Demystifying the Equation: Understanding the Meaning of Variables in dp/dt=F

[mart]

I was watching a video and this guy comes up with a formula which I should know and it is not very strange to me, but there is this 'd' variable, which I believe we don't use in my country... perhaps we give it another name or so and I'm getting quite confused reading american/english materials anyways :
$$\frac{dp}{dt}$$=F

Could you kindly do a legend of this equation? I mean what the variables stand for.
Thanks for the support this is a great forum

 

[jtbell]

"d" isn't a variable in this case. dp/dt is the derivative of momentum with respect to time, i.e. the rate of change of momentum with respect to time, from calculus.

 

[mart]

so isn't that equivalent to delta?
I got it if that is the case, it makes much more sense now :)

 

[Naty1]

delta and "d" are very similar depending on how they are used...
often delta is a larger displacement than a tiny infinitesimal displacement "d".

see here alongside the first diagram:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative

"change in y"/ " change in x" is delta y/delta x and the derivative is defined as the limit as delta approaches zero...

 

[PJC01]

Thank you for bringing up this question about the equation dp/dt=F. This equation is known as the fundamental equation of calculus and is commonly used in physics and mathematics to represent the rate of change of a variable. In this case, the variable "p" represents the quantity or value that is changing, while "t" represents the time. The "d" notation is used to represent the derivative, which is a mathematical concept that describes how one variable changes in relation to another.

Therefore, the equation can be read as "the change in p with respect to the change in t is equal to the force (F)." This means that the rate at which p changes over time is equal to the force acting on it. It is important to note that the variables used in this equation can vary depending on the context in which it is used. For example, in physics, p could represent momentum and F could represent force.

I hope this explanation helps to demystify the equation for you. It is always important to understand the meaning of variables in any equation to fully grasp its significance. Keep exploring and learning, and don't be afraid to ask questions. That's what science is all about!