Introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics

by Alain J. Brizard

Minimum principles have been invoked throughout the history of Physics to explain the behavior of light and particles. In one of its earliest form, Heron of Alexandria (ca. 75 AD) stated that light travels in a straight line and that light follows a path of shortest distance when it is reflected by a mirror. In 1657, Pierre de Fermat (1601-1665) stated the Principle of Least Time, whereby light travels between two points along a path that minimizes the travel time, to explain Snell's Law (Willebrord Snell, 1591-1626) associated with light refraction in a stratified medium.

174 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2014