Dynamics and the calculus of variations (Q1075796)

The vanishing first variation of a functional is first applied, in accordance with the rules of the calculus of variations, to obtain three equations for an extremal function of one independent variable. The vanishing first variation of a functional is then applied, in accordance with the laws of mathematics and mechanics, to obtain two equations for an extremal function of two independent variables, time and one independent space variable (readily extended to three independent space variables). These two equations, the validity of which has now been extensively demonstrated in the literature, are compared to the corresponding two equations from the calculus of variations. A direct analytical solution to the inverse problem of dynamics (prescribe the displacement function, find the required force function) is demonstrated. Finally, it is demonstrated that the extremal function which causes the first variation of the associated functional to vanish, also causes the associated work/energy to vanish.