Deriving constant acceleration formula

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around deriving the formula for constant acceleration in the context of kinematics. Participants are examining the integration of acceleration and its relationship with velocity over time.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the integration of acceleration and its implications for deriving velocity equations. There are questions about the correctness of integration steps and the treatment of constants during differentiation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on each other's reasoning and calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding the integration process and the importance of boundaries in the calculations.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the integration process and the application of calculus principles, particularly in relation to boundaries and constants. Participants express a desire to clarify these concepts as they relate to their studies.

Femme_physics
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Hey!

Your first line is correct.
The second line is not (how did you get it?).
The third line is correct again and would indeed follow from the first line (although with v and v0 instead of vf and vi).
 
Well, I integrated from Vfinal to Vinitial as per the integration formula for "X2" case. Then I integrated acceleration from zero till t. No point in integrating zero because it's zero. Yes point in integrating acceleration and time. That's how I got my equation.

Oh, I made a mistake, it should be AC^2/1+1 multiplied by T^2/1+1
 
You appear to have integrated the left hand side to ##{v^2 \over 1+1}##.
If you take its derivative with respect to v, you should get what you were integrating, but you won't.What's the derivative of ##{v^2 \over 1+1}## with respect to v?Furthermore, what's the derivative of ##{a_c^2 \over 1+1} \cdot {t^2 \over 1+1}## with respect to t?
 
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I like Serena said:
You appear to have integrated the left hand side to ##{v^2 \over 1+1}##.
If you take its derivative with respect to v, you should get what you were integrating, but you won't.

Don't I? Are you sure?..
What's the derivative of ##{v^2 \over 1+1}## with respect to v?

Here->

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6018/yepyepm.jpg
Furthermore, what's the derivative of ##{a_c^2 \over 1+1} \cdot {t^2 \over 1+1}## with respect to t?
[/QUOTE]

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/232/56382450.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Femme_physics said:

Almost good.
It should be just "v".
Check your calculation.

Anyway, your integral is ∫dv, which is the same as ∫1.dv.
So you are taking the integral of just "1" with respect to v.
Do you know an expression with "v", that has "1" as its derivative?

You have the derivative of the t2 part right. :)

However, "a" is a constant, meaning it does not change, nor does a2 change.
Btw, the end result should match the integral that you are taking, which is just "a".
It is not "a.t".
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Cheater! ;)

But you didn't do it right.
You should have calculated ∫dv instead of ∫v dv.

And even though wolframalpha did not understand the boundaries v0 and v, you should still have those in your formula.
 
Ohhh...you're right!

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/76/imacheater.jpg

Oh I'm such a cheater ;) I love this software!

If I weren't caught up with my non-calculus studies I'd have invested in figuring it out on my own. I just wanted to bring this topic to a closure for now and not leave it hanging.
I'll get my calculus straight because I'll need it for a first degree anyway, but all in due time :) Thanks for showing me the software and the way to the solution.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #10
One thing left: the boundaries v0 and v.

$$∫_{v_0}^v dv = [ v ]_{v_0}^v = v - v_0$$
 
  • #11
ahh..wasn't sure how to add boundaries in wolfram-- thanks
 

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