AN INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF LEAST ACTION

ABSTRACT

Ancient Egyptian’s used rope stretchers to measure the distance among two points. To measure the distance they stretched the corded roped from one point to another. The ides of the principle of least action is inspired from this earlier idea. In the field of optics and surveying the principle of least action is used.The principle of least action is a variaitonal principle, which is also known as stationary action, it is applied to obtained mechanical system’s action, it can be used to a system to obtain its equation of motion. This principle can also be used to find out the Newtonian, Lagrangian, Hamiltonian equations of motion, and can also be used for General Relativity. Historically, it was called as “least” because of its nature to find out the path, from nearby paths it has the least change. The consequences of quantum mechanics are classical mechanics and electromagnetic expressions. In the development of quantum mechanics the stationary action method is used. In modern physics and mathematics, the principle of least action remains central. The least action principle is applied in quantum field theory, in quantum mechanics and in theory of relativity. And it also used in Morse theory of modern mathematical. Maupertuis’ principle and Hamilton’s principle exemplify the principle of stationary action.

FULL TEXT