Mechanics of particles and systems Constraints and generalized coordinates Concept
Degrees of freedom
Summary
The number of degrees of freedom of a mechanical system is the number of independent parameters needed to fix its position. For a system with holonomic constraints it is the number of generalized coordinates, that is, the dimension of the configuration space. Each independent holonomic constraint lowers the count by one. The number of degrees of freedom is the number of second-order equations of motion that the system needs.
Reading path
To understand this page from the ground up, read these 5 pages in order. The foundations come first.
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- no evidence level
- Holonomic constraint concept
- Smooth manifold concept
- Configuration space concept
- Generalized coordinates concept
- Degrees of freedom concept
Where this leads
3 pages build on this one.
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | 21SZKJ4XCK |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://21SZKJ4XCK |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 70G10, 70F20 |
| Uses | Configuration space, Generalized coordinates |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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