Integrals and potential energy

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the equation for calculating potential energy gained by an object falling 100,000 units. Participants clarify that the equation describes the increase in potential energy when moving from a radius r to r + 100,000, or the kinetic energy gained when falling in the opposite direction. There is consensus that m1 represents the mass of the Earth or a planet, and m2 is the mass of the object, with a negative sign needed before the integral. Concerns are raised about the lack of understanding from educators in both physics and mathematics regarding fundamental concepts. The conversation highlights the importance of properly applying mathematical tools to solve physics problems effectively.
Praestrigiator
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Does the equation
http://m.imgur.com/2KAADas
Accurately describe the potential energy gained by an object falling by 100,000 units?
I asked my physics teacher and he said he didn't know enough about integrals to answer it.
I asked my math teacher and she just asked "Are you trying to find the area under that curve?" and I'm not thinking about it graphically so I honestly have no idea what the 'curve' she's talking about is.
 
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I believe m1 should be mass of the earth(or a planet) and m2 should be mass of the object and there should be a '-' sign before the integral.
 
Praestrigiator said:
Equation didn't link properly
Here it is
http://m.imgur.com/2KAADas
As cnh1995 indicated, it describes the increase in potential energy of an object that is moved r to (r +100000), or the decrease in potential energy of an object moved from (r + 100000) to r.
 
Chestermiller said:
As cnh1995 indicated, it describes the increase in potential energy of an object that is moved r to (r +100000), or the decrease in potential energy of an object moved from (r + 100000) to r.
You two are right, I messed up my wording.
It is indeed, the Potential energy that would be gained by moving from r to (r+100,000)
or the Kinetic energy gained (Potential energy lost) by falling in the opposite direction
 
cnh1995 said:
I believe m1 should be mass of the earth(or a planet) and m2 should be mass of the object and there should be a '-' sign before the integral.
Yeah, that's what M1 and M2 mean here, but other than that and how I bungled the wording, it is correct?
 
Yes that's right. It is disappointing that we have come to a situation where someone has the job of teaching physics when they don't understand the basic tools you need to do physics, and someone has the job of teaching mathematics when they don't seem to be able to apply mathematical tools to elementary problems in mechanics.
 
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