Let's assume a conservative holonomic system with n independent generalized coordinates and a Lagrangian $L(q,\dot{q},t)$, resulting in a system of $n$ Lagrange differential equations of second order. Building the respective Hamiltonian $H(q,p,t)$ with the Legendre transform (given the Lagrangian is not singular), we can derive a set of $2n+1$ Hamilton equations

\begin{align*} \dot{q}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\dot{p}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}. \end{align*}

The first $2n$ equations are equivalent to the $n$ Lagrange equations, so these are the ones we are primarily interested in, and their interpretation is well-known. But what about the last equation? All my text books mention it, some count it to the Hamiltonian equations, others don't, but none of them explains its physical significance. Is there any at all? From the examples I have been computing so far, I always get rather complicated expressions, which I have not been able to interpret in any way.

Obviously, if $L$ does not depend explicitly on $t$, then the equation says that $H$ does not either, and vice versa. But is there a significance of this equation beyond that?

Let's assume a conservative holonomic system with $n$ independent generalized coordinates and a Lagrangian $L(q,\dot{q},t)$, resulting in a system of $n$ Lagrange differential equations of second order. Building the respective Hamiltonian $H(q,p,t)$ with the Legendre transform (given the Lagrangian is not singular), we can derive a set of $2n+1$ Hamilton equations

\begin{align*} \dot{q}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\dot{p}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}. \end{align*}

The first $2n$ equations are equivalent to the $n$ Lagrange equations, so these are the ones we are primarily interested in, and their interpretation is well-known. But what about the last equation? All my text books mention it, some count it to the Hamiltonian equations, others don't, but none of them explains its physical significance. Is there any at all? From the examples I have been computing so far, I always get rather complicated expressions, which I have not been able to interpret in any way.

Obviously, if $L$ does not depend explicitly on $t$, then the equation says that $H$ does not either, and vice versa. But is there a significance of this equation beyond that?

Let's assume a conservative holonomic system with n independent generalized coordinates and a Lagrangian $L(q,\dot{q},t)$, resulting in a system of $n$ Lagrange differential equations of second order. Building the respective Hamiltonian $H(q,p,t)$ with the Legendre transform (given the Lagrangian is not singular), we can derive a set of $2n+1$ Hamilton equations

\begin{align*} \dot{q}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\dot{p}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}. \end{align*}

The first $2n$ equations are equivalent to the $n$ Lagrange equations, so these are the ones we are primarily interested in, and their interpretation is well-known. But what about the last equation? All my text books mention it, some count it to the Hamiltonian equations, others don't, but none of them explains its physical significance. Is there any at all? From the examples I have been computing so far, I always get rather complicated expressions, which I have not been able to interpret in any way.

Obviously, if L does not depend explicitly on t, then the equation says that H does not either, and vice versa. But is there a significance of this equation beyond that?

Let's assume a conservative holonomic system with n independent generalized coordinates and a Lagrangian $L(q,\dot{q},t)$, resulting in a system of $n$ Lagrange differential equations of second order. Building the respective Hamiltonian $H(q,p,t)$ with the Legendre transform (given the Lagrangian is not singular), we can derive a set of $2n+1$ Hamilton equations

\begin{align*} \dot{q}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\dot{p}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}. \end{align*}

The first $2n$ equations are equivalent to the $n$ Lagrange equations, so these are the ones we are primarily interested in, and their interpretation is well-known. But what about the last equation? All my text books mention it, some count it to the Hamiltonian equations, others don't, but none of them explains its physical significance. Is there any at all? From the examples I have been computing so far, I always get rather complicated expressions, which I have not been able to interpret in any way.

Obviously, if $L$ does not depend explicitly on $t$, then the equation says that $H$ does not either, and vice versa. But is there a significance of this equation beyond that?

Let's assume a conservative holonomic system with n independent generalized coordinates and a Lagrangian $L(q,\dot{q},t)$, resulting in a system of $n$ Lagrange differential equations of second order. Building the respective Hamiltonian $H(q,p,t)$ with the Legendre transform (given the Lagrangian is not singular), we can derive a set of $2n+1$ Hamilton equations

\begin{align*} \dot{q}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\dot{p}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}. \end{align*}

The first $2n$ equations are equivalent to the $n$ Lagrange equations, so these are the ones we are primarily interested in, and their interpretation is well-known. But what about the last equation? All my text books mention it, some count it to the Hamiltonian equations, others don't, but none of them explains its physical significance. Is there any at all? From the examples I have been computing so far, I always get rather complicated expressions, which I have not been able to interpret in any way.

Let's assume a conservative holonomic system with n independent generalized coordinates and a Lagrangian $L(q,\dot{q},t)$, resulting in a system of $n$ Lagrange differential equations of second order. Building the respective Hamiltonian $H(q,p,t)$ with the Legendre transform (given the Lagrangian is not singular), we can derive a set of $2n+1$ Hamilton equations

\begin{align*} \dot{q}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\dot{p}_i &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}, \quad i=1,\dots,n, \\ -\frac{\partial L}{\partial t} &= \frac{\partial H}{\partial t}. \end{align*}

The first $2n$ equations are equivalent to the $n$ Lagrange equations, so these are the ones we are primarily interested in, and their interpretation is well-known. But what about the last equation? All my text books mention it, some count it to the Hamiltonian equations, others don't, but none of them explains its physical significance. Is there any at all? From the examples I have been computing so far, I always get rather complicated expressions, which I have not been able to interpret in any way.

Obviously, if L does not depend explicitly on t, then the equation says that H does not either, and vice versa. But is there a significance of this equation beyond that?