Geometrical formulation of relativistic mechanics

Abstract

The relativistic Lagrangian in presence of potentials was formulated directly from the metric, with the classical Lagrangian shown embedded within it. Using it we formulated covariant equations of motion, a deformed Euler–Lagrange equation, and relativistic Hamiltonian mechanics. We also formulate a modified local Lorentz transformation, such that the metric at a point is invariant only under the transformation defined at that point, and derive the formulae for time-dilation, length contraction, and gravitational redshift. Then we compare our formulation under non-relativistic approximations to the conventional ad hoc formulation, and we briefly analyze the relativistic Liénard oscillator and the spacetime it implies.