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1 vote
3 answers
86 views

What is the actual meaning of $dx$ in $W=-F.dx $, in work in thermodynamics?

what I want to ask is that the $dx$ in that formula is the displacement of piston or the displacement of the center of mass of the gas. also is there any situation where this clarity is useful.
0 votes
0 answers
44 views

Energy Dissipated by Damper Infinitesimal Derivation

If we consider a damper (dashpot) element that exerts a force opposite the direction of motion proportional to the velocity, i.e. $$ \vec{F} = -c \vec{v}$$ Therefore, we can consider an infinitesimal ...
0 votes
3 answers
187 views

What does it mean in terms of energy if power is increasing with time? [closed]

Recently I have been studying work and energy and in this chapter I encountered with the term power. In terms of work power is written as $dW/dt$. So I have a doubt that suppose power is increasing. ...
0 votes
2 answers
52 views

Work-Energy Theorem for a path that is not smooth

In the analysis of Newtonian Mechanics for a single particle, we come across the definition of work and also the Work-Kinetic Energy theorem: For a single particle, the work done on a particle by a ...
2 votes
4 answers
642 views

Work done by a vector field (Force field) on a particle travelling along a curve

Assume a particle travelling along a curve, the work done by any Force field on the particle while moving along a curve is given by the line integral of $\vec{\bf{F}} \cdot \vec{\bf{dr}}$, but shouldn'...
4 votes
4 answers
2k views

Help me understand the derivation of the kinetic energy formula please

In my physics textbook, kinetic energy is defined as $W$Net $=$ $\int m\frac {dv}{dt}$ $dx$ This makes sense to me just fine. The book goes on to rearrange the integral to say the following: $W$Net $=...
0 votes
6 answers
116 views

Deriving Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

I am currently reading Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Ninth Edition) by Serway and Jewett and in Chapter 7.5, a derivation of the work-kinetic energy theorem was shown. To give context, ...
1 vote
1 answer
525 views

Acceleration as a function of displacement

I am given a question such that a 0.280kg object has a displacement (in meters) of $x=5t^3-8t^2-30t$. I need to find the average net power input from the interval of $t=2.0s$ to $t=4.0s$. I know the ...
0 votes
0 answers
12 views

Issue with work vs force for calculating spring constant [duplicate]

Lets say I have a spring with spring constant k. I put a 10kg weight on the spring and it compresses the spring one meter before stopping. We know that at this point the downwards force is equal to ...
0 votes
2 answers
180 views

How do we show that the work done by a variable force (in one dimension) is the area under the $F$ vs. $x$ curve?

In my physics textbook, to show that work is the area under the $F$ vs. $x$ curve, the author first writes the relation $dw = F dx$. This part makes sense to me. From there, the author writes, $$W = \...
0 votes
0 answers
126 views

Work-Energy Principle Derivation

I am currently in Mechanics I and both my professor and my book have derived the work principle in this way and I even asked about its derivation during class, but it has me puzzled. I don't ...
0 votes
1 answer
120 views

Why can we multiply by $dt/dt$ to change variable of integration? Please look at equation 5-20 [closed]

I am struggling to understand why can we just multiply by $dt/dt$. I was thinking it was just a change of variables, but I cannot come up how that works. Can someone explain why we are allowed to do ...
1 vote
3 answers
65 views

Position Dependence in Equation of Motion

Our lecturer gives study material which contained that Newton's second law could be written as: $$ \begin{aligned} F &= m \ddot{x} \\ &= m \frac{d \dot{x}}{dt} \\ &= m \frac{dx}{dx} \frac{...
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why dont you take derivative of force in definition of power ? P=F.v

The derivative of work is $\bf F\cdot v .$ $$P(t)= \frac{\mathrm dW}{\mathrm dt}= \mathbf{F\cdot v}=-\frac{\mathrm dU}{\mathrm dt}\;.$$ But why not $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\mathbf{F}}{\mathrm{d}t}\cdot \...
5 votes
2 answers
301 views

Clarify definite integration of differentials in physics problems

I realized there is an issue with integration in physics problems that I had always taken for granted. As an example, the relation between work and potential energy is $dW=-dU_p$ when integrating ...

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