bradley j. nartowt Monday, September 09, 2013, 15:23:38 PHYS 6246 classical mechanics Dr.

Whiting
a particle of mass m moves in one dimension such that it has the Lagrangian,

fix typos?
2 4 2 2 4 2 2
2
still ambiguous, even in light of errata, so use
1 1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
12 12
L m x mx V x V x m x mx V x V x

= + [I.1]
Here, V(x) is some differentiable function of x. find the equation of motion for x(t).

2 2 3 2 2
3 4
12
4
2 2 0 2 ( )
12
x x x
L d L d
mx V V V m x mxV m x x m xV xV x
x dt x dt

c c
| |
= = = +
|
c c
\ .
[I.2]
We can now write down the equation of motion
2 2 2 2
( ) ( 2 ) 2 ( )
L d L
x x x dt x
mx V V m x x m xV V x
c c
c c
= = + ; computing
the net generalized force per unit mass x ,

( )
2 2
2 2 2 2
2 2
2 2
( 2 ) 2 2
2 2
x x x x x
V mx mx V
m x mV x mx V mx V mx V V V mx V
mx V mx V

= = = = =

[I.3]
Describe the physical nature of the system on the basis of this equation of motion.
If the author intended
????
2 4 2 2
1
12
( ) ( ) L m x mx V x V x = + , then [I.3] becomes
V
x x
mx V
c
c
= = , and it is extremely
tempting to identify V(x), which we know only to be a differentiable function of x, as the potential energy. Ordinary
mechanics follows.
If the author intended
????
2 4 2 2
1
12
( ) ( ) L m x mx V x V x = , then [I.3] becomes
V
x x
mx V
c
c
= = . You cannot identify V(x),
then, as the potential, because it would imply (one dimensional) mechanics where particles accelerated uphill of
potential-gradients. For instance, for ( ) V x kx = , we would have mx kx = , indicating acceleration is in the +x direction.
However, the potential slopes upward in the +x direction. Even worse,
2
1
2
( ) V x kx = would have position
/ /
( )
t k m t k m t t
x t Ae Be Ae Be
e e
= + = + , an exponential acceleration away from the origin, meaning the parabola
2
1
2
( ) V x kx = we are accustomed to facilitating simple harmonic oscillation would instead act as a repulsing agent. Only
the inverted-parabola
2
1
2
( ) V x kx = would give a position ( ) cos( ) sin( )
t t
x t Ae Be C t D t
e e
e e

= + = +
i i
we are
accustomed to obtaining from hookes law. This lends support for the case to identify V(x) as the negative of the good ol
potential energy we know and love which implies mechanics.