Interesting and annoying power problem

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The problem involves a particle with a specified mass subject to a force that varies with position. The task is to calculate the total work done by the force over a specified distance and to determine the power delivered to the particle at a certain position.

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Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss integrating the force to find work and express uncertainty about how to derive velocity from work to find power. Some explore the implications of the force being position-dependent and question the necessity of time in the calculations.

Discussion Status

There are various lines of reasoning being explored, including conservation of energy and the relationship between work, force, and velocity. Some participants suggest simplifying the approach by focusing on the relationship between work and kinetic energy, while others propose using differential equations to find velocity.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of explicit time variables in the force equation and discuss the implications of this for solving the problem. There is also mention of the need for boundary conditions in the context of differential equations.

diegojco
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I have a trouble with this problem:

Suppose you have a particle with mass 30Kg, this particle is in influence of a force F that acts along the x-axis and F=6+4x-3(x^2) and at x=0 the particle has 0m/s speed. Find the total work made by F between x=0 and x=3, then find the power given to the particle when x=3. (answers= 9 Joules and 22 Watts)

Well the first thing is easy, only I have to integrate F between 0 and 3. but the second question I can't see what's to be done. I try to use the fact that if I have the work I must get the final time but I don't have an expression for the trayectory.

Another way I have tried is to get the function of position by the fact that

F=ma, a=F/m dv/dt=(6+4x-3(x^2))/m

this is a partial differential equation involving the second derivative of a function u(x,t) and the general solution I get is:

u(x,t)=a(x)+b(x)t+(t^2)((6+4x-3(x^2))/2m)

but I don't have the sufficient conditions to get a good boundary problem or initial problem to separate a particular solution.

My questions are: what conditions could I put, or what other way, easier, could I take to solve this?
 
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mdv/dt = 6 + 4x -3x^2 is a seperable second order differential equation.

problem: there are no v terms in the force only x terms.
solution: note that F is a position dependent force.

problem: can't find a term for time.
solution: is time really nescessary for finding power?

this is a much better way to formulate the problem. nevermind about parioal derivatives and general solutions and whatever else. you don't need all that for this.
 
By conservation of energy, the work done is equal to the change in kinetic energy, which is 1/2mv^2. Use your answer to the first part and solve for v. Power is Fv.
 
Thanks

Thanks for the thinking. Another problem that is easier than i have wonder.
 
power = work/time
=((force*distance)/time
= force* (distance/time)
= force*velocity

to find the velocity

dv/dt = dv/dx (dx/dt) = dv/dx *v from the chain rule.

vdv = Fdx

perform the integral. done.
 

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