Question

What exactly are generalized coordinates and how do they differ from regular coordinates?

Answer 1

I'm trying to learn the basics of Hamiltonian mechanics, which typically distinguishes itself from Newtonian mechanics as being described in terms of "generalized coordinates and momenta".

What exactly is meant by the term "generalized coordinates"? How do they differ from ordinary coordinates?

When I say "ordinary coordinates", I interpret it to mean a coordinate system obtained by a combination of pre-specified linearly independent vectors.

Answer 2

on the basis of hamiltonian techniques of mechanics you can exactly generalized coordinates.