Electric potential energy and displacement

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving a time-varying force acting on a mass, with a specific displacement function provided. Participants are exploring how to determine the work done by the force over a given time interval.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the adequacy of the information provided, particularly regarding the specifics of the time-varying force. There is discussion about deriving the force from the displacement function using mass and acceleration, as well as considering velocity and acceleration to calculate work.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering insights on how to approach the problem. Some guidance has been provided regarding the relationship between force, velocity, and work, but no consensus has been reached on the specifics of the force or the complete method for solving the problem.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted lack of explicit information about the force itself, which is crucial for solving the problem. Participants are working within the constraints of the given displacement function and the time interval specified.

prolong199
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could someone please lead me in the right direction with this question. I am confused about the time varying force in determining the work done

A time-varying force acts on a 5 kg mass yielding a displacement
x = 5t - 8t2 (x in m). The work done by the force between the times
t = 0 and t = 5s, is

thanks.
 
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You're missing a bit of information here; are you sure you're given nothing about the force?
 
thats what I am thinking, it says a time varying force, but you can work out the force with regard to mass and acceleration fro the displacement function. So to answer your question, there is no other information provided for the question.
 
prolong199 said:
thats what I am thinking, it says a time varying force, but you can work out the force with regard to mass and acceleration fro the displacement function. So to answer your question, there is no other information provided for the question.

You are right, you can get both velocity and acceleration so the force too, from x(t). The work between two points is the line integral of the force, but it can be calculated as the time integral of the power P=F*v in the given time interval.

ehild
 

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