[FRIAM] Watch "The Most Important Idea in Physics: The Principle of Least Action - Ask a Spaceman!" on YouTube

[Pieter Steenekamp]

Hi Nick,

Exercise caution when attempting to grasp the principle of least action,
particularly if you desire an intuitive comprehension of it.

It is essential to recognize the significance of the principle of least
action, as it applies to various areas of physics and could potentially
hold a closer answer to the "why" question than Newtonian physics regarding
the laws of motion.

However, based on our current knowledge, the best explanation for why the
principle of least action holds true is that it aligns with the
observations and experiments conducted in the real world. Although a
breakthrough might be on the horizon, a consensus has not yet been reached
regarding the "why" question.

Therefore, at present, the following points can be made:
a) When applied to the laws of motion, the principle of least action and
Newton's laws of motion are equivalent.
b) The reason for their acceptance lies in their agreement with empirical
evidence and experimental results.
c) The principle of least action carries more depth as it applies across
several other fields of physics, such as electromagnetism and quantum
physics.
d) The fundamental formulation of the principle of least action is also
simpler than that of Newtonian physics.

However, if you are aiming to develop an intuitive understanding of the
motion of objects in the real world, it is advisable to adhere to Newtonian
physics. The principle of least action lacks inherent intuitiveness. Let me
rephrase that: I have personally constructed an intuitive understanding
that I find useful, but I cannot present it as the definitive answer.
Perhaps someone else has a compelling intuitive explanation? I am open to
hearing different perspectives.

Moreover, for practical mechanical engineering calculations involving
forces and motion in the real world, Newtonian physics surpasses the
principle of least action.


On Mon, 3 Jul 2023 at 05:12, Nicholas Thompson <thompnickson2 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> So the difference is at a positive max when the ball hits the ground and
> at a negative maximum when the ball reaches its highest altitude?  So how
> am I to understand positive and negative?    vectors?
>
> Instantaneious Action is at a minimum when the two terms are equal?
>
> I have no intuitive sense of what is going on here.
>
> But thanks for trying, Frank.
>
> N
>
>
>
> N
>
> On Sun, Jul 2, 2023 at 12:27 PM Nicholas Thompson <thompnickson2 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Frank,
>>
>> Thanks SO  MUCH for forwarding this to me.  To any other defrocked
>> english majors on Friam, who have listened to these guys blather on about
>> LaGrangians for all these years,  I highly, HIGHLY recommend the video.
>> Pretty short, AND, you might possibly, conceivably understand Steve Guerin
>> when you  get to the end.   Yeah.  Really.
>>
>> Nick
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: Frank Wimberly <wimberly3 at gmail.com>
>> Date: Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 2:53 PM
>> Subject: Fwd: Watch "The Most Important Idea in Physics: The Principle of
>> Least Action - Ask a Spaceman!" on YouTube
>> To: Nicholas Thompson <thompnickson2 at gmail.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ---
>> Frank C. Wimberly
>> 140 Calle Ojo Feliz,
>> Santa Fe, NM 87505
>>
>> 505 670-9918
>> Santa Fe, NM
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: Frank Wimberly <wimberly3 at gmail.com>
>> Date: Thu, Jun 29, 2023, 12:51 PM
>> Subject: Watch "The Most Important Idea in Physics: The Principle of
>> Least Action - Ask a Spaceman!" on YouTube
>> To: Thompson, Nicholas <nickthompson at earthlink.net>, Barry MacKichan <
>> barry.mackichan at mackichan.com>
>>
>>
>> https://youtu.be/UuqpCBZoX3M
>>
>> ---
>> Frank C. Wimberly
>> 140 Calle Ojo Feliz,
>> Santa Fe, NM 87505
>>
>> 505 670-9918
>> Santa Fe, NM
>>
> -. --- - / ...- .- .-.. .. -.. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Fridays 9a-12p Friday St. Johns Cafe   /   Thursdays 9a-12p Zoom
> https://bit.ly/virtualfriam
> to (un)subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/
> archives:  5/2017 thru present
> https://redfish.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/
>   1/2003 thru 6/2021  http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://redfish.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/attachments/20230703/7777c31e/attachment.html>