First integrals and stability of second-order differential equations

The stability of second-order differential equations is studied by using their integrals. A system of second-order differential equations can be considered as a mechanical system with holonomic constraints. A conserved quantity of the mechanical system or a part of the system is obtained by using the Noether theory. It is possible that the conserved quantity becomes a Liapunov function and the stability of the system is proved by the Liapunov theorem.