21–26 Jun 2026
U. Ottawa - Learning Crossroads (CRX) Building
America/Toronto timezone
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Visualizing the Principle of Least Action

23 Jun 2026, 15:15
15m
U. Ottawa - Learning Crossroads (CRX) Building

U. Ottawa - Learning Crossroads (CRX) Building

100 Louis-Pasteur Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N3
Oral Competition (Undergraduate Student) / Compétition orale (Étudiant(e) du 1er cycle) Theoretical Physics / Physique théorique (DTP-DPT) (DTP) T2-10 | (DPT)

Speaker

Ciaran McDonald-Jensen (Carleton University)

Description

The Principle of Least Action is a guiding concept in fundamental physics with prominent appearances in many fields, including classical mechanics, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. The general principle is that physically realizable paths are those that extremize the ‘action’ relative to nearby paths. This work explores example systems that highlight important characteristics of the Principle of Least Action, and proposes visualizations of these systems that will give the reader a deeper intuitive understanding of this principle. We begin with a simple analytically solvable 1D spring system that allows for clear visualization of nearby paths and their actions; subsequent numerical simulations of more complex systems are then added to discuss further insights. These visualizations provide an accessible entry point to the Principle of Least Action and facilitate its understanding in educational contexts.

Keyword-1 Principle of Least Action
Keyword-2 Visualization
Keyword-3 Physics Education

Author

Ciaran McDonald-Jensen (Carleton University)

Co-author

Daniel Stolarski (Carleton University)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.