Power Expantion in Lagrangian Derivation

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The discussion centers on a step in the Lagrangian derivation from "Mechanics" by Landau-Lifgarbagez, where the difference between two integrals is analyzed. The key point is that when expanding the integrand using a Taylor expansion, the leading terms are first-order in the variations \(\delta q\) and \(\delta \dot q\). A user seeks references that detail this expansion, as it is not explicitly shown in the book. Another participant suggests that the expansion involves the first derivatives of the Lagrangian with respect to its variables. This highlights the importance of understanding Taylor expansions in the context of Lagrangian mechanics.
tharchin
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In Mechanics by Landau-Lifgarbagez there is a step during the derivation of the Lagrangian where..

\int_{t_1}^{t_2} L(q+\delta q, \dot q + \delta \dot q, t ) \, \mathrm{d}t - \int_{t_1}^{t_2} L(q, \dot q, t ) \, dt

then they write "when this difference is expanded in powers of \delta q and \delta \dot q in the integrand, the leading terms are of first order."

The don't show this expansion and I was hoping someone could point me to a reference where they do. Thanks.
 
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tharchin said:
In Mechanics by Landau-Lifgarbagez there is a step during the derivation of the Lagrangian where..

\int_{t_1}^{t_2} L(q+\delta q, \dot q + \delta \dot q, t ) \, \mathrm{d}t - \int_{t_1}^{t_2} L(q, \dot q, t ) \, dt

then they write "when this difference is expanded in powers of \delta q and \delta \dot q in the integrand, the leading terms are of first order."

The don't show this expansion and I was hoping someone could point me to a reference where they do. Thanks.

Hi tharchin,

I don't have the book at hand but he is probably just talking of a Taylor expansion of the integrand
L(q+\delta q, \dot q + \delta \dot q, t ) = L(q, \dot q, t ) + \frac{\partial L}{\partial q}\delta q +\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot q}\delta \dot q
 
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