Skip to main content
edited tags
Link
Qmechanic
  • 212.8k
  • 48
  • 589
  • 2.3k
Source Link
Cort Ammon
  • 51.7k
  • 5
  • 101
  • 170

Why can't we just find minimums in Lagrangian mechanics?

In Lagrangian mechanics, we solve for a path for which, under variation, the first derivative is zero. This could be a minimum, maximum, or an inflection point. Any function which leads to true physical behavior can be considered to be a Lagrangian. Why do we not simply restrict the Lagrangian to one for which all valid true paths are local minimums? Are there some physical situations which defy such restrictions, or is it merely a mathematical coincidence?