Merkle tree Updated 2025-07-16
Lagrangian vs Hamiltonian Updated 2025-07-16
The key difference from Lagrangian mechanics is that the Hamiltonian approach groups variables into pairs of coordinates called the phase space coordinates:
This leads to having two times more unknown functions than in the Lagrangian. However, it also leads to a system of partial differential equations with only first order derivatives, which is nicer. Notably, it can be more clearly seen in phase space.
Hamilton's equations Updated 2025-07-16
Analogous to what the Euler-Lagrange equation is to Lagrangian mechanics, Hamilton's equations give the equations of motion from a given input Hamiltonian:
So once you have the Hamiltonian, you can write down this system of partial differential equations which can then be numerically solved.
Kudos Updated 2025-07-16
Ahh, Ciro Santilli was certain this was some slang neologism, but it is actually Greek! So funny. Introduced into English in the 19th century according to: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kudo.
Mono Updated 2026-10-18
One, single. Actual word: μόνος.
Beta Updated 2025-07-16
Gamma Updated 2025-07-16
It is fun to see that C and G have been confused since antiquity:
  • the modern sound is G
  • in terms of modern letters, both C and G split from gamma
Epsilon (letter) Updated 2026-10-18
Confusingly, in LaTeX:
  • \varepsilon rendered , is the default modern Greek glyph
  • \epsilon rendered is the lunate variant
Zeta (letter) Updated 2025-07-16
Lower case looks like the mouth shape when you say Z, with mouth open, and you can even see the little tongue going down. Beauty.
Eta (letter) Updated 2025-07-16
Lowercase looks like a lowercase letter N for some reason.
Mu (letter) Updated 2025-07-16
Nu (letter) Updated 2025-07-16
Why would physicists use a letter such that:
  • the upper case version looks exactly like an upper case N. At least that is the correct pronunciation/name/historical successor of .
  • the lower case version looks exactly like a lower case V
Why? Why?????????
Pi (letter) Updated 2025-07-16
Rho Updated 2025-07-16
This one is a little confusing: the upper case looks exactly like a letter P, but as the name suggests, it actually corresponds to the letter R. The letter P corresponds to pi instead.

There are unlisted articles, also show them or only show them.