Quote: the principle of least action for conservative forces: the path taken is the path with the least action; many nearby paths; e.g., the average kinetic energy less the average potential energy

Quotation Skeleton

[On the principle of least action:] In other words, the laws of Newton … less the average potential energy is as little … [p. 19-3] now for each path in space we … [the 'action'] … and we have to find the path in … [This] is called the calculus of variations. … [p. 19-7] the principle of least action only works … on a microscopic level--on the deepest level of … [p. 19-9] The important path [with least action] becomes the one …   Google-1   Google-2

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Quote: the calculus of variations determines the path in space which minimizes the path's action

Quote: at the microscopic, deepest level of physics, all forces are conservative forces

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