Uploaded May 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
My oft-requested video has finally arrived! In this lesson, I introduce the Principle of Stationary Action to begin my newest series on Analytical Mechanics. The Principle of Stationary Action serves as an exceedingly useful tool to solve higher-level problems in Classical Mechanics as well as in other branches of Physics.
It states that the path a particle follows in space can be determined by setting the action functional stationary; essentially, we can find the particle's path by solving a Calculus of Variations problem. I show that the Principle of Stationary Action is essentially equivalent to applying Newton's 2nd Law, and afterwards, I solve a simple example problem to illustrate the Principle of Stationary Action *in action* (huehuehue).
More complex versions of the Principle of Stationary Action, in addition to more complex examples, will be solved in future videos in this playlist.
Questions/requests? Let me know in the comments!
Pre-reqs: My Calculus of Variations playlist, until the 7th video - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdgVBOaXkb9CD8igcUr9Fmn5WXLpE8ZE_
Lecture Notes: drive.google.com/open?id=1EmIVdtHEhbocjoRDeSxCmhnZqxGwK9J8
Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=4354534
Twitter: twitter.com/FacultyOfKhan
Special thanks to my Patrons for supporting me at the $5 level or higher:
- Jose Lockhart
- Yuan Gao
- James Mark Wilson
- Marcin Maciejewski
- Sabre
- Jacob Soares
- Yenyo Pal
- Lisa Bouchard
- Bernardo Marques
My oft-requested video has finally arrived! In this lesson, I introduce the Principle of Stationary Action to begin my newest series on Analytical Mechanics. The Principle of Stationary Action serves as an exceedingly useful tool to solve higher-level problems in Classical Mechanics as well as in other branches of Physics.
It states that the path a particle follows in space can be determined by setting the action functional stationary; essentially, we can find the particle's path by solving a Calculus of Variations problem. I show that the Principle of Stationary Action is essentially equivalent to applying Newton's 2nd Law, and afterwards, I solve a simple example problem to illustrate the Principle of Stationary Action *in action* (huehuehue).
More complex versions of the Principle of Stationary Action, in addition to more complex examples, will be solved in future videos in this playlist.
Questions/requests? Let me know in the comments!
Pre-reqs: My Calculus of Variations playlist, until the 7th video - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdgVBOaXkb9CD8igcUr9Fmn5WXLpE8ZE_
Lecture Notes: drive.google.com/open?id=1EmIVdtHEhbocjoRDeSxCmhnZqxGwK9J8
Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=4354534
Twitter: twitter.com/FacultyOfKhan
Special thanks to my Patrons for supporting me at the $5 level or higher:
- Jose Lockhart
- Yuan Gao
- James Mark Wilson
- Marcin Maciejewski
- Sabre
- Jacob Soares
- Yenyo Pal
- Lisa Bouchard
- Bernardo Marques
