# Work done by a force field

by wakingrufus
Tags: field, force, work
 P: 14 Find the work done by the force field F in moving an object from P to Q. F(x,y) = (x^2)(y^3)i + (x^3)(y^2)j P(0,0) Q(2,1) so i need to integrate the gradient dot dr right? how do i do that?
 P: 988 You can't do the gradient dot dr. dr is a vector, whereas the gradient is a scalar. You're looking for a line integral. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LineIntegral.html cookiemonster
 Math Emeritus Sci Advisor Thanks PF Gold P: 39,502 WHAT?? Of course, the gradient is a vector! The "gradient" of the scalar function f(x,y) is defined as the vector fxi+ fyj. Wakingrufus was referring to vector quantity F(x,y) = (x^2)(y^3)i + (x^3)(y^2)j AS a gradient, not taking the gradient of it. (At least I hope not!) Yes, you could do this by picking some arbitrary path from P to Q (straight line might be easy), since the problem did not give you one. If this is not a "conservative" force field then the work depends on the path and there is not enough information. Assuming that this a good problem and the force field is conservative, then a simpler way to do this is to find the potential (the function f so that this vector is the gradient of f). Such a function would have to have fx= x2y[/sup]3[/sup] and fy= x3y2. From fx= x2y[/sup]3[/sup], f(x,y)= (1/3)x3y3+ g(y) (Since differentiating wrt x treats y as a constant). Differentiating that, fy= x3y2+ g' and that must be equal to x3y2. Okay, that just tells us g is a constant so the "potential function" (really and anti-derivative) is (1/3)x3y3+ C Evaluate that at P and Q and subtract.
 P: 14 Work done by a force field thank you. yes it is conservative. i forgot to mention that i guess.
 Math Emeritus Sci Advisor Thanks PF Gold P: 39,502 Actually, I checked that it was "conservative" (REAL mathematicians would say "exact differential"!) before I did the problem: The derivative of x2y3 with respect to y is 3x2y2 and the derivative of x3y2 with respect to y is 3x2y[/sup]. Those are the same so the differential is "exact".
 P: 988 Heh, heh, heh... cookiemonster's confusing himself again. Oops? Mixed up gradient and divergence. Was thinking $\nabla$ applied to a vector (which, little to my credit, is a scalar...). Moral of the day: read slower and think more. Sorry about that. Please excuse me while I jump off a bridge. cookiemonster

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