Principle of Least Action?

Discussion in 'Astronomy, Exobiology, & Cosmology' started by willson13, May 20, 2003.

  1. willson13 The Villiage Idiot Registered Senior Member

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    Does it really exist? Or was Lewis Caroll high when he wrote "Alice in Quantam Land"?
     
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  3. James R Just this guy, you know? Staff Member

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    The principle of least action is a well-establish principle in classical mechanics, and has also been applied to quantum mechanics, most notably by Richard Feynman.
     
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  5. willson13 The Villiage Idiot Registered Senior Member

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    Thanks...

    I am grateful...
     
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  7. sargentlard Save the whales motherfucker Valued Senior Member

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    Now for the less fortunate in given intelligence department...what is Principle of Least Action ...thank you

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  8. willson13 The Villiage Idiot Registered Senior Member

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    First, let me explain what action is. An object's momentum is its mass multiplied by its velocity. And work is energy multiplied by distance. Action is just another one of these qualities. The amount of 'action' in any action is defined as the object's momentum multiplied by the distance it travels. Or it can also be expressed as the object's energy multiplied by the time it is traveling. That's action. Now, whatever happens in the universe happens in such a way that the total amount of action is always the lowest possible. It's what they call 'The Principle of Least Action.' It apples to everything. Even light. When you see a reflection in a mirror, the light comes back to you at the precise angle that involves the least amount of action. Everything is effecient to the max. If you want to read more about this, you can read this:Alice in Quantum Land. It's really good, and it's really educational.
     
  9. sargentlard Save the whales motherfucker Valued Senior Member

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    So it puts beauracracy to shame ehh

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    ..Thank you
     

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