Abstract
For a physical system, regardless of time reversal symmetry, a potential function serves also as a Lyapunov function, providing convergence and stability information. In this paper, the converse is constructively proved that any dynamics with a Lyapunov function has a corresponding physical realization: a friction force, a Lorentz force, and a potential function. Such construction establishes a set of equations with physical meaning for Lyapunov function and suggests new approaches on the significant unsolved problem namely to construct Lyapunov functions for general nonlinear systems. In addition, a connection is found that the Lyapunov equation is a reduced form of a generalized Einstein relation for linear systems, revealing further insights of the construction.