Conservation laws in classical mechanics for quasi-coordinates

Noether's theorem and Noether's inverse theorem for mechanical systems with gauge-variant Lagrangians under symmetric infinitesimal transformations and whose motion is described by quasi-coordinates are established. The existence of first integrals depends on the existence of solutions of the system of partial differential equations — the so-called Killing equations. Non-holonomic mechanical systems are analysed separately and their special properties are pointed out. By use of this theory, the transformation which corresponds to Ko Valevskaya first integral in rigid-body dynamics is found. Also, the nature of the energy integral in non-holonomic mechanics is shown and a few new first integrals for non-conservative problems are obtained. Finally, these integrals are used in constructing Lyapunov's function and in the stability analyses of nonautonomous systems. The theory is based on the concept of a mechanical system, but the results obtained can be applied to all problems in mathematical physics admitting a Lagrangian function.