Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-1-paper-of-the-university-of-oxford/2022/5/b/solution
Past exam of the physics 1 paper of the University of Oxford 2022 5 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
A constant displacement proportional to leaves the velocities unchanged and changes by zero. It is therefore a continuous symmetry of the Lagrangian. The generalized momentum components areNoether's theorem gives the conserved quantityA direct check using the Euler-Lagrange equations isThe normalization of a symmetry generator is arbitrary. One can take the transformation parameter to have length units and dimensionless, giving the units of momentum. Alternatively, for the paper's convention with dimensionless parameter and length-valued , use ; the conserved quantity is then . The conserved content is identical.
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