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Sofia
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You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian".

How exactly is the velocity dependent on time? Before applying the least action principle and find the trajectory of the object, we have a Lagrangian dependent on velocity (through the kinetic energy term), and position and (eventually) time (through the potential energy). We have no idea if and how the velocity depends on time. There is a continuum of forms of dependences, because there is a continuum of forms of trajectories that the object may follow in principle. This is why, before minimizing the action, we take in the Lagrangian the velocity as a variable in itself.

We don't know the trajectory before minimizing the action, s.t. we have no relationship between velocity and time.

You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian".

How is the velocity dependent on time? Before applying the least action principle and find the trajectory of the object, we have a Lagrangian dependent on velocity (through the kinetic energy term), and position and (eventually) time (through the potential energy). We have no idea if and how the velocity depends on time. There is a continuum of forms of dependences, because there is a continuum of forms of trajectories that the object may follow in principle. This is why, before minimizing the action, we take in the Lagrangian the velocity as a variable in itself.

We don't know the trajectory before minimizing the action, s.t. we have no relationship between velocity and time.

You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian".

How exactly is the velocity dependent on time? Before applying the least action principle and find the trajectory of the object, we have a Lagrangian dependent on velocity (through the kinetic energy term), and position and (eventually) time (through the potential energy). We have no idea how the velocity depends on time. There is a continuum of forms of dependences, because there is a continuum of forms of trajectories that the object may follow in principle. This is why, before minimizing the action, we take in the Lagrangian the velocity as a variable in itself.

We don't know the trajectory before minimizing the action, s.t. we have no relationship between velocity and time.

adding some explanation that I gave in the comments
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Sofia
  • 6.9k
  • 3
  • 21
  • 38

You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian". 

How is the velocity dependent on time? The integral overBefore applying the Lagrangian that you see inleast action principle and find the least action principle takes different values for different trajectories available fortrajectory of the object, andwe have a Lagrangian dependent on each onevelocity (through the kinetic energy term), and position and (eventually) time (through the potential energy). We have no idea if and how the velocity may dependdepends on time differently. There is a continuum of forms of dependences, because there is a continuum of forms of trajectories that the object may follow in principle. This is why, before applyingminimizing the principle of least action and find, we take in the Lagrangian the velocity as a variable in itself.

We don't know the trajectory actually followed bybefore minimizing the objectaction, s.t. we have no relationship between velocity and time.

You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian". How is the velocity dependent on time? The integral over the Lagrangian that you see in the least action principle takes different values for different trajectories available for the object, and on each one the velocity may depend on time differently. This is why, before applying the principle of least action and find the trajectory actually followed by the object, we have no relationship between velocity and time.

You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian". 

How is the velocity dependent on time? Before applying the least action principle and find the trajectory of the object, we have a Lagrangian dependent on velocity (through the kinetic energy term), and position and (eventually) time (through the potential energy). We have no idea if and how the velocity depends on time. There is a continuum of forms of dependences, because there is a continuum of forms of trajectories that the object may follow in principle. This is why, before minimizing the action, we take in the Lagrangian the velocity as a variable in itself.

We don't know the trajectory before minimizing the action, s.t. we have no relationship between velocity and time.

Source Link
Sofia
  • 6.9k
  • 3
  • 21
  • 38

You say " When we calculate the action as the integral of the Lagrangian for a wiggly trajectory, the velocity is obviously dependent on time and so is the Lagrangian". How is the velocity dependent on time? The integral over the Lagrangian that you see in the least action principle takes different values for different trajectories available for the object, and on each one the velocity may depend on time differently. This is why, before applying the principle of least action and find the trajectory actually followed by the object, we have no relationship between velocity and time.