Editing Phase space (section)

=== Conjugate momenta ===

In classical mechanics, any choice of [[generalized coordinates]] ''q''<sub>''i''</sub> for the position (i.e. coordinates on [[Configuration space (physics)|configuration space]]) defines [[conjugate momentum|conjugate generalized momenta]] ''p''<sub>''i''</sub>, which together define co-ordinates on phase space. More abstractly, in classical mechanics phase space is the [[cotangent bundle]] of configuration space, and in this interpretation the procedure above expresses that a choice of local coordinates on configuration space induces a choice of natural local [[Darboux coordinates]] for the standard [[symplectic structure]] on a cotangent space.