Concept information
Preferred term
least-action principle
Definition(s)
- The stationary-action principle – also known as the principle of least action – is a variational principle that, when applied to the action of a mechanical system, yields the equations of motion for that system. The principle states that the trajectories (i.e. the solutions of the equations of motion) are stationary points of the system's action functional. The term "least action" is a historical misnomer since the principle has no minimality requirement: the value of the action functional need not be minimal (even locally) on the trajectories. Least action refers to the absolute value of the action functional being minimized. (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stationary-action_principle)
Broader concept(s)
Synonym(s)
- principle of least action
- principle of stationary action
In other languages
-
French
-
principe de Maupertuis
URI
http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-BHJG85J5-6
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