Transverse Waves: UNIZOR.COM - Physics4Teens - Waves

Notes to a video lecture on http://www.unizor.com Transverse Wave We are familiar with longitudinal waves, like sound waves in the air. Their defining characteristic is that molecules of air (the medium) are oscillating along the direction of the wave propagation, which, in turn, causing oscillation of pressure at any point along the direction of wave propagation. Consider a different type of waves. Take a long rope by one end, stretching its length on the floor. Make a quick up and down movement of the rope's end that you hold. The result will be a wave propagating along the rope, but the elements of rope will move up and down, perpendicularly to the direction of waves propagation. (open this picture in a new tab of your browser by clicking the right button of a mouse to better see details) These waves, when the elements of medium (a rope in our example) are moving perpendicularly to a direction of waves propagation, are called transverse. Such elementary characteristics of transverse waves as crest, trough, wavelength and amplitude are clearly defined on the picture above. Some other examples of transverse waves are strings of violin or any other string musical instrument. Interesting waves are those on the surface of water. They seem to be transverse, but, actually, the movement of water molecules is more complex and constitutes an elliptical kind of motion in two directions - up and down perpendicularly to waves propagation and back and forth along this direction. Our first problem in analyzing transverse waves is to come up with a model that resembles the real thing (like waves on a rope), but yielding to some analytical approach. Let's model a rope as a set of very small elements that have certain mass and connected by very short weightless links - sort of a long necklace of beads. Every bead on this necklace is a point-object of mass m, every link between beads is a solid weightless rod of length r. Both mass of an individual bead m and length of each link r are, presumably, very small. In theory, it would be appropriate to assume them to be infinitesimally small. Even this model is too complex to analyze. Let's start with a simpler case of only two beads linked by a solid weightless rod. Our purpose is not to present a complete analytical picture of waves, using this model, but to demonstrate that waves exist and that they propagate. Consider the following details of this model. Two identical point-objects α and β of mass m each on the coordinate plane with no friction are connected with a solid weightless rod of length r. Let's assume that α, initially, is at coordinates (0,−A), where A is some positive number and β is at coordinates (a, −A). So, both are at level y=−A, separated by a horizontal rod of length r from x=0 for α to x=a for β. We will analyze what happens if we move the point-object α up and down along the vertical Y-axis (perpendicular to X-axis), according to some periodic oscillations, like yα(t) = −A·cos(ω·t) where A is an amplitude of oscillations, ω is angular frequency, t is time. Incidentally, for an angular frequency ω the period of oscillation is T=2π/ω. So, the oscillations of point α can be described as yα(t) = −A·cos(2π·t / T) Point α in this model moves along the Y-axis between y=−A and y=A. It's speed is y'α(t) = A·ω·sin(ω·t) = = A·(2π/T)·sin(2π·t/T) The period of oscillations is, as we noted above T = 2π/ω During the first quarter of a period α moves up, increasing its speed from v=0 at y=−A to v=A·ω at the point y=0, then during the next quarter of a period it continues going up, but its speed will decrease from v=A·ω to v=0 at the top most point y=A. During the third quarter of a period α moves down from y=A, increasing absolute value of its speed in the negative direction of the Y-axis from v=0 to the same v=A·ω at y=0, then during the fourth quarter of a period it continues going down, but the absolute value of its speed will decrease from v=A·ω to v=0 at the bottom y=−A. Positions of objects α and β during the first quarter of a period of motion of α at three consecutive moments in time are presented below. As the leading object α starts moving up along Y-axis, the led by it object β follows it, as seen on a picture above. Let's analyze the forces acting on each object in this model. Object β is moved by two forces: tension from the solid rod Tβ(t), directed along the rod towards variable position of α, and constant weight Pβ. Object α experiences the tension force Tα(t), which is exact opposite to Tβ(t), the constant weight Pα and pulling force Fα(t) that moves an entire system up and down. There is a very important detail that can be inferred from analyzing these forces. The tension force Tα(t), acting on object α, has vertical and horizontal components from which follows that pulling force Fα(t) cannot be strictly vertical to move object α along the Y-axis, it must have a horizontal component to neutralize the horizontal component of Tα(t). This can be achieved by having some railing along the Y-axis that prevents α to deviate from the vertical path. The reaction of railing will always neutralize the horizontal component of the Tα(t). Without this railing the pulling force Fα(t) must have a horizontal component to keep α on the vertical path along the Y-axis. If α and β are the first and the second beads on a necklace, we can arrange the railing for α. But, if we continue our model and analyze the movement of the third bead γ attached to β, there can be no railing and the horizontal component of the tension force Tβ(t) will exist and will get involved on some small scale. All-in-all, transverse motion is not just movement of components up and down perpendicularly to the wave propagation, it is also a longitudinal motion of these components, though not very significant in comparison with transverse motion and often ignored in textbooks. The really obvious reason for transverse motion to involve a minor horizontal movement in addition to a major vertical one is that you cannot lift up a part of a horizontally stretched rope without a little horizontal shift of its parts as well, because a straight line is always shorter than a curve. Let's now follow the motion of β as α periodically moves up and down, starting at point (0,−A), according to a formula yα(t) = −A·cos(ω·t) with its X-coordinate always being equal to zero. Since position of α is specified as a function of time and the length of a rod connecting α and β is fixed and equal to r, position of β can be expressed in term of a single variable - the angle φ(t) from a vector parallel to a rod directed from α to β and the positive direction of the Y-axis. At initial position, when the rod is horizontal, φ(0)=π/2. Then coordinates of β are: xβ(t) = r·sin(φ(t)) yβ(t) = yα(t) + r·cos(φ(t)) During the first quarter of a period α moves up from y=−A to y=0, gradually increasing its speed and pulling β by the rod upwards. While β follows α up, it also moves closer to the Y-axis. The reason for this is that the only forces acting on β are the tension force along the rod and its weight. Weight is vertical force, while tension acts along the rod and it has vertical (up) and horizontal (left) components. Assuming vertical pull is sufficient to overcome the weight, β will be pulled up and to the left, closer to the Y-axis. If this process of constant acceleration of α continued indefinitely, β would be pulled up and asymptotically close to the Y-axis. Eventually, it will just follow α along almost the same vertical trajectory upward. The angle φ(t) in this process would gradually approach π (180°). With a periodic movement of α up and down the Y-axis, the trajectory of β is much more complex. Let's analyze the second quarter of the period of α's oscillations, when it moves from y=0 level, crossing the X-axis, to y=A. After α crosses the X-axis it starts to slow down, decelerate, while still moving up the Y-axis. As α decelerates in its vertical motion up, the composition of forces changes. Now β will continue following α upwards, but, instead of being pulled by the rod, it will push the rod since α slows down. That will result in the force Tα(t), with which a rod pushes α, to be directed upwards and a little to the left, as presented on the above picture. Also Tβ(t), the reaction of the rod onto β, will act opposite to a tension during the first quarter of a period. Now it has a vertical component down to decelerate β's upward motion and a horizontal component to the right. The latter will cause β to start moving away from the Y-axis, while still going up for some time, slowing this upward movement because of opposite force of reaction of the rod. When α reaches level y=A at the end of the second quarter of its period, it momentarily stops. The behavior of β at that time depends on many factors - its mass m, amplitude A and angular frequency ω of α's oscillations, the length of the rod r. Fast moving leading object α will usually result in a longer trajectory for β, while slow α will cause β to stop sooner. During the third quarter of its period α starts moving downward, which will cause β to follow it, but not immediately because of inertia. Depending on factors described above, β might go up even higher than α. In any case, the delay in β's reaching its maximum after α has completed the second quarter of a period is

UNIZOR.COM - Physics 4 Teens - Electromagnetism - Magnetic Field - Problems 1

Notes to a video lecture on http://www.unizor.com

Magnetism - Lorentz Force - Problems 1

Problem 1a
Consider the experiment pictured below.

A copper wire (yellow) of resistance R is connected to a battery with voltage U and is swinging on two connecting wires (green) in a magnetic field of a permanent magnet.
All green connections are assumed light and their weight can be ignored. Also ignored should be their electric resistance. Assume the uniformity of the magnetic field of a magnet with magnetic field lines directed vertically and perpendicularly to a copper wire.
The mass of a copper wire is M and its length is L.
The experiment is conducted in the gravitational field with a free fall acceleration g.
The magnetic field exerts the Lorentz force onto a wire pushing it horizontally out from the field space, so green vertical connectors to a copper wire make angle φ with vertical.
What is the intensity of a magnetic field B?

Solution

T·cos(φ) = M·g
T = M·g/cos(φ)
F = T·sin(φ) = M·g·tan(φ)
I = U/R
F = I·L·B = U·L·B/R
M·g·tan(φ) = U·L·B/R
B = M·R·g·tan(φ)/(U·L)

Problem 1b
An electric point-charge q travels with a speed v along a wire of length L.
What is the value of the equivalent direct electric current I in the wire that moves the same amount of electricity per unit of time?
What is the Lorentz force exerted onto a charge q, if it moves in a uniform magnetic field of intensity B perpendicularly to the field lines with a speed v.

Solution
Let T be the time of traveling from the beginning to the end of a wire.
T = L/v
I = q/T = q·v/L
F = I·L·B = q·v·B
Notice, the Lorentz force onto a wire in case of only a point-charge running through it does not depend on the length of a wire, as it is applied only locally to a point-charge, not an entire wire. Would be the same if a particle travels in vacuum with a magnetic field present.

Problem 1c
An electric point-charge q of mass m enters a uniform magnetic field of intensity B perpendicularly to the field lines with a speed v.

Suggest some reasoning (rigorous proof is difficult) that the trajectory of this charge should be a circle and determine the radius of this circle.

Solution
The Lorentz force exerted on a point-charge q, moving with speed v perpendicularly to force lines of a permanent magnetic field of intensity B, is directed always perpendicularly to a trajectory of a charge and equals to F=q·v·B (see previous problem).

Since the Lorentz force is always perpendicular to trajectory, the linear speed v of a point-charge remains constant, while its direction always curves toward the direction of the force. Constant linear speed v means that the magnitude of the Lorentz force is also constant and only direction changes to be perpendicular to a trajectory of a charge.

According to the Newton's Second Law, this force causes acceleration a=F/m, which is a vector of constant magnitude, since the Lorentz force has constant magnitude and always perpendicular to a trajectory, since the force causing this acceleration is always perpendicular to a trajectory.
So, the charge moves along a trajectory with constant linear speed and constant acceleration always directed perpendicularly to a trajectory.

Every smooth curve at any point on an infinitesimal segment around this point can be approximated by a small circular arc of some radius (radius of curvature) with a center at some point (center of curvature). If a curve of a trajectory on an infinitesimal segment is approximated by a circle of some radius R, the relationship between a radius, linear speed and acceleration towards a center of this circle (centripetal acceleration), according to kinematics of rotational motion, is
a = v²/R
Therefore, R = v²/a

Since v and a are constant, the radius of a curvature R is constant, which is a good reason towards locally circular character of the motion of a charge. It remains to be proven that the center of the locally circular motion does not change its location, but this is a more difficult task, which we will omit.
Hence,
R = v²/a = m·v²/F =
= m·v²/q·v·B = m·v/q·B

Action Principle: UNIZOR.COM - Physics+ 4 All - Lagrangian

Notes to a video lecture on UNIZOR.COM

From Newton to the Action Principle
Logical Foundations of Lagrangian Mechanics

The purpose of this lecture is to highlight the core principles of Lagrangian Mechanics, marking the transition from the Newtonian model, which is strongly tied to Cartesian coordinates, to a concept of a trajectory of a motion as an extremum of the action functional.

1. Motion is Objective Reality
Consider a conservative ⁽¹⁾ system of N point-mass components in three-dimensional space each moving along its path with all these paths together as a set representing the whole system's trajectory. Within classical non-relativistic mechanics and inertial frames this trajectory represents an objective physical reality, regardless of how we view this motion, what instruments we use to observe it or what system of coordinates we prefer.
We will use the word “trajectory” in three closely related senses: (i) the physical paths traced by system components in three-dimensional space; (ii) the collection of these paths forming the system’s physical trajectory; and (iii) a curve in configuration space representing this motion mathematically. The first two are objective physical realities; the third depends on the chosen coordinates.

2. Physical Reality vs. Mathematical Representation
The same physical reality can be mathematically represented in different ways by using different coordinate systems, depending on our choice.
We will only consider purely geometrical time-independent transformation of coordinates.
Assume, we describe a position of all components of a system using 3N-dimensional configuration space by time-dependent parameters s(t)={s₁(t),...,s_n(t)} where n≡3N.
Let's start with Cartesian coordinates in an inertial reference frame in 3D Euclidean space.
Consider a time-independent smooth one-to-one transformation of coordinates
q_i = Q_i(s) where i∈[1,n]
Now we can describe the trajectory of our mechanical system in terms of new coordinates q(t)={q₁(t),...,q_n(t)}.
These two different coordinate systems, mathematically representing the whole system's trajectory, would present different sets of n coordinate functions of time to define positions of all system's components, but they describe the same physical trajectory of a system.
When we use the word trajectory, we refer to both physical traces in 3D space of all N point-masses composing a mechanical system (objective physical reality independent of our choice to represent it mathematically) and their mathematical representation as a set of n time-dependent functions related to a particular configuration space.
Sometimes, to differentiate between these two meaning, we will use physical trajectory (N traces in 3D space, coordinate-independent physical entity) or mathematical trajectory (a set of n time-dependent coordinate functions).
Not only a trajectory, but also other coordinate-independent physical quantities of classical mechanics, like kinetic energy, can be mathematically represented in different form depending on our choice of a system of coordinates. But our mathematical calculations of any objective physical characteristic of an object traveling along its trajectory at any moment of time must be the same in any two systems of coordinates transformable into each other via some set of time-independent smooth transformation functions.
Mathematically, this follows from the fact that kinetic energy is a quadratic form induced by the Euclidean metric on configuration space, and smooth coordinate changes preserve its scalar value.
For example, consider Cartesian (x,y) and polar (r,θ) coordinates on a plane. They are mutually transformable into each other as follows.
(r,θ) → (x,y):
x = r·cos(θ)
y = r·sin(θ)
(x,y) → (r,θ):
r = √x²+y²
Transformation for θ is different in different quarters:
θ = arctan(y/x) for x > 0
θ = arctan(y/x) + π for x < 0, y ≥ 0
θ = arctan(y/x) − π for x < 0, y < 0
θ = π/2 for x = 0, y > 0
θ = −π/2 for x = 0, y < 0
θ is undefined for x = 0, y=0
A uniform circular motion of some point-mass on a two-dimensional plane can be represented in Cartesian coordinates as
x(t) = R·cos(ω·t)
y(t) = R·sin(ω·t)
where R is the radius of an orbit and ω is the angular speed of rotation.
The same trajectory can be represented on that two-dimensional plane in polar coordinates as
r(t) = R
θ(t) = ω·t
These two representations of a circular motion as formulas look totally different but describe the same physical trajectory.

3. Newton's Second Law is Tied to Cartesian Coordinates
The structure of equations of motion based on the Newton's Second law explicitly depends on time-dependent Cartesian coordinates.
Consider a system of only one component and Cartesian coordinates {x(t),y(t),z(t)}.
A vector of force F(t) acting on this object has three Cartesian coordinates
F(t) = {F_x(t),F_y(t),F_z(t)}
The Newton's Second law relates this force to a vector of acceleration
a(t)={x"(t),y"(t),z"(t)}
(a second derivative of a position by time)
F_x(t) = m·x"(t)
F_y(t) = m·y"(t)
F_z(t) = m·z"(t)
The differential equations of motion above mathematically represent a motion in Cartesian coordinates. This is a requirement for using the Newton's Second law.
In a general case a system of N point-mass components in three-dimensional space the trajectory of a system is described by n=3N equations
F_kx(t) = m_k·x_k"(t)
F_ky(t) = m_k·y_k"(t)
F_kz(t) = m_k·z_k"(t)
for k∈[1,N]
or, using uniform Cartesian coordinates ⁽³⁾
s(t)={s₁(t),...,s_n(t)}
instead of classical
{x₁(t),y₁(t),...,x_N(t),y_N(t),z_N(t)},
F_i(t) = m_i·s_i"(t) for i∈[1,n] where n=3N.

4. Euler-Lagrange Equation in Cartesian Coordinates ≡ Newton's Second Law
We have analytically proven in previous lectures ⁽⁴⁾ that the Euler-Lagrange equations
d/dt ∂L/∂s'_i − ∂L/∂s_i = 0
for all i∈[1,n]
with a Lagrangian L(s(t),s'(t)) of a mechanical system expressed in Cartesian coordinates are equivalent to Newton's Second law equations above in the same Cartesian coordinates.
Their equivalency means that their solution, a physical trajectory of a mechanical system as a function of time, is the same. In other words, if trajectory s_NS(t) is a solution to Newton's Second law equations in Cartesian coordinates and trajectory s_EL(t) is a solution to Euler-Lagrange equations in the same Cartesian coordinates with the same initial conditions, then
s_NSi(t) = s_ELi(t) for all i∈[1,n]
It should be noted, however, that Newton’s Second Law equates vectors and therefore requires a coordinate-dependent notion of direction, while Lagrangian mechanics is formulated entirely in terms of scalar quantities, which naturally survive coordinate transformations.

5. Lagrangian is Invariant to Coordinate Transformation
Kinetic K and potential U energies of a system, as physical quantities evaluated for each moment of time for a system moving along its trajectory, do not change under smooth, one-to-one, time-independent coordinate transformations.
Therefore, Lagrangian L=K−U represents a scalar physical quantity, whose numerical value (not a mathematical formula) along a given trajectory at a fixed moment of time is invariant within a scope of coordinate transformation delineated above.
Lagrangian's mathematical representation is based on our choice of coordinates. It is expressed in terms of time-dependent coordinate functions s(t)={s₁(t),...,s_n(t)} describing an object's positions and time derivatives of these functions s'(t)={s₁'(t),...,s_n'(t)} describing an object's velocities:
L(s(t),s'(t)) =
= K(s(t),s'(t)) − U(s(t),s'(t))
Consider two inertial frames with two systems of coordinates s (assume, it's Cartesian) and q (called generalized) transformable into each other by smooth, one-to-one, time-independent coordinate transformations.
Coordinate system s describes a trajectory as s(t)={s₁(t),...,s_n(t)}, and Lagrangian in this system looks like L_s(s(t),s'(t)), while coordinate system q describes this same trajectory as q(t)={q₁(t),...,q_n(t)}, and Lagrangian in this system looks like L_q(q(t),q'(t)).
Expressions L_s and L_q, as formulas of their arguments s(t), s'(t) and q(t), q'(t), look differently.
But for the same physical trajectory and time the calculated numerical values of these two Lagrangians are the same because they represent a physical quantity specific for a trajectory and system's movement along it.
In more general case, when transformation between coordinates is time-dependent or potential energy depends on velocity, the Lagrangian, strictly speaking, is not an invariant to transformations of coordinate system and might not be a scalar; however, in the scope of this presentation for conservative systems under time-independent smooth one-to-one coordinate transformations, its numerical value (not a coordinates-dependent formula) evaluated along a given physical trajectory at a fixed time is invariant.
For example, kinetic energy in Cartesian coordinates (x,y) depends on a magnitude of a velocity (x',y') (we use apostrophe to indicate a derivative by time and, for brevity, we omit time-dependency (t) of coordinates and velocities)
K_C = ½m·(x'²+y'²)
In polar coordinates (r,θ) the velocity vector in projection to radial and tangential axes is (r',rθ'), so the kinetic energy is
K_P = ½m·(r'²+r²·θ'²)
As we see, K_C and K_P, as formulas of their arguments, look differently.
To represent the same point in space at the same time, Cartesian and polar coordinates must be related by transformation functions.
The coordinate transformation from polar to Cartesian coordinates is
x = r·cos(θ)
y = r·sin(θ)
This transforms K_C as follows:
x' = r'·cos(θ)−r·sin(θ)·θ'
y' = r'·sin(θ)+r·cos(θ)·θ'
x'² = r'²·cos²(θ) + r²·sin²(θ)·θ'² −
− 2r'·cos(θ)·r·sin(θ)·θ'
y'² = r'²·sin²(θ) + r²·cos²(θ)·θ'² +
+ 2r'·sin(θ)·r·cos(θ)·θ'
Since sin²(θ)+cos²(θ)=1
x'² + y'² = r'² + r²θ'²
Therefore, K_C = K_P
The calculated numerical value of the kinetic energy, as we see, is the same in both Cartesian and polar coordinates.
In general, any real physical characteristic of a mechanical system, including numeric value of kinetic and potential energies and, consequently, numeric value of Lagrangian, evaluated along a given physical trajectory for any particular moment in time is an invariant relative to smooth one-to-one time-independent transformations of coordinates.

6. Action Extremals are Invariant to Coordinate Transformation
Consider now all possible trajectories of a mechanical system that moves from position A in space at time t₁ to position B at time t₂.
Mathematically, one trajectory might be represented in Cartesian coordinates by
s⁽¹⁾(t)={s⁽¹⁾₁(t),...,s⁽¹⁾_n(t)}
with s⁽¹⁾(t₁) = A and s⁽¹⁾(t₂) = B
Another trajectory might be
s⁽²⁾(t)={s⁽²⁾₁(t),...,s⁽²⁾_n(t)}
with s⁽²⁾(t₁) = A and s⁽²⁾(t₂) = B
Consider now an action functional ⁽⁵⁾ in these Cartesian coordinates
∫_[t1,t2] L(s(t),s'(t))·dt
(where s(t)={s₁(t),...,s_n(t)}).
It is an integral of Lagrangian L(s(t),s'(t)) along a trajectory by time.
Action functional will have some (generally speaking , different) value on each of these trajectories. On some of these trajectories this functional will have an extremum in a sense described in the Theory of Variations ⁽⁶⁾ (in many practical cases, but not generally, a particular trajectory would bring this functional to its absolute minimum).

As we stated above, numerical value of Lagrangian, as a physical characteristic, is defined by the dynamics of movement, not by a system of coordinates. So, for an object moving along its trajectory it has a value independent of the described above transformations of coordinates.
Consequently, the value of the action functional evaluated along any trajectory is an invariant to these transformations. The set of action's extremal trajectories is, therefore, also an invariant to transformations of coordinates.
Since the coordinate transformation establishes a one-to-one correspondence between admissible trajectories with fixed endpoints, extremality is preserved.
As an analogy, the shortest in meters road from point A to point B is the shortest in feet or miles.

In a way, it's the same logic as when you compare different roads from A to B. If one particular road is the shortest among all roads in meters, it's the shortest in feet or miles.

If a particular trajectory is an action functional's extremal in Cartesian coordinates, it is an extremal in any other coordinate system obtained by time-independent one-to-one smooth transformation of coordinates.
This invariance relies crucially on time-independent coordinate transformations; time-dependent transformations introduce additional terms in the Lagrangian and require separate treatment.

7. Real Trajectory is a Solution to Euler-Lagrange Equation in any System of Coordinates
Consider any extremal trajectory in the variational sense described above.
Let's establish some Cartesian coordinates and consider a mathematical representation of this trajectory s(t)={s₁(t),...,s_n(t)}.
Physical trajectory that is represented by s(t) in Cartesian coordinates is a frame-invariant physical entity, it will bring to extremum an action functional regardless of the way we represent it mathematically.
From the Theory of Variations ⁽⁶⁾ follows that functions s_i(t) that mathematically comprise this trajectory with fixed ends satisfy the Euler-Lagrange equations
d/dt ∂L/∂s'_i − ∂L/∂s_i = 0
for all i∈[1,n]
In the item #4 above we mentioned that in Cartesian coordinates Euler-Lagrange equation produces exactly the same solution as Newton's Second law, that we postulate as the law describing the real motion in Cartesian coordinates.
Therefore, a trajectory s(t) in Cartesian coordinates is
(a) the extremal trajectory for action functional independent of coordinates;
(b) ⇒ the solution to Euler-Lagrange equation in Cartesian coordinates;
(c) ⇒ the solution to Newton's Second law equations;
(d) ⇒ the real trajectory of motion of a mechanical system that moves from position A in space at time t₁ to position B at time t₂.
Hence, the real trajectory of a system's motion has an important property independent of coordinate system - it extremizes the action functional.
To find a real trajectory from A to B in Cartesian coordinates we can use Newton's Second law. But finding a trajectory that extremizes the action functional using Euler-Lagrange equation can be done in any coordinate system.
Different Euler–Lagrange equations written in different coordinate systems are not different laws of motion; they are different mathematical descriptions of the same physical trajectory.

8. Solving Euler-Lagrange Equation in Any Generalized Coordinates Produces a Real Trajectory in These Coordinates
For some reason, to find a mechanical system's trajectory, we might consider it's more convenient to work in non-Cartesian coordinates q(t)={q₁(t),...,q_n(t)} transformable into and from Cartesian by a smooth time-independent one-to-one transformation.
To accomplish that, we should express a Lagrangian in this coordinate system as a function of positions and velocities and solve a system of Euler-Lagrange equations.

In the next lecture we will examine how physical constraints restrict the set of admissible trajectories and how generalized coordinates arise naturally as coordinates on the constraint manifold.

It should be noted, however, that in Lagrangian mechanics the mathematical expression for the Lagrangian, generally speaking, is not unique: adding a total time derivative of an arbitrary smooth function F(q,t) modifies the numerical value of the action by boundary terms depending only on the endpoints. However, it does not change the Euler–Lagrange equations and does not alter the extremal trajectories, which are the solutions to Euler-Lagrange equations and, therefore, are physically equivalent descriptions of the same motion.

_____________
1. See lectures in the chapter UNIZOR.COM → Physics+ 4 All → Laws of Newton
2. See lectures in the chapter UNIZOR.COM → Physics+ 4 All → Laws of Kepler
3. See lecture UNIZOR.COM → Physics+ 4 All → Lagrangian → Lagrangian Math+
4. See lecture UNIZOR.COM → Physics+ 4 All → Lagrangian → N Freedom Degrees
5. See lecture UNIZOR.COM → Physics+ 4 All → Lagrangian → Lagrangian
6. See lectures in the chapter UNIZOR.COM → Physics+ 4 All → Variations

Physics+ Lagrangian Math: UNIZOR.COM - Physics+ 4 All - Lagrangian

Notes to a video lecture on UNIZOR.COM

Lagrangian Math+

This lecture contains additional mathematical material needed to introduce Lagrangian Mechanics in generalized coordinates and, in particular, to prove the uniformity of Euler-Lagrange equation for non-Cartesian coordinates.

Assume, we have a smooth real function S(...) of n real arguments q_i (i∈[1,n]), each of which, in turn, is a function of some unique for all functions parameter t that we can call "time" for definitiveness.
That is, function S(...), ultimately, is a function of time t and can be expressed as
S(t) = S(q₁(t),q₂(t),...q_n(t))

We will use apostrophe (') to indicate a derivative of any function by time t.
So, S'(t)=dS(t)/dt and
q_k'(t)=dq_k(t)/dt.

When taking partial derivatives, we treat q_k and q_k' as independent variables, even though both originate from the same time-dependent functions.

Lemma 1
∂S' /∂q_k' = ∂S /∂q_k
for any k∈[1,n]

PROOF:
From the rules of differentiation follows that
S'(t) = dS(t)/dt =
= dS(q₁(t),...q_n(t))/dt =
= Σ_i{[∂S(q₁,...q_n)/∂q_i]·q_i'(t)} =
= Σ_i [h_i(q₁,...q_n) · q_i'(t)]
where for each i∈[1,n]
h_i(q₁,...q_n) = ∂S(q₁,...q_n)/∂q_i

Now S'(t), the derivative of function S(t) by time, is represented as a function of 2n arguments - all q_i and all q_i':
S' = S'(q₁,...q_n,q₁',...q_n')

This function is a sum of n components, and only one of them, the k^th one, contains q_k' multiplied by h_k(q₁,...q_n).
Other components are independent of q_k', and differentiating by q_k' would nullify them.

Partially differentiating this sum by q_k' and dropping all nullified members except the k^th one, we get
∂S' /∂q_k' = h_k(q₁,...q_n) =
= ∂S(q₁,...q_n)/∂q_k = ∂S /∂q_k
End of proof.

Lemma 2
∂/∂q_k[dS/dt] = d/dt[∂S/∂q_k]
for any k∈[1,n]

PROOF:
Consider separately left and right sides of the equation we have to prove.
From the rules of differentiation follows that the expression on the left side equals to
∂/∂q_k[dS/dt] =
= ∂/∂q_k[dS(q₁(t),...q_n(t))/dt] =
= ∂/∂q_kΣ_i{[∂S(...)/∂q_i]·q_i'(t)} =
since each q_i'(t) in the sum above is independent of q_k(t), it can be considered as a constant for partial differentiation by q_k(t)
= Σ_i{∂/∂q_k[∂S(...)/∂q_i]}·q_i'(t) =
= Σ_i[∂²S(...)/∂q_k∂q_i]·q_i'(t)

On the other hand, the right side of the expression we have to prove is
d/dt[∂S/∂q_k] =
= d/dt[∂S(q₁(t),...q_n(t))/∂q_k] =
= Σ_i[∂²S(...)/∂q_i∂q_k]·q_i'(t)

Comparing the two final expressions for left and right sides of the original equation, we see that the only difference is in the order of differentiation of S(...) by two arguments:
∂²S(...)/∂q_k∂q_i on the left side,
∂²S(...)/∂q_i∂q_k on the right.

According to the known properties of partial differentiation, the order of differentiation by different arguments is irrelevant (Schwarz Theorem, not covered in this course, states that the sufficient condition for this is that both mixed derivatives exist and are continuous),
∂²S(...)/∂q_i∂q_k = ∂²S(...)/∂q_k∂q_i
That proves the equality between left and right sides of the original equation we have to prove.

Uniform Cartesian Coordinates

Consider a mechanical system of N objects in three-dimensional space.
Let's introduce the uniform Cartesian coordinates {s₁,...s_n} (where n=3N) to replace familiar symbolics {x₁,y₁,z₁,...x_N,y_N,z_N}.

This is just a change of symbolics we use, not a change in a concept. These uniform Cartesian coordinates are still the same Cartesian coordinates, just with another name.
This will help us to more conveniently express the transformation from Cartesian coordinates (in their uniform symbolics) to non-Cartesian (generalized) and back.

So, we will use
s₁ for x₁
s₂ for y₁
s₃ for z₁
etc. up to
s_n−2 for x_N
s_n−1 for y_N
s_n for z_N

In principle, there is no mathematical difference between considering a system as N components in three-dimensional space with three time-dependent coordinates each {x₁(t),y₁(t),z₁(t),...x_N(t),y_N(t),z_N(t)} and a mathematical representation of this system as a point in 3N-dimensional configuration space with n=3N time-dependent coordinates {s₁(t),...s_n(t)}.
In all cases the trajectory of an entire system is defined by a set of n=3N real time-dependent positional parameters.

Sometimes, to shorten the formula, we will omit time (t) mentioning a coordinate only, like s_i.
Sometimes, we will use a single bold symbol s instead of a set of all uniform Cartesian coordinates {s₁,...s_n} for brevity.

As proven in the previous lecture Lagrangian in N Degrees of Freedom, for a conservative (see lectures in the Laws of Newton part of this course) mechanical system these functions s_i(t) must satisfy the Euler-Lagrange equations that in this case of using uniform Cartesian coordinates can be written as
∂L/∂s_i(t) = d/dt ∂L/∂s_i'(t)
for i∈[1,n], where n=3N and L=K−U is a Lagrangian of the system - a difference between its total kinetic and potential energies.

Recall that potential energy of an entire system is a sum of potential energies of its components, each of which is a function of position of all components.
So, potential energy of an entire system is a function of positions of all components.
U = U[s₁(t),s₂(t),...s_n(t)]

In its turn, kinetic energy of an entire system is a sum of kinetic energies of all system's components, each of which depends on velocity of that particular component, which means that kinetic energy of an entire system depends on velocities of all its components
K = K[s'₁(t),s'₂(t),...s'_n(t)]
(apostrophe indicates a differentiation by time t).

From the above follows that Lagrangian of a system is a function of positions and velocities of all system's components
L = L[s₁(t),...s_n(t),s'₁(t),...s'_n(t)]

The solution to a system of n=3N Euler-Lagrange equations s(t) describes the trajectory of our system in n-dimensional configuration space.

Transformation of Coordinates

Consider a moving mechanical system with its state described by two different sets of parameters
s(t) = {s₁(t),s₂(t),...s_n(t)}
and
q(t) = {q₁(t),q₂(t),...q_n(t)}

Further assume that these two coordinate systems are mutually transformable from one to another by known inverse to each other transformation functions
s_i = S_i(q₁,q₂,...q_n)
q_i = Q_i(s₁,s₂,...s_n)
for all i∈[1,n]
or, for brevity,
s=S(q) and q=Q(s).

The above transformations are inverse to each other in a sense that applying S-transformation to q and then applying Q-transformation to results of the first transformation s would result in original q:
q_i = Q_i(S₁(q),S₂(q),...S_n(q))
In short, q=Q[S(q)]
Same in reverse order:
s_i = S_i(Q₁(s),Q₂(s),...Q_n(s))
In short, s=S[Q(s)]

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
that for the same moment in time t mutually transformable into each other coordinates {s₁(t),...s_n(t)} and {q₁(t),...q_n(t)} are different, but at the same time t they describe the same physical location of each component of our system in space.

For example, consider Cartesian (x,y) and polar (r,θ) coordinates of a moving object on a plane.
Assume, they share the origin and the positive ray of X-axis of Cartesian coordinates coincides with the base ray of polar coordinates.
If {x(t),y(t)} is a trajectory of some object, and, as we know, the rules of transformation of coordinates are
x = r·cos(θ)
y = r·sin(θ)
then {x(t),y(t)} and {r(t),θ(t)} describe the same motion of our object along its physical trajectory on a plane.
That is, physical location {x(t),y(t)} in Cartesian coordinates for any t is the same as location {r(t),θ(t)} in polar coordinates.

Consequently, it means that for the same moment in time t
(a) velocity vector in Cartesian coordinates V_car(t) is expressed differently than in polar V_pol(t), but it has the same magnitude and direction on a plane in both systems of coordinates;
(b) kinetic energy expressed in Cartesian coordinates as a function of time K_car(t) looks differently than in polar K_pol(t), but they are equal in value: K_car(t)=K_pol(t);
(c) potential energy is also the same: U_car(t)=U_pol(t).

For those in doubts let's do a calculation of velocity magnitude v.
In Cartesian coordinates velocity vector V_car(t) has components (x'(t),y'(y)) and magnitude
v_car(t) = √(x'(t))²+(y'(t))²
In polar coordinates velocity vector V_pol(t) can be projected to radial and tangential directions with components r'(t) and r(t)·θ'(t); its magnitude equals to
v_pol(t) = √(r'(t))²+(r(t)·θ'(t))²
Since x(t)=r(t)·cos(θ(t)) and y(t)=r(t)·sin(θ(t)), the velocity components are
x'(t) = r'(t)·cos(θ(t))−r(t)·sin(θ(t))·θ'(t)
y'(t) = r'(t)·sin(θ(t))+r(t)·cos(θ(t))·θ'(t)
v_car²(t) = (x'(t))²+(y'(t))² =
= (r'(t))²·cos²(θ(t)) −
− 2r'(t)·cos(θ(t))·r(t)·sin(θ(t))·θ'(t) +
+ r²(t)·sin²(θ(t))·(θ'(t))² +
+ (r'(t))²·sin²(θ(t)) +
+ 2r'(t)·sin(θ(t))·r(t)·cos(θ(t))·θ'(t) +
+ r²(t)·cos²(θ(t))·(θ'(t))² =
= (r'(t))² + r²(t)·(θ'(t))² = v_pol²(t)
The same equality can be established for any physical characteristic (like energy) which is independent of a point of view of an observer.

For all our purposes we will assume that coordinate transformation functions Q_k(s) and S_k(q) (k∈[1,n]) do exist, are sufficiently differentiable and transform one set of coordinates into another and back.

Any physical characteristic of a motion as a function of time which pertains only to a moving object (like kinetic energy or magnitude of velocity) and not to an observer (like a coordinate in some system) is expressed differently in different systems of coordinates but, calculated for the same moment of time, should give the same value.

Multivariable Function Limits: UNIZOR.COM - Math4Teens - Calculus - Limi...

Notes to a video lecture on http://www.unizor.com

Multivariable Limits

Sometimes we have to deal with functions of two or more arguments and have to analyze the behavior of such functions as their arguments approach certain values.

The usual way to analyze this situation is to fix all arguments except one and see what happens with the function if that single argument approach the value we are interested in.
The result of this process is the reduction of variables by one, and we can repeat the same thing for the next argument, then the next etc.

For example, consider a function
F(x,y,z) =
= arctan(x) + 2^−y + z/(z+1)
and its behavior when all arguments increase without restriction.
1. Fix x and y, let z→+∞.
lim_z→+∞ z/(z+1) = 1
2. Our function now can be written as
F(x,y,+∞) = arctan(x)+2 ^−y+1
Fix x, let y→+∞.
lim_y→+∞ 2^−y = 0
3. Our function now is
F(x,+∞,+∞) = arctan(x)+0+1
Let x→+∞.
lim_x→+∞ arctan(x) = π/2
The limit of our function when z→+∞, y→+∞, x→+∞ is
lim F(x,y,z) = π/2 + 1

This is great, but we have a result that seems to depend on the order of arguments we analyze.
Can the result be different if we choose a different order, say, fix z and y getting a limit by x, then fix z getting a limit by y and finish with a limit by z?

The answer is:
Under certain relatively broad conditions, the final result is not dependent on the order of taking limits by different arguments.

We consider only a case of a function of two arguments (in a general case of many arguments the proof is similar but a bit more tedious) and prove the theorem below.

Prior to that, let's talk about a particular type of taking a multivariable function to a limit - a uniform convergence.
Assume, we have to analyze the limit of function F(x,y) as x→a and y→b.
We say that function F(x,y) is converging uniformly by y to Y(y) as x→a if for any positive ε there is positive δ such that
|F(x,y)−Y(y)| < ε
as long as both |x−a| < δ and |y−b| < δ.

In other words, as x→a, not only F(x,y)→Y(y) for any specific value of y (so-called point convergence of F(x,y) to Y(y)), but F(x,y) gets equally close to Y(y) (distance less than small ε) for all values of y within certain neighborhood of its limit point y=b.

Theorem

Assume that all limits below exists and satisfy the conditions listed.
IF
lim_y→b F(x,y) = X(x)
         uniformly by x
lim_x→a X(x) = A
lim_x→a F(x,y) = Y(y)
         uniformly by y
lim_y→b Y(y) = B
THEN
A = B

Proof

Assume, A ≠ B.
Let |A−B|=d.
Let ε=d/4.

Then the following logic holds.

lim_x→a F(x,y) = Y(y) (uniformly by y) ⇒
⇒ ∃δ_a: |Y(y)−F(x,y)| < ε ∀x∈[a−δ_a,a+δ_a] and
∀y∈[b−δ_a,b+δ_a]

lim_y→b Y(y) = B ⇒
⇒ ∃δ_b: |B−Y(y)| < ε
∀y∈[b−δ_b,b+δ_b]

Let δ = min(δ_a,δ_b)
Then from both above statements follows that within a small neighborhood of limit points x=a and y=b
∀x∈[a−δ,a+δ] and
∀y∈[b−δ,b+δ]
the following is true
|B−Y(y)|<ε and
|Y(y)−F(x,y)|<ε
from which, in turn, follows
|B−F(x,y)|<2ε=d/2

That is, within a small distance of arguments x and y around their limit points a and b the value of F(x,y) deviates from B by less than d/2.

Now repeat the same from the position of another limit of function F(x,y).

lim_y→b F(x,y) = X(x) (uniformly by x) ⇒
⇒ ∃γ_b: |X(x)−F(x,y)| < ε ∀x∈[a−γ_b,a+γ_b] and
∀y∈[b−γ_b,b+γ_b]

lim_x→a X(x) = A ⇒
⇒ ∃γ_a: |A−X(x)| < ε
∀x∈[a−γ_a,a+γ_a]

Let γ = min(γ_a,γ_b)
Then from both above statements follows that within a small neighborhood of limit points x=a and y=b
∀x∈[a−γ,a+γ] and
∀y∈[b−γ,b+γ]
the following is true
|A−X(x)|<ε and
|X(x)−F(x,y)|<ε
from which, in turn, follows
|A−F(x,y)|<2ε=d/2

That is, within a small distance of arguments x and y around their limit points a and b the value of F(x,y) deviates from A by less than d/2.

Make our neighborhood even smaller by choosing β=min(γ,δ) and consider
∀x∈[a−β,a+β] and
∀y∈[b−β,b+β]

Now we see that within this neighborhood F(x,y) is closer to A by less than d/2 and closer to B by less than d/2, where d is the distance between A and B, which is impossible.

Therefore, A = B.

Double Sequence Limits: UNIZOR.COM - Math4Teens - Calculus - Limit of Se...

Notes to a video lecture on http://www.unizor.com

Double Limits

Sometimes we are interested in sequences that depend on two natural numbers like {a_m,n}.
For example,
a_m,n=arctan(m)+2⁻ⁿ.

Now, if m→∞ and n→∞, how to calculate the limit of a_m,n?
It might be
lim_m→∞ [lim_n→∞ (a_m,n)]
or
lim_n→∞ [lim_m→∞ (a_m,n)]
depending on which index, m or n, we will use to go to a limit first, and there is no guarantee that the answers will be the same.

Let's check both methods.
lim_n→∞ (a_m,n) =
= lim_n→∞ (arctan(m) + 2⁻ⁿ) =
= arctan(m)
lim_m→∞ (arctan(m)) = π/2

If we change the order of limits,
lim_m→∞ (a_m,n) =
= lim_m→∞ (arctan(m) + 2⁻ⁿ) =
= π/2 + 2⁻ⁿ
lim_n→∞ (π/2 + 2⁻ⁿ) = π/2

As you see, the results are the same.

In some way, the equality of these two limits might be considered similar to a standard accounting procedure of checking the calculations.
Imagine an M⨯N matrix with numbers.
If you summarize the numbers within each of M rows with row #i having a sum R_i and summarize all these row totals by i from 1 to M, you will get a total of all numbers in an original table.
If you summarize the numbers within each of N columns with column #j having a sum S_j and summarize all these column totals by j from 1 to N, you should get exactly the same total of all numbers.
If these two calculated totals are not equal, that is if
Σ_i∈[1,M] R_i ≠ Σ_j∈[1,N] S_j
then your calculations are wrong.

The equality of two limits in the example above is not coincidental. We shall prove it as the theorem below.
But, to make our proof rigorous, we have to make a short comment about uniform convergence.
We say that sequence {a_m,n} is converging uniformly by m to b_m as n→∞ if for any positive ε there is number K such that
|b_m−a_m,n| < ε
as long as both n and m are greater than K.
Analogously, we say that sequence {a_m,n} is converging uniformly by n to c_n as m→∞ if for any positive ε there is number K such that
|c_n−a_m,n| < ε
as long as both n and m are greater than K.

Theorem

IF
lim_n→∞ (a_m,n) = b_m
(uniformly by m)
lim_m→∞ (b_m) = B
lim_m→∞ (a_m,n) = c_n
(uniformly by n)
lim_n→∞ (c_n) = C
THEN
B = C

Proof

Assume, B≠C and |B−C|=d.

Since lim_m→∞(b_m)=B, there exists some natural number M₁ such that
|B−b_m| < d/4 for all m>M₁

Since
lim_n→∞(a_m,n)=uniformly=b_m
there exists some natural number N₁ greater than M₁ such that
|a_m,n−b_m| < d/4 for all m,n>N₁

Then, for all pairs m,n greater than N₁ both following inequalities are true:
|B − b_m| < d/4 and
|b_m − a_m,n| < d/4
Therefore,
|B−a_m,n| < d/2
That is, our double sequence a_m,n with both indices m and n greater than N₁ is closer to number B than d/2.

Let's use the same approach, but start from index n.
Since lim_n→∞(c_n)=C, there exists some natural number N₂ such that
|C−c_n| < d/4 for all n>N₂

Since
lim_m→∞(a_m,n)=uniformly=c_n
there exists some natural number M₂ greater than N₂ such that
|a_m,n−c_n| < d/4 for all m,n>M₂

Then, for all pairs m,n greater than M₂ both following inequalities are true:
|C − c_n| < d/4 and
|c_n − a_m,n| < d/4
Therefore,
|C−a_m,n| < d/2
That is, our double sequence a_m,n with both indices m and n greater than M₂ is closer to number C than d/2.

Choosing K=max(N₁,M₂) we see that all a_m,n with indices greater than K should be closer to B than d/2 and at the same time should be closer to C than d/2.

With the distance between B and C equal to d it's impossible.
We came to contradiction that signifies that our initial assumption that B≠C is wrong.

Therefore, B=C.

For sequences that satisfy the conditions of the theorem above we can define their limit regardless of how we calculate it, starting from the first index or the second, and can combine indices in the notation
lim_m,n→∞ a_m,n = B

Not every sequence satisfies the conditions of this theorem.
For example, a_m,n=m/n has no unconditional limit.
If m is fixed and we vary n→∞, each b_m is zero.
Hence, lim_m→∞ b_m = 0
But if we fix n and vary m→∞, the resulting sequence {1/n,2/n,3/n...} has no limit for any n.

Physics+ Lagrangian in N Degrees of Freedom: UNIZOR.COM - Physics+ 4 All...

Notes to a video lecture on UNIZOR.COM

Lagrangian
for N-dimensional Systems

Background

In one of the previous lectures we considered a point-mass object oscillating on a spring in an empty one-dimensional space with Cartesian coordinates (one degree of freedom).

In that case we defined a Lagrangian of an object as a difference between its kinetic and potential energies and built a theory equivalent to Newtonian but based on the Euler-Lagrange equation instead of the Newton's Second Law.

In another lecture we discussed a spring pendulum (two degrees of freedom) and used non-Cartesian parameters to define a state of a system - an angle of pendulum from a vertical and a spring's length.
It was possible but rather complicated to use the Newtonian approach, so we applied Lagrangian Mechanics to come up with the differential equations to describe a state of this system.

An important reason for using Lagrangian Mechanics with energies instead of vectors of force and accelerations in that second example was that energies are scalars, while forces and accelerations are vectors.
Manipulations with scalars are simpler, especially dealing with complex systems with more than one degree of freedom.

Obviously, no matter how we solve a problem, the calculated actual physical trajectories of objects in space must be the same.

Before proceeding any further, we strongly recommend to refresh your knowledge about conservative forces, independence of work performed by these forces from a trajectory of an object moved by them, a concept of a field and its potential.
The chapter Laws of Newton of this course is a good source of this information.

Recall that conservative forces are defined as those that depend only on position in space. Their work, performed by moving an object from one position to another, does not depend on trajectory or speed along this trajectory, but depends only on the beginning and ending positions of an object.

From the Energy Conservation Law follows that the work performed by a conservative force that moves an object changes the potential energy of this object by the amount of work performed.

Consider an isolated closed system of N point-mass objects acting on each other with conservative forces and no forces from outside of this system.
The force on the i^th object is
F_i = {F_ix,F_iy,F_iz}.
If this force moved this object by an infinitesimal increment
dr_i = {dx_i,dy_i,dz_i},
it performed some infinitesimal amount of work
dW_i = (F_i · dr_i) =
= F_ix·dx_i+F_iy·dy_i+F_iz·dz_i

From the Energy Conservation Law follows that potential energy of this object U_i should diminish by this amount of work
dU_i = −dW_i

When all N objects are moved by corresponding forces, the total increment of potential energy of an entire system is
dU = −Σ_i∈[1,N]dW_i =
= −Σ_i∈[1,N](F_i · dr_i) =
= −Σ_i∈[1,N](F_ix·dx_i+F_iy·dy_i+F_iz·dz_i)

From this equation follows the relationship between an increment of a total potential energy of an entire system and each individual force
F_ix = −∂U/∂x_i
F_iy = −∂U/∂y_i
F_iz = −∂U/∂z_i

Using vectors and operator
∇_i = {∂/∂x_i,∂/∂y_i,∂/∂z_i}
above equations can be expressed as
F_i = −∇_iU
for all i∈[1,N]

Lagrangian Mechanics was invented to simplify analysis of complex systems acted upon by conservative forces, like electrostatic, gravitational or spring forces.

We are going to prove that Lagrangian Mechanics of a closed (no external forces) mechanical system with its components acted among themselves with some conservative forces produces differential equations of motion that are equivalent to Newtonian equations, but easier to deal with.

Consider a system that consists of N point-masses with each i^th component Ω_i acted upon by conservative forces from all components within this system.
The time-dependent Cartesian coordinates of each Ω_i are {x_i(t),y_i(t),z_i(t)}, which we will denote as a vector r_i(t).

Let a combined conservative force acting on component Ω_i that depends on positions of all components of a system be
F_i(r₁,...r_N)

The Newton's Second Law of motion for each object in a system is, therefore,
F_i(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) = m_i·r"_i(t)
where each F_i is a vector of three components {F_ix,F_iy,F_iz}, and each component is a function of 3N coordinates of all objects in a system,
mass m_i is a mass of Ω_i and
a symbol " means the second derivative of position vector r_i(t) of object Ω_i by time, that is, its vector of acceleration {x"_i(t),y"_i(t),z"_i(t)}.

In coordinate form the above equation can be written as
F_ix(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) = m_i·x"_i(t)
F_iy(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) = m_i·y"_i(t)
F_iz(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) = m_i·z"_i(t)

In summary, we have 3N differential equations of 2-nd order, three for each component of a system of N objects.

In case of multiple objects in three-dimensional space exerting forces on each other (like all the planets of our Solar system or a nucleus with all its electrons in an atom) the vectors of forces are directed in different directions and the system of differential equations based on Newton's Second law is extremely complex.

Let's approach it differently.
Since all forces F_i are conservative, each one can be represented as
F_i(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) =
= −∇_iU(r₁(t),...r_N(t))
where U(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) is a total potential energy of an entire system and
∇_i is a vector of its partial derivatives by each coordinate of object Ω_i.
∇_i = {∂/∂x_i,∂/∂y_i,∂/∂z_i}.

Let's shorten for convenience the results above as
F_i = −∇_iU
and rewrite it in (x,y,z) components of Cartesian coordinates
F_ix = −∂U/∂x_i
F_iy = −∂U/∂y_i
F_iz = −∂U/∂z_i

As we see, knowing the potential energy of a system of objects is sufficient to know all the conservative forces acted on individual objects in this system.

The Newton's Second Law equation for object Ω_i in vector form is
F_i(r₁(t),...r_N(t)) = m_i·r"_i(t)
which in coordinate form would be
F_ix(x₁(t),...z_N(t)) = m_i·x"_i(t)
F_iy(x₁(t),...z_N(t)) = m_i·y"_i(t)
F_iz(x₁(t),...z_N(t)) = m_i·z"_i(t)
Using the potential energy, the same equations for object Ω_i would be
−∂U /∂x_i = m_i·x"_i(t)
−∂U /∂y_i = m_i·y"_i(t)
−∂U /∂z_i = m_i·z"_i(t)
where U=U(x₁(t),...z_N(t)) is a total potential energy of an entire system.

Let's address the m_i·r"_i(t) side of the Newton's Second Law and derive its value from the kinetic energy of an object Ω_i.
We express a vector r"_i(t) in (x,y,z) coordinates as
(x"_i(t),y"_i(t),z"_i(t))

Kinetic energy of Ω_i equals to K_i(t)=½m_i·v_i(t)² where v_i is a linear speed along a trajectory
v_i(t)² = r'_i(t)·r'_i(t) =
= x'_i(t)²+y'_i(t)²+z'_i(t)²

Now we can express the components of an acceleration vector r"_i(t) of Ω_i in terms of its kinetic energy
K_i(t)=½m_i·[x'_i(t)²+y'_i(t)²+z'_i(t)²]

Partial derivatives of kinetic energy by each coordinate of velocity vector produces coordinates of an object's momentum
∂K_i /∂x'_i = m_i·x'_i
∂K_i /∂y'_i = m_i·y'_i
∂K_i /∂z'_i = m_i·z'_i
Derivative by time of a momentum gives the right side of the Newton's Second Law d/dt ∂K_i /∂x'_i = d/dt m_i·x'_i =
= m_i·x"_i
d/dt ∂K_i /∂y'_i = d/dt m_i·y'_i =
= m_i·y"_i
d/dt ∂K_i /∂z'_i = d/dt m_i·z'_i =
= m_i·z"_i

We are ready to express the Newton's Second Law in terms of kinetic and potential energy.

From
−∂U /∂x_i = m_i·x"_i
and
d/dt ∂K_i /∂x'_i = m_i·x"_i
follows
−∂U/∂x_i = d/dt ∂K_i /∂x'_i
Similarly,
−∂U /∂y_i = d/dt ∂K_i /∂y'_i
−∂U/∂z_i = d/dt ∂K_i /∂z'_i

The total kinetic energy of a system is a sum of kinetic energies of its components
K = K₁+...+K_N
Since each K_i depends only on a velocity of the i^th object {x'_i(t),y'_i(t),z'_i(t)}, partial derivative of K_i by x'_i(t), y'_i(t) or by z'_i(t) is the same as partial derivatives of an entire kinetic energy of a system K by the same components x'_i(t), y'_i(t) or z'_i(t) of the velocity of the i^th object
∂K_i /∂x'_i = ∂K/∂x'_i
∂K_i /∂y'_i = ∂K/∂y'_i
∂K_i /∂z'_i = ∂K/∂z'_i

Using total kinetic energy of a system, the formulas describing the laws of motion of object Ω_i would be
−∂U/∂x_i = d/dt ∂K/∂x'_i
−∂U/∂y_i = d/dt ∂K/∂y'_i
−∂U/∂z_i = d/dt ∂K/∂z'_i
Now the only participants in these equations are the total kinetic and potential energies of an entire system - just two numbers that depend on positions and velocities of system's components.

To make the theory more elegant, let's introduce a Lagrangian L=K−U that equals to a difference between kinetic and potential energy of this system.

Since kinetic energy of a system K is independent of positions of its components {x_i(t),y_i(t),z_i(t)},
−∂U/∂x_i=∂(K−U)/∂x_i=∂L/∂x_i
and similar with partial derivatives by y_i and z_i.

Since potential energy of a system U is independent on velocities of its components,
∂K/∂x'_i=∂(K−U)/∂x'_i=∂L/∂x'_i
and similar with partial derivatives by y_i and z_i.

Therefore, our equations look even simpler
∂L/∂x_i = d/dt ∂L/∂x'_i
∂L/∂y_i = d/dt ∂L/∂y'_i
∂L/∂z_i = d/dt ∂L/∂z'_i

The equations above are also differential equations of the second order, like with Newton's Second Law.
There are also 3N of these equations (three coordinates for N objects in a system).
But there is only one number, Lagrangian, also called action, a function of all positions and velocities, to deal with for all objects instead of individual forces for each object.
Lagrangian Mechanics allows to deal with complex system in a simpler way.

As the cherry on top, consider the same equations in the form
d/dt ∂L/∂x'_i − ∂L/∂x_i = 0
d/dt ∂L/∂y'_i − ∂L/∂y_i = 0
d/dt ∂L/∂z'_i − ∂L/∂z_i = 0
In these equations Lagrangian L depends on 3N parameters, positions and velocities of N components of our system, which are, in turn, time-dependent.
So, ultimately, Lagrangian L is a function of time.

On one hand, these are equations that define a motion of a system, that is they define a trajectory of a system changing positions and velocities of its components from one moment in time to another.

On another hand, as we discussed in the Variations chapter of this course, they produce a function of time L(t) that brings to extremum (usually, minimum) the action functional
S = ∫_[t1,t2] L(t)·dt

Therefore, we can say that a mechanical system with only conservative forces present changes its state along an N-dimensional trajectory that minimizes the action functional above.