How Does Increasing C Affect Trajectories in Lagrangian Mechanics?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the impact of increasing the constant C in the Lagrangian formulation of a mechanical system defined on a manifold N with a submanifold M. The modified Lagrangian is expressed as L_C(q) = L(q) + C∑(q_i)^2 for i = m+1,...,n, where C > 0. The objective is to demonstrate the existence of a limiting trajectory, q_lim(t) = lim(C → ∞) q_C(t), which converges pointwise in time, effectively constraining the particle's motion to the submanifold M as C increases. The analogy of springs acting on the particle reinforces the concept of confinement to M as C approaches infinity.

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rayohauno
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the problem formulation is the next:

there is a manifold [tex]N[/tex] of dimension [tex]n[/tex]. inside [tex]N[/tex] there is another submanifold [tex]M[/tex] of dimension [tex]m\leq n[/tex].

let [tex]\{q_i\}[/tex] be a coordinate system over [tex]N[/tex] such that [tex]q_i = 0[/tex] for
[tex]i = m+1,...,n[/tex] if the point given by [tex]\vec{q}[/tex] is in [tex]M[/tex].

let [tex]L(\vec{q})[/tex] be a lagrangian over [tex]N[/tex].

and let:

[tex] L_C(\vec{q}) = L(\vec{q}) + C\sum_{i=m+1}^n (q_i)^2[/tex]

another new lagrangian over [tex]N[/tex] where [tex]C>0[/tex].

then the problem is to show that there exist a limiting trayectory:

[tex] \vec{q}_{lim}(t) = lim_{C \rightarrow \infty} \,\, \vec{q}_C(t)[/tex]

that converges point wise in time. where [tex]\vec{q}_C(t)[/tex] its the trayectory obtained from
[tex]L_C(\vec{q})[/tex] for some (any) initial conditions over [tex]M[/tex].
 
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I just want to mention that u may think of the constraints:

[tex]C\sum_{i=m+1} (q_i)^2[/tex]

as if at any point in [tex]N[/tex] there exist some kind of springs that tend to move the particle point to
a some position in [tex]M[/tex].

by definition of the properties of the coordinate system chosen, at each point in [tex]N[/tex] the springs
forces acts on directions normal to the manifold [tex]M[/tex] (if the particle point its close enough to [tex]M[/tex]).

so, enlarging [tex]C[/tex] just makes those springs more stronger, (hope) forcing to the particle live in [tex]M[/tex] in the limiting case [tex]C \rightarrow \infty[/tex].

I don´t know if the problem is positively probable, or if there exist a counter example.

best regards
rayo
 

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