Equations of motion

<p>In <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, equations of motion are <a href="/facts/Equation/pxFzLAVR">equations</a> that describe the behavior of a <a href="/facts/Physical_system/tdSfxvIB">physical system</a> in terms of its <a href="/facts/Motion_(physics)/dCnP7MlB">motion</a> as a <a href="/facts/Function_(mathematics)/CdReEKCh">function</a> of time. More specifically, the equations of motion describe the behavior of a physical system as a set of mathematical functions in terms of dynamic variables. These variables are usually spatial coordinates and time, but may include <a href="/facts/Momentum/TTkGv5eY">momentum</a> components. The most general choice are <a href="/facts/Generalized_coordinates/xrhApGk2">generalized coordinates</a> which can be any convenient variables characteristic of the physical system. The functions are defined in a <a href="/facts/Euclidean_space/R2UbzmzM">Euclidean space</a> in <a href="/facts/Classical_mechanics/ykG8upsN">classical mechanics</a>, but are replaced by <a href="/facts/Curved_space/93NBB86g">curved spaces</a> in <a href="/facts/Theory_of_relativity/qGHj3eTC">relativity</a>. If the <a href="/facts/Dynamics_(mechanics)/JLk81H71">dynamics</a> of a system is known, the equations are the solutions for the <a href="/facts/Differential_equations/9MGbE3Ca">differential equations</a> describing the motion of the dynamics.
</p>

Equations of motion open-in-new

Equations of motion