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(,x) = y(0,x) + (x)

Continuous variation (x)
End points (x1) = (x2) = 0

Define a function f in space.

Minimize the integral J.

If y is varied J must increase

y(, x)
y(x)
x1

x2

x2

J f ( y ( x), y ' ( x); x)dx

x1

Integral Extremum

Write the integral in

parametrized form.
May depend on y = dy/dx
Derivative on parameter

Expand with the chain rule.

Term only appears with

x2

J f ( y ( , x), y ' ( , x); x)dx

x1

0
0

for all (x)

x2 f y
J
f y
(

)dx
x
1

y y
x2 f
J
f d
( ( x)
)dx
x
1

y
y dx

Boundary Conditions
x2 f
x2 f d
J

( x)dx
dx
x
x
1 y
1 y dx

f d
(
x1 y dx )dx
x2 d
f
f
x2
( x) x
( ) ( x)dx
1
x1 dx y
y
x2

x2

x1

x2 d
f d
f
(
)dx
( ) ( x)dx
x1 dx y
y dx

The second term can be

evaluated with integration by
parts.
Fixed at boundaries
(x1) = (x2) = 0

Eulers Equation

The variation (x) can be

factored out of the integrand.

The quantity in brackets

must vanish.
Arbitrary variation

This is Eulers equation.

General mathematical
relationship

x2 f

J
d f

( x)
( x) dx
x1 y
dx y

x2 f
J
d f
( x)dx


x
1

y dx y

f d f
0

y dx y

Soap Film
y
(x2, y2)

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.

(x1, y1)

dA 2 dx 2 dy 2
x2

A 2x 1 y2 dx
x1

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

A 2x 1 y dx f y, y; x dx
x2

x1

x1

f 2x 1 y 2
f d f
d
0

y dx y
dx

xy
1 y

The solution is a hyperbolic

function.

x2

xy
0
2
1 y

a
a

x2 a2

y b

x a cosh

Action

The time integral of the

Lagrangian is the action.

t2

S L(q, q ; t )dt
t1

Action is a functional
Extends to multiple coordinates

The Euler-Lagrange equations

are equivalent to finding the
least time for the action.

L d L
0

q dt q

Multiple coordinates give

multiple equations

This is Hamiltons principle.

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