Variational Calculus

Functional
Calculus operates on functions of one or more
variables.
Example: derivative to find a minimum or maximum

Some problems involve a functional.
The function of a function
Example: work defined on a path; path is a function in space
Path Variation
A trajectory y in space is a
parametric function.
y(o,x) = y(0,x) + oq(x)
Continuous variation q(x)
End points q(x
1
) = q(x
2
) = 0

Define a function f in space.

Minimize the integral J.
If y is varied J must increase
x
2
x
1
y(x)

y(o, x)

}
=
2
1
) ); ( ' ), ( (
x
x
dx x x y x y f J
Integral Extremum
Write the integral in
parametrized form.
May depend on y = dy/dx
Derivative on parameter o


Expand with the chain rule.
Term o only appears with q
}
=
2
1
) ); , ( ' ), , ( (
x
x
dx x x y x y f J o o
0
0
=
c
c
= o
o
J
for all q(x)
dx
y
y
f y
y
f J
x
x
) (
2
1
o o o c
' c
' c
c
+
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
}
dx
dx
d
y
f
x
y
f J
x
x
) ) ( (
2
1
q
q
o ' c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c
}
Boundary Conditions



The second term can be
evaluated with integration by
parts.
Fixed at boundaries
q(x
1
) = q(x
2
) = 0
dx x
y
f
dx
d
x
y
f
dx
dx
d
y
f
x
x
x
x
x
x
) ( ) ( ) (
) (
2
1
2
1
2
1
q q
q
' c
c

' c
c
=
' c
c
}
}
dx x
y
f
dx
d
dx
dx
d
y
f
x
x
x
x
) ( ) ( ) (
2
1
2
1
q
q
' c
c
=
' c
c
} }
} }
' c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c 2
1
2
1
) (
x
x
x
x
dx
dx
d
y
f
dx x
y
f J q
q
o
Eulers Equation
The variation q(x) can be
factored out of the integrand.

The quantity in brackets
must vanish.
Arbitrary variation


This is Eulers equation.
General mathematical
relationship
dx x
y
f
dx
d
x
y
f J
x
x
}
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
' c
c

c
c
=
c
c 2
1
) ( ) ( q q
o
0 =
|
|
.
|

\
|
' c
c

c
c
y
f
dx
d
y
f
dx x
y
f
dx
d
y
f J
x
x
) (
2
1
q
o
}
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
' c
c

c
c
=
c
c
Soap Film
y

2 2
2 dy dx dA + = t
dx y x A
x
x
}
' + =
2
1
2
1 2t
(x
2
, y
2
)

(x
1
, y
1
)

Problem
A soap film forms between
two horizontal rings that
share a common vertical
axis. Find the curve that
defines a film with the
minimum surface area.

Define a function y.
The area A can be found as
a surface of revolution.
Euler Applied
The area is a functional of
the curve.
Define functional

Use Eulers equation to find
a differential equation.
Zero derivative implies
constant
Select constant a

The solution is a hyperbolic
function.
2
1 2 y x f ' + = t
0
1
0
2
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
' +
'
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
' c
c

c
c
y
y x
dx
d
y
f
dx
d
y
f
a
y
y x
=
' +
'
2
1
2 2
a x
a
y

= '
|
.
|

\
|

=
a
b y
a x cosh
( )dx x y y f dx y x A
x
x
x
x
} }
' = ' + =
2
1
2
1
; , 1 2
2
t
Action
The time integral of the
Lagrangian is the action.
Action is a functional
Extends to multiple coordinates

The Euler-Lagrange equations
are equivalent to finding the
least time for the action.
Multiple coordinates give
multiple equations

This is Hamiltons principle.
}
=
2
1
) ; , (
t
t
dt t q q L S
0 =
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c

c
c
q
L
dt
d
q
L

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