# Homework Help: Finding the work done on a cutting tool

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1. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A cutting tool under microprocessor control has several forces acting on it. One force is F⃗ =−αxy2j^, a force in the negative y-direction whose magnitude depends on the position of the tool. The constant is α = 2.70N/m3 . Consider the displacement of the tool from the origin to the point x= 2.95m , y= 2.95m .

Part A
Calculate the work done on the tool by F⃗ if this displacement is along the straight line y=x that connects these two points.

Part B
Calculate the work done on the tool by F⃗ if the tool is first moved out along the x-axis to the point x= 2.95m , y=0 and then moved parallel to the y-axis to x= 2.95m , y= 2.95m .

3. The attempt at a solution
So I was simply trying to use the W=force*distance, and I tried to use the vector equation for force by plugging in the coordinate that it would end up at and then for distance I used the distance from the origin to the point (2.95, 2.95) for the first part, and then I broke Part B into two parts, calculating work from origin to (2.95, 0) and then work from there to (2.95, 2.95).

It didn't work, and it is due by 11:59 PM. I am really confused. (Please, if you use calculus in your replies, please explain in detail. My calculus is very weak right now...)

2. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

Please post your working. It is hard to say where you went wrong from merely an outline of what you did.
Also, this is very much an international forum. I don't know what time zone you are in.

3. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

Hello

I am in the Eastern Time Zone by the way, so about 51 minutes left (!)

For the first one, I took W=F*D and took F⃗ =−αxy^2 j-hat, plugged in α=2.70, x=2.95, y=2.95, and then multiplied that by the sqrt(2*2.95^2). I got -289.

For the second one, I did the same thing but in two parts. The first part I plugged in α=2.70, x=2.95, y=0, and then multiplied that by 2.95. Then I added the product of the next part, which I plugged in α=2.70, x=2.95, y=2.95, and multiplied that by 2.95.

The homework system tells me I am wrong. Please correct me.

4. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

Substituting those coordinates in the expression for F gives you the force at those coordinates. You need to integrate the force along the path to those coordinates.

5. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

I do not know how to integrate the force along the path...Could you explain in detail?

6. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

Suppose you move a distance dx in the x direction. To stay on that path you must also move dx in the y direction. Express that as a vector. The work done by the force is the dot product of F with that vector. Compute that dot product and integrate over the range of x.

7. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

Please look at my math

Could I write it as the integral from 0 to 2.95 of (-2.7*x*y^2) dx?

8. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

Or would it be the integral of -2.7*y^2*dx from 0 to 2.95?

9. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

In the OP you wrote $\alpha xy2\hat j$. I gues that meant y2. If so, yes, but remember that y is a known function of x along this path.

10. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

I do not know what you mean by y being a known function of x. Was my first integral correct, and then if I plug in the value of that integral into the W=F*D equation, then it works?

11. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

What does it tell you about the path in part A?

12. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

OH

so y=x. Then for my final integral, it is the integral of x^3 dx from 0 to 2.95? (I may have that completely wrong.)

13. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

Yes, not forgetting alpha.

14. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

So it would be the integral of -2.7x^3 dx from 0 to 2.95

Then for part B,

is the first integral -2.7*0*dx from 0-2.95? and then the second one...since it is dy, then I could do -2.7*x*2y*dy from 0 to 2.95?

15. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

I don't understand the 2y. What happened to y2?

16. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

I thought since it was dy, I would not so anything to the x, but the change would happen to the y part, unless I was supposed to change it to (1/3) y^3? My calculus is really rusty

17. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

I calculated the integral for the first part and got -51.12, and then multiplied that by the sqrt(2*(2.95^2)) and got -213.3. It is still wrong. I do not know what to do.

18. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

For this part of the question, it's the same algebraic form of F, but as you move up from y=0 to the finishing point x is constant. So, yes, you should get y3/3 in the result.

19. Feb 17, 2015

### physicsquestion

Okay then. But for part A, was the answer that I got in joules? Am I supposed to do another calculation to get joules?

20. Feb 17, 2015

### haruspex

Why did you multiply it by anything? What quantity do you think the result of the integration is giving you?