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Is the lagrangian always K.E-PE?

  1. Oct 5, 2008 #1

    quantumfireball

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    Is the lagrangian always K.E-PE?????
    I dont think so???
    so WHAT REALLY is the physical significance of the lagrangian???
    Superficially it appears to be KE-PE,but the lagrangian for a charged particle in a vector potential is 1/2MV.V +qV.A-qW.
    where V=velocity
    A=vector potential
    W=Scalar potential.
    If the hamiltonion for the above lagrangian is calculated it turns out to be 1/2MV.V+qW.
    So what does the term eV.A represent???
    It appears to be the interaction energy.
    But why does it dissapaer in the hamiltonion.
     
    quantumfireball, Oct 5, 2008
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