Something Strange Happens When You Take This To Its Logical Conclusion

 ONE RULE THAT REPLACES ALL OF PHYSICS

00:00 One rule that replaces all of physics 00:51 The problem of fastest descent 05:09 Fermat's principle 07:17 Bernoulli's solution 10:38 Maupertuis' principle 12:28 Maupertuis attacked and ridiculed 14:01 Euler & Lagrange to the rescue 17:22 The general approach to solving these problems 19:32 Writing the principle into its modern form 23:17 Why the principle works 27:08 Another way to do mechanics 30:19 A “spooky” breakthrough

 

Key references: A fantastic book on the history of the Principle of Least Action: Rojo, A. and Bloch, A. The Principle of Least Action: History and Physics. - https://ve42.co/Bloch2018 Coopersmith, J. (2017). The lazy universe: an introduction to the principle of least action. Oxford University Press. - https://ve42.co/LazyU 3Blue1Brown. The Brachistochrone, with Steven Strogatz via Youtube - https://ve42.co/Brach3B1B Vsauce. The Brachistochrone via Youtube - https://ve42.co/BrachV PBS Space Time. Is ACTION The Most Fundamental Property in Physics? via Youtube - https://ve42.co/PBSAction Full list of references: https://ve42.co/T Images & Video: Voltaire. (1753). Diatribe du Docteur Akakia. - https://ve42.co/DiatribeAkakia Philosophical Transactions cover. via Wikimedia Commons - https://ve42.co/PhilTransImage Kids Fun Science. (Jun 28, 2017). Refraction of Light with a arrow experiment via Youtube - https://ve42.co/RefractionFunSci Physics with Simon Poliakoff. Refraction demonstration with water and laser via Youtube - https://ve42.co/SimonPoliakoff Mercury Transit Across Sun. via Nasa.gov - https://ve42.co/MercTransit ▀▀▀ Directed by Casper Mebius Written by Casper Mebius and Derek Muller Edited by Trenton Oliver Animated by Fabio Albertelli, Ivy Tello, Mike Radjabov, Gregor Čavlović, Emma Wright, James Finnemore and David Szakaly Illustrated by Jakub Misiek, Emma Wright, and Maria Gusakovich Filmed by Derek Muller and Casper Mebius Additional research by Gabe Bean, Gregor Čavlović, and Geeta Thakur Produced by Casper Mebius, Derek Muller, Rob Beasley Spence, Gabe Bean, Gregor Čavlović, and Tori Brittain Thumbnail contributions by Jakub Misiek, Ren Hurley and Peter Sheppard Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images, Storyblocks, and NASA SVS Music from Epidemic Sound