Past exam of the theoretical physics I course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / Paper 1 / 1 / b / Solution

Differentiate with respect to the generalized velocities:The Lagrangian has no explicit $x$, so ${\dot{p}}_x=\partial L/\partial x=0$. This canonical momentum is also the system's total horizontal mechanical momentum. Horizontal translation symmetry conserves $p_x$ even though the support and bob separately accelerate.