First Advisor

Pui-Tak Leung

Date of Award

5-25-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics and University Honors

Department

Physics

Subjects

Symmetry (Physics), Noether's theorem

DOI

10.15760/honors.607

Abstract

Historically, symmetry has been associated with beauty and perfection, something that is merely a visual characteristic. However, in the realm of physics, symmetry is fundamental: it exists in physical systems and even in the laws of physics. In this study, only one particular type of symmetry - the continuous symmetry- is discussed in great depth. While a discussion of why symmetry exists is not the concern of this paper, the connection that exists between continuous symmetries and conservation laws, through Noether's theorem, is the focus of this study. Despite many articles and books that seek to understand Noether's theorem using Group Theory and Lie symmetry, this study explores the Noether's theorem (and Noether's inverse theorem) for non-relativistic classical systems using ordinary calculus and an understanding of the concept of continuous transformations.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/25437

Share

COinS