What is Noether's Theorem?

Speaker

Gabe Khan

Abstract

Noether's theorem states that given a physical system, for every infinitesimal symmetry, there is a corresponding law of symmetry.  While this requires some parsing, it shows that the conservation of energy and momentum are mathematical consequences of facts we take for granted: that the laws of physics do not depend on the time or location of the observer.  We explore the result and show how it applies in classical mechanics before formulating a version in the language of differential geometry.

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