Noether's theorem says that a symmetry of a Lagrangian implies a conservation law. But to fully appreciate the connection we need to go to Hamiltonian mechanics and see how symmetries act on phase space! Get the notes for free here: The connection between symmetries and conservation laws is one of the deepest relationships in physics. Noether's theorem says that for every continuous symmetry of a Lagrangian, you'll find a corresponding conserved quantity. But to fully understand the connection between the two, we need to investigate their relationship in Hamiltonian mechanics. Any function on phase space generates a "flow," similar to how the Hamiltonian generates time evolution. Then the rate of change of any other function along the flow is given by its Poisson bracket with the generator. A quantity will be conserved if and only if the flow that it generates leaves the Hamiltonian invariant! Get all the links here: Watch these first!: - The principle of least action: - Noether's theorem: - Poisson brackets: Also check out: A 20 minute intro to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics: The relativistic action: Tutoring inquiries: If you find the content I’m creating valuable and would like to help make it possible for me to continue sharing more, please consider supporting me! You can make a recurring contribution at , or make a one time contribution at Thank you so much! About physics mini lessons: In these intermediate-level physics lessons, I'll try to give you a self-contained introduction to some fascinating physics topics. If you're just getting started on your physics journey, you might not understand every single detail in every video---that's totally fine! What I'm really hoping is that you'll be inspired to go off and keep learning more on your own. About me: I’m Dr. Elliot Schneider. I love physics, and I want to help others learn (and learn to love) physics, too. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out with your physics studies, a more advanced student, or a lifelong learner, I hope you’ll find resources here that enable you to deepen your understanding of the laws of nature. For more cool physics stuff, visit me at .