dipole
- 553
- 149
Homework Statement
I don't know why I'm having trouble here, but I want to show that, if we let [itex]t = t(\theta)[/itex] and [itex]q(t(\theta)) = q(\theta)[/itex] so that both are now dependent coordinates on the parameter [itex]\theta[/itex], then
[tex]L_{\theta}(q,q',t,t',\theta) = t'L(q,q'/t',t)[/tex]
where [itex]t' = \frac{dt}{d\theta}, q' = \frac{dq}{d\theta}[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Writing [itex]L = \frac{m}{2} \dot{q}^2 - V(q)[/itex], we let [itex]\frac{d}{dt} \to \frac{d\theta}{dt}\frac{d}{d\theta}[/itex] and then,
[tex]L = \frac{m}{2} \frac{q'^2}{t'^2} - V(q)[/tex]
Which clearly doesn't agree with what I need to show... where am I going wrong here?