In physics, action is a scalar quantity that describes how the balance of kinetic versus potential

energy of a physical system changes with trajectory. Action is quantized: the smallest value (

) is limited by Planck's constant.[1] Action is significant because it is an input to

the principle of stationary action, an approach to classical mechanics that is simpler for multiple
objects.[2] Action and the variational principle are used in Feynman's quantum mechanics[3] and
in general relativity.[4]

In the simple case of a single particle moving with a constant velocity (thereby
undergoing uniform linear motion), the action is the momentum of the particle times the
distance it moves, added up along its path; equivalently, action is the difference between the
particle's kinetic energy and its potential energy, times the duration for which it has that amount
of energy.

More formally, action is a mathematical functional which takes the trajectory (also called path
or history) of the system as its argument and has a real number as its result. Generally, the
action takes different values for different paths.[5] Action
has dimensions of energy × time or momentum × length, and its SI unit is joule-second (like
the Planck constant h).[6]

Introduction[edit]
Introductory physics often begins with Newton's laws of motion, relating force and motion;
action is part of a completely equivalent alternative approach with practical and educational
advantages.[7]

Simple example[edit]
For a trajectory of a baseball moving in the air on Earth the action is defined between two

points in time, and as the kinetic energy minus the potential energy, integrated over
time.[8]

The action balances kinetic against potential energy.[8] The kinetic energy of a baseball of

mass is where is the velocity of the ball; the potential energy

is where is the gravitational constant. Then the action

between and is