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LondonLady
Nov7-04, 11:03 AM
Hello again

I have another question!

Suppose a particles initial position is \vec{r_1} = 2\vec{i} + 5\vec{j} - \vec{k} metres and its acted upon by a force \vec{F} = \vec{i} + \vec{j} + \vec{k} newtons. Its final position is \vec{r_2} = -4\vec{i} + 3\vec{j} + \vec{k}. Find the work done by \vec{F}.

Ok, i have the formula dW = \vec{F}.d\vec{r} joules.

what is dr? is it simply the change in the position vector? How do I start this off?

Thankyou,

Pyrrhus
Nov7-04, 11:07 AM
It looks to me like a

W = \int_{\vec{r}_{o}}^{\vec{r}} \vec{F} \cdot d \vec{r}

Use the components

W = \int_{(r_{x_{o}},r_{y_{o}},r_{z_{o}})}^{(r_{x},r_{ y},r_{z})}} (F_{x} \vec{i} + F_{y} \vec{j} + F_{z} \vec{k}) \cdot (dr_{x} \vec{i} + dr_{y} \vec{j} + dr_{z} \vec{k})

LondonLady
Nov7-04, 12:25 PM
Thankyou very much