Calculating Work in Terms of Final Velocity and Time?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the work done on a body of mass m that accelerates uniformly from rest to a final velocity v_{f} over a time period t_{f}. The original poster seeks to express this work in terms of the final velocity and time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss integrating force with respect to distance and consider the implications of uniform acceleration on the calculations. There is a focus on relating force, distance, and work, with some questioning the necessity of integration given constant acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the relationship between force, distance, and work, suggesting that if the force is constant, the work can be calculated directly without integration. Others are exploring the equations of motion relevant to uniform acceleration.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the constraints of expressing work in terms of final velocity and time, while considering the assumptions of uniform acceleration and constant force.

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Homework Statement


A body of mass m accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed [tex]v_{f}[/tex]
in time [tex]t_{f}[/tex]
Show that the work done on the body as a function of time, in terms of [tex]v_{f}[/tex],[tex]t_{f}[/tex] is:
[tex]\frac{1}{2}m\frac{v_{f}^2}{t_{f}^2} t^2[/tex]

Homework Equations


1)[tex]W=\int F*dx[/tex]
2)[tex]V_{f}=at[/tex]
3)[tex]F=m\frac{V}{t}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


Well I know I would start out integrating equation 1 with equation 3.
Then what?
 
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Since the acceleration is uniform (i.e. constant) So is the force and thus the integral is not required. You're on the right lines with equation 3, but you need to consider the distance traveled by the object aswell. Think of the uniform acceleration equations.
 
Ah of course I get it now:
[tex]r=\frac{1}{2}at^2[/tex]
[tex]W=F*r \longrightarrow \frac{1}{2}ma^2t^2 \longrightarrow \frac{1}{2}m\frac{v^2}{t_{f}^2}t^2[/tex]
 
So the thing to remember from this about work is that if the force is constant then its simply the force multiplied by the distance (or in vector terms the dot product) and if the force varies you have to integrate.
 

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