Preparation (physics) experienced in quantum mechanics. Preparation (physics) Generally, measuring instruments are meant to get the (pre-)existent value of a physical quantity of a system with as little change of, or interaction with the system as possible. — If a measuring instrument fixes a physical quantity of a physical system for further use (post-existent), then the measurement process is called preparation. For example, a graduated cylinder filled to a definite mark prepares a certain volume of the liquid for further use. Though preparation measures a physical quantity — at least by fixing it — it often destroys previous states of the physical
History of variational principles in physics History of variational principles in physics A variational principle in physics is an alternative method for determining the state or dynamics of a physical system, by identifying it as an extremum (minimum, maximum or saddle point) of a function or functional. This article describes the historical development of such principles. Variational principles are found among earlier ideas in surveying and optics. The rope stretchers of ancient Egypt stretched corded ropes between two points to measure the path which minimized the distance of separation, and Claudius Ptolemy, in his Geographia (Bk 1, Ch 2), emphasized that one must correct for "deviations