if i want action to be positive number then it require that $\tau_i$ be bigger than $\tau_f$, isn't it true? [closed]

Question

the action is the length of the geodesic

$S=-E_o\int_i^f d\tau$

we get an action that is minimised for the correct path.

if i want action to be positive number then it require that $\tau_i$ be bigger than $\tau_f$

$S=-E_o(\tau_f-\tau_i)$

$S=E_o(\tau_i-\tau_f)$

isn't it true!?

As has been noted on the site before the "principle of least action" is really a principle of stationary action. Any minimization problem can be converted into a maximization problem by either multiplying by -1 or by inversion. It should be clear that these manipulations don't affect the interpretation of the result. Accordingly we don't care what sign the action has.

Frederic Brünner · Answer 1 · 2013-02-28 19:50:11Z

up vote 0 down vote

Assuming that your action makes sense, $E_0\gt0$ and that the limits are written like

$S=-E_o\int_{\tau_i}^{\tau_f} d\tau,$

the answer is yes.

answered Feb 28 at 19:50

Frederic Brünner
1,42729

closed as too localized by Qmechanic♦ Apr 30 at 7:40