Il Nuovo Cimento B (1971-1996)

, Volume 111, Issue 6, pp 723–729 | Cite as

On a variational formulation of uniformly accelerated motion in special relativity

  • R. A. Krikorian
Article
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Summary

In this paper we present a derivation of the characteristic differential equation of uniformly accelerated motion, in special relativity, from a variational principle formulated in Minkowskian velocity 4-space. Because of the constraints introduced by the theory of relativity, the variational problem is reduced to an equivalent non-parametric Lagrange problem with variable end points in a five-dimensional space. The determination of the Euler-Lagrange equations requires the use of the transversality equations.

PACS

04.20 Classical general relativity 
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Copyright information

© Società Italiana di Fisica 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • R. A. Krikorian
    • 1
  1. 1.Collège de FranceInstitut d’AstrophysiqueParisFrance

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