ $$ x(t) \to u $$ $$ \dot x(t) \to v. $$ Of course, the partial derivative of the Lagrange function cannot be taken by ## x(t) ## or ## \dot{x} (t) ##, because they are not independent variables. But the partial derivatives of ##u## and ##v## can be calculated for the function ##L (u, v, t)## and then replace it with ## x(t) ## and ## \dot{x} (t) ## as above. The usual way to write Lagrange equations is the shorthand version of the above procedure.

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Lagrangian mechanics do not use the phase space at all but instead use the configuration space.

The general expression of the momentum is $$ p= \frac {\partial L} {\partial \dot q } $$ which is not the product of the speed and the mass.
 
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PeroK said:
In this context ##x## and ##\dot{x}## are treated as independent.
I believe that. But generally mathematical formulas should be unambiguously understandable without any comments or context needed.
 
And if the system consists of many moving objects then L is still same for all objects and langrange 2. kind equation is true for every degree of freedom and corresponding momentum?

For example 2 pointbodies of which one is stuck on 2D area I get 5 equations:

##L=\frac{m_1*(v_{x1}^2+v_{y1}^2+v_{z1}^2)+m_2*(v_{x2}^2+v_{y2}^2)}{2}+\frac{m_1*m_2*G-q_1*q_2*k_E}{\sqrt{(x_{1}-x_{2})^2+(y_{1}-y_{2})^2+(z_{1}-z_{2})^2}}##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{x1} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial x_1} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{x2} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial x_2} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{y1} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial y_1} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{y2} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial y_2} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{z1} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial z_1} = 0##
?
 
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olgerm said:
I believe that. But generally mathematical formulas should be unambiguously understandable without any comments or context needed.

If you’ve followed through the derivation of the Euler-Lagrange equation it’s all very clear and apparent.
olgerm said:
And if the system consists of many moving objects then L is still same for all objects and langrange 2. kind equation is true for every degree of freedom and corresponding momentum?

For example 2 pointbodies of which one is stuck on 2D area I get 5 equations:

##L=\frac{m_1*(v_{x1}^2+v_{y1}^2+v_{z1}^2)+m_2*(v_{x2}^2+v_{y2}^2)}{2}+\frac{m_1*m_2*G-q_1*q_2*k_E}{(x_{1}-x_{2})^2+(y_{1}-y_{2})^2+(z_{1}-z_{2})^2}##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{x1} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial x_1} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{x2} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial x_2} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{y1} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial y_1} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{y2} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial y_2} = 0##
##\frac {d} {dt} \frac {\partial L} {\partial v_{z1} } - \frac {\partial L} {\partial z_1} = 0##
?

Yes that’s true
 
Is same true about hamiltonian, that I can write both Hamilton's equations about all degrees of freedom and corresponding momentums, but Hamiltonian itself is same?
 
Yes, there is one hamiltonian for your entire system the same way there is one Lagrangian. The Lagrangian/Hamiltonian describes the collective time evolution of your entire system, including all the particles and all the fields.
 

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