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Lecture
Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
This lecture introduces the Lagrangian method, a new approach in mechanics that simplifies the equations of motion by focusing on energy concepts rather than forces. The instructor covers the context, principles, and applications of Lagrangian mechanics, illustrating how it can be used to analyze complex systems with multiple degrees of freedom. Through detailed derivations and examples, the lecture explores the conservation of energy, the calculation of generalized forces, and the formulation of Lagrange's equations. The lecture also delves into the concept of generalized coordinates, the derivation of kinetic and potential energies, and the application of Lagrangian mechanics to various mechanical systems, including pendulums and rotating bodies.