- #1
Loren Booda
- 3,125
- 4
Which is more generally corrrect,
F=ma
or
F=dp/dt
?
F=ma
or
F=dp/dt
?
Aren't they mathematically equivalent?
Let = mv. ThenLoren Booda said:Which is more generally corrrect,
F=ma
or
F=dp/dt
?
pmb_phy said:Let = mv. Then
[tex]F = \frac{dp}{dt}[/tex]
is a definition of F. F = ma is an equality between the quantities F, m and a when m is constant.
Incorrectly assuming that F = ma is a definition has gotten people really mixed up when going to relativity.
Pete
Force is a physical quantity that describes the interaction between two objects. It is measured in Newtons (N) and is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration.
The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is described by the equation Force = mass x acceleration. This means that the greater the mass of an object, the more force is needed to accelerate it.
The time derivative of momentum is a measure of how an object's momentum changes over time. It is significant because it helps us understand the forces acting on an object and how they affect its motion.
In real-world applications, force is typically calculated by measuring the mass and acceleration of an object and using the equation Force = mass x acceleration. Other factors such as friction and air resistance may also need to be taken into account.
Force is responsible for changing the motion of an object. If a force acts on an object, it will accelerate in the direction of the force. The greater the force, the greater the acceleration will be. In the absence of external forces, an object will continue moving at a constant velocity.