How does my book get ##\frac{1}{2}## by this derivation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the derivation of the expression for work done by a force on a free particle, specifically how the factor of ##\frac{1}{2}## appears in the equation relating kinetic energy to work. Participants explore the mathematical steps involved in the derivation, questioning the legality of certain manipulations and the presence of specific constants.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants discuss the line integral of force and its relation to work done, questioning how to generalize the equation for varying forces.
  • Questions are raised about the legality of gathering terms in the expression ##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})=2\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v}##, particularly regarding the treatment of ##\vec{v}## as both a variable and a function.
  • Participants express confusion over the appearance of the factor of ##2## in the integral and its absence in subsequent steps, seeking clarification on the integration process.
  • There is a query about the origin of the factor of ##\frac{1}{2}## in the final equation for work done, with participants attempting to trace its derivation through the previous equations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the questions raised, with multiple viewpoints regarding the mathematical manipulations and the presence of constants in the derivation remaining contested.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential confusion regarding the integration steps and the treatment of variables, indicating that assumptions about the continuity and differentiability of the functions involved may not be explicitly stated.

n3pix
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TL;DR
A question about derivation of the formula of Work.
The integral is called the line integral of ##F## from ##A## to ##B##. The work done in the displacement by the force is defined as,

##W(A\rightarrow B)=\int_A^B \vec{F}.dr##

where the limits ##A## and ##B## stand for the positions ##r_A## and ##r_B##.

We now return to the free particle subject
to forces. We want to generalize ##Eq. (5.6)##, which we here repeat,

##\frac{1}{2}Mv^2-\frac{1}{2}Mv_0^2=\vec{F}.(y-y_0)##

to include applied forces that vary in direction and magnitude but are known as functions of position throughout the region where the motion occurs. By substituting ##\vec{F}=M\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}## into ##Eq. (5.12)##, where ##\vec{F}## is the vector sum of the forces, we find for the work done by these forces,

##W(A\rightarrow B)=M\int_A^B \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.d\vec{r}##

Now

##d\vec{r}=\frac{d\vec{r}}{dt}.dt=\vec{v}dt##

So that

##W(A\rightarrow B)=M\int_A^B (\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.v)dt##

where the limits ##A## and ##B## now stand for the times ##t_A## and ##t_B## when the particle is at the positions designated by ##A## and ##B##. But we can rearrange the integrand,

##\frac{d}{dt}v^2=\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})=2\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v}##

Question 1: In the above equation, how could we gather ##\vec{v}## because one of them is in the derivation (##\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}##) and another one is free (##\vec{v}##) and together they do ##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})##. Is it legal to do?

so that

##2\int_A^B(\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt=\int_A^B(\frac{d}{dt}v^2)dt=\int_A^Bd(v^2)=(v_B^2-v_A^2)##

Question 2: Here, there were ##2## in the first equation but where is it in the second equation? It's confusing...

On substitution in ##Eq. (5.14)## we have an important result:

##W(A\rightarrow B)=\int_A^B \vec{F}.d\vec{r}=\frac{1}{2}Mv_B^2-\frac{1}{2}Mv_A^2##

for the free particle. This is a generalization of ##Eq. (5.6)##. We recognize,

##K=\frac{1}{2}Mv^2##

Thanks...
 
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n3pix said:
##\frac{d}{dt}v^2=\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})=2\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v}##

Question 1: In the above equation, how could we gather ##\vec{v}## because one of them is in the derivation (##\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}##) and another one is free (##\vec{v}##) and together they do ##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})##. Is it legal to do?

In general:

##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{u}.\vec{v})= \vec u \cdot \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt} + \frac{d\vec{u}}{dt} \cdot \vec{v}##

Hence:

##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})= 2\vec v \cdot \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}##

n3pix said:
so that

##2\int_A^B(\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt=\int_A^B(\frac{d}{dt}v^2)dt=\int_A^Bd(v^2)=(v_B^2-v_A^2)##

Question 2: Here, there were ##2## in the first equation but where is it in the second equation? It's confusing...

On substitution in ##Eq. (5.14)## we have an important result:

##W(A\rightarrow B)=\int_A^B \vec{F}.d\vec{r}=\frac{1}{2}Mv_B^2-\frac{1}{2}Mv_A^2##

for the free particle. This is a generalization of ##Eq. (5.6)##. We recognize,

##K=\frac{1}{2}Mv^2##

Thanks...

I don't understand your question here. That's a just a straight integration of the above equation.
 
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PeroK said:
In general:

##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{u}.\vec{v})= \vec u \cdot \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt} + \frac{d\vec{u}}{dt} \cdot \vec{v}##

Hence:

##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})= 2\vec v \cdot \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}##
I don't understand your question here. That's a just a straight integration of the above equation.

I mean, in this quote;

n3pix said:
##W(A\rightarrow B)=M\int_B^A (\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt##

where the limits ##A## and ##B## now stand for the times ##t_A## ##t_A## when the particle is at the positions designated by ##A## and ##B##. But we can rearrange the integrand,

##\frac{d}{dt}{\vec{v}}^2=\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})=2\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v}##

In the integral (##W(A\rightarrow B)=M\int_B^A (\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt##) the integrand is ##(\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})## and it can not be equal to ##(\frac{d}{dt}{\vec{v}}^2)##. But the derivation says that it is equal to this. Check it again please.

In my second question, I mean that

##2\int_A^B(\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt=\int_A^B(\frac{d}{dt}v^2)dt=\int_A^Bd(v^2)=(v_B^2-v_A^2)##

In this integral, first stage has ##2## (##2\int_A^B(\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt##) but in the second stage it doesn't have ##2## (##=\int_A^B(\frac{d}{dt}v^2)dt##) Where the ##2## gone?

And I want to add another question.

In the last equation (##W(A\rightarrow B)=\int_A^B \vec{F}.d\vec{r}=\frac{1}{2}Mv_B^2-\frac{1}{2}Mv_A^2##) Where the ##\frac{1}{2}## came from? I can't see any ##\frac{1}{2}## in the all of the derivation.

Thanks again.
 
n3pix said:
In this integral, first stage has ##2## (##2\int_A^B(\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}.\vec{v})dt##) but in the second stage it doesn't have ##2## (##=\int_A^B(\frac{d}{dt}v^2)dt##) Where the ##2## gone?

Just look at the previous equation:

##\frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v}.\vec{v})= 2\vec v \cdot \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}##

That's where the ##2## comes from!

The final ##\frac 1 2## arises simply by dividing both sides of the equation by ##2##.
 
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