Date of Award
1-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College/School
College of Science and Mathematics
Department/Program
Mathematical Sciences
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Ashwin Vaidya
Committee Member
Eric Forgoston
Committee Member
Arup Mukherjee
Abstract
The principle of least action is a variational principle that states an object will always take the path of least action as compared to any other conceivable path. This principle can be used to derive the equations of motion of many systems, and therefore provides a unifying equation that has been applied in many fields of physics and mathematics. Hamilton’s formulation of the principle of least action typically only accounts for conservative forces, but can be reformulated to include non-conservative forces such as friction. However, it can be shown that with large values of damping, the object will no longer take the path of least action. Through numerical simulation, this is shown to be true for two simple systems, an object in free fall and a harmonic pendulum, both linearly and cubically damped.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Rhodes, Katherine, "Least Action Principle Applied to a Non-Linear Damped Pendulum" (2019). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 229.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/229