Landau Lifshitz - Total time derivative of the Lagrangian

AI Thread Summary
The total time derivative of the Lagrangian for a closed system, as presented in Landau-Lifgarbagez Mechanics, includes terms for generalized coordinates and velocities but excludes higher derivatives like \dddot{q_i}. This exclusion occurs because the Lagrangian is only a function of generalized coordinates and velocities, not their higher derivatives. The discussion highlights that when the system is closed, the Lagrangian does not depend on time explicitly. Clarifications were made regarding the distinction between closed and open systems in relation to time dependence. Overall, the focus is on understanding the mathematical structure of the Lagrangian in classical mechanics.
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On page 13 in Landau-Lifgarbagez Mechanics, the total time time derivative of the Lagrangian of a closed system is given to be,

\frac{d L}{d t} = \sum_i \frac{\partial L}{\partial q_i} \dot{q_i} + \sum_i \frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{q_i}} \ddot{q_i}

Why does this stop here? I mean, why is the term \sum_i \frac{\partial L}{\partial \ddot{q_i}} \dddot{q_i} not included?

An image of page 13 has been attached.
 

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Because in classical mechanics the lagrangian is a function only of generalized coordinates and velocities. Read section 1 and 2 of the same book.
 
Thanks for the reply Dickfore. You are correct.
 
It is a function of t only if the system is open.
 
Thanks. Again you are correct.
 
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