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 by Ciro Santilli 40 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 by Ciro Santilli 40 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.
Gamma by Ciro Santilli 40 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) by Ciro Santilli 40 Updated 2026-10-18
Confusingly, in LaTeX:
  • \varepsilon rendered , is the default modern Greek glyph
  • \epsilon rendered is the lunate variant
Zeta (letter) by Ciro Santilli 40 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) by Ciro Santilli 40 Updated 2025-07-16
Lowercase looks like a lowercase letter N for some reason.

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