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2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Confusing Total Derivative and Partial Derivative in Classical Field Theory - Noether Theorem

I'm really confused about total derivatives and partial derivatives. My multivariable calculus book (Guidorizzi vol 2 Um Curso de Calculo) says that if I have a function like $f(a(u,v),b(u,v))$ then ...
1 vote
2 answers
268 views

Why the $\Delta$ in the definition of pressure? (fluid mechanics)

I'm an engineering student (first year) studying Physics 1 (now an introduction to fluid mechanics). Q1 In my physics textbook, the "medium pressure" is defined as: $$p_m = \frac{\Delta F_{\...
0 votes
1 answer
57 views

What does this vertical line notation mean?

Here is the definition of the Noether momentum in my script. $$I = \left.\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}} \frac{d x}{d \alpha} \right|_{\alpha=0} = \frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}} = m \dot{x} = ...
1 vote
1 answer
164 views

Question regarding Energy Interaction of two particles

https://i.sstatic.net/LUsKX.jpg To give a context as to what I'm asking here ,I am talking about the energy of a two particle system (section 4.9 Taylor's Classical Mechanics) . My question is what ...
0 votes
1 answer
134 views

Velocities - Equation 1.46 of Goldstein 3rd edition

In his derivation of the Euler-Lagrange equations from D'Alembert's principle, Goldstein uses the parametrization (equation 1.45') $$\displaystyle{\vec{r_i}=\vec{r_i}(q_1,q_2, ..., q_n, t)}\tag{1.45'}$...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

What does a Umlaut (double dot) above an angle mean?

I'm reading a paper on double pendulums and there is an equation of motion that contains a double dot (Umlaut) above an angle. What does this mean / is this a standard notation in equations of motion?...
2 votes
2 answers
172 views

Conjugate momentum notation

I was reading Peter Mann's Lagrangian & Hamiltonian Dynamics, and I found this equation (page 115): $$p_i := \frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{q}^i}$$ where L is the Lagrangian. I understand this is ...
1 vote
1 answer
412 views

What does lowercase-delta mean in Noether's first theorem?

Most expressions of Noether's Theorem I have come across do not use lowercase delta, but a couple sites do. I am confused....... Check out page 21 of the June 23 issue of 'Science News' ...
1 vote
1 answer
320 views

What is the meaning of $d$? [duplicate]

What is the meaning of $d$? Is is Delta? If it is Delta, why is it then not $\Delta$? I am still confused with that. Can someone help explain it to me?
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Lagrange equations in a conservative system, understanding $\nabla_i$

For a system of multiple particles with conservative forces: $\mathbf{F}_i = - \nabla_i V$, with $V \equiv V(\mathbf{r}_1,\dots,\mathbf{r}_N)$ the potential in function of the position of the $N$ ...
1 vote
2 answers
123 views

Physics of small values and differentials

In some formulas in physics having a ratio, for example $ pressure={F \over\ A}$, the denominator is chosen to be a small quantity ($\Delta A$) and is written like, $$P= {\Delta F\over \Delta A}.$$ ...
0 votes
0 answers
359 views

Different subscripts for $\nabla$ operators while deriving force on system of many particles

Consider a system of 4 particles in an external conservative field. So force acting on each particle is derived from potential energy $U(x,y,z)$of the particle+field system: Total (external) force on ...
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

A confusion about notation in Goldstein

On treating systems of particles, Goldstein starts with the consideration that whenever there are $k$ particles on a system, the $i$-th one obeys the relation $$\dfrac{d}{dt}{\bf p}_i = {\bf F}_i^{(e)...