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Publication

Variational Principles For Spin Systems And The Kirchhoff Rod

Tudor Ratiu, François Gay-Balmaz
2009
Journal Articles

Abstract

We obtain the affine Euler-Poincare equations by standard Lagrangian reduction and deduce the associated Clebsch-constrained variational principle. These results are illustrated in deriving the equations of motion for continuum spin systems and Kirchhoff's rod, where they provide a unified geometric interpretation.

Official source

Tudor Ratiu, François Gay-Balmaz
2009
Journal Articles

Abstract

Official source

Related concepts (16)

Variational principle

In science and especially in mathematical studies, a variational principle is one that enables a problem to be solved using calculus of variations, which concerns finding functions that optimize the values of quantities that depend on those functions. For example, the problem of determining the shape of a hanging chain suspended at both ends—a catenary—can be solved using variational calculus, and in this case, the variational principle is the following: The solution is a function that minimizes the gravitational potential energy of the chain.

Equation

In mathematics, an equation is a mathematical formula that expresses the equality of two expressions, by connecting them with the equals sign . The word equation and its cognates in other languages may have subtly different meanings; for example, in French an équation is defined as containing one or more variables, while in English, any well-formed formula consisting of two expressions related with an equals sign is an equation. Solving an equation containing variables consists of determining which values of the variables make the equality true.

Equations of motion

In physics, equations of motion are equations that describe the behavior of a physical system in terms of its motion as a function of time. More specifically, the equations of motion describe the behavior of a physical system as a set of mathematical functions in terms of dynamic variables. These variables are usually spatial coordinates and time, but may include momentum components. The most general choice are generalized coordinates which can be any convenient variables characteristic of the physical system.

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