The principle of least action underpins all physics, unifying concepts from mechanics and optics to quantum theory. It posits that systems follow a path minimizing “action,” defined as the difference between kinetic and potential energy integrated over time.
Related Posts
Peanut butter is a liquid – the physics of this and other unexpected fluids
The knife easily leaves swirls in the spread. rimglow/iStock via Getty Images Plus Ted Heindel, Iowa State University…
A Year In Math: The Best of 2023 Mathematics
Quanta Magazine recounts the best and the brightest of 2023’s studies in the field of mathematics.
How ‘Forever Chemicals’ Took Over the World
The story of “forever chemicals” began with the serendipitous discovery of Teflon in the 1930s. While transforming various…
Scientists flip quantum switch for terahertz-speed electronics
Scientists have discovered a way to switch a quantum material between an insulator and a conductor on demand, a breakthrough that could lead to electronics 1,000 times faster.