Is this a constant or variable force?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether the force acting on a stopping vehicle is constant or variable. It is established that the force is variable due to its dependence on velocity, which affects both kinetic energy and drag. The participants explore differential equations to describe the relationship between kinetic energy and displacement, ultimately leading to solutions for stopping distance. A numerical solution using the Euler method is mentioned, but concerns arise about whether the results differ between constant and variable force scenarios. The conversation concludes with a focus on deriving the correct relationship for variable force in the context of stopping distance.
revolution200
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If a vehicle is stopping its change in Kinetic energy is equal to the force times displacement or distance as it is traveling in a straight line and parallel to displacement.

If the force is F(net) = kinetic + drag

F(net) = umg + 1/2*A*rho*v^2

is this force constant or variable

If it is constant then the Kinetic energy (T) is

delta(T) = F(net) delta(s)

If it is variable then it is the formula for variable force

What I'm hoping to get is a differential equation of the form

dT/ds=F(net)
 
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revolution200 said:
If a vehicle is stopping its change in Kinetic energy is equal to the force times displacement or distance as it is traveling in a straight line and parallel to displacement.

If the force is F(net) = kinetic + drag

F(net) = umg + 1/2*A*rho*v^2

is this force constant or variable
The force is clearly a function of velocity and hence time and is therefore, non-constant.

What exactly are you trying to solve for?
 
I have solved it for distance.

dT/ds = B+CT where v^2=2T/m

solving I got

s = ln(B+CT) - ln(B) = ln(B+CT/B)

looking back through definitions I have noticed that I have used a formula for constant force when it isn't but I'm not sure
 
revolution200 said:
I have solved it for distance.

dT/ds = B+CT where v^2=2T/m

solving I got

s = ln(B+CT) - ln(B) = ln(B+CT/B)

looking back through definitions I have noticed that I have used a formula for constant force when it isn't but I'm not sure
I'm not sure why/how you're invoking energy here. And no, as I said above you cannot treat the force as constant.

A must more straightforward method would be to simply note the definition of force in terms of acceleration and solve the resulting ODE.
 
I have a vehicle stopping. I have already solved this issue and am writing the result up. I have descibed the stopping distance of the vehicle as a differential equation that describes the rate that the vehicle is losing energy. When the vehicle has stopped its Kinetic energy is zero.

The solution I have for this is

Where Work = change in Kinetic energy = Force * displacement

dT = F(net)ds

dT/ds = F(net)

where F(net) = umg + drag equation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_resistance

for the v^2 term in the drag equation I substitute V^2 = 2T/m

so

F(net) = B + CT

the frictional force plus the drag force in terms of kinetic energy

I have also calculated a numerical solution using an Euler method that iterates down using the differential equation.

The problem I have had is do I get the same result for variable force as I do with constant force
i.e.
dT = F(net)ds
 
revolution200 said:
I have a vehicle stopping. I have already solved this issue and am writing the result up. I have descibed the stopping distance of the vehicle as a differential equation that describes the rate that the vehicle is losing energy. When the vehicle has stopped its Kinetic energy is zero.

The solution I have for this is

Where Work = change in Kinetic energy = Force * displacement

dT = F(net)ds

dT/ds = F(net)

where F(net) = umg + drag equation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_resistance

for the v^2 term in the drag equation I substitute V^2 = 2T/m

so

F(net) = B + CT

the frictional force plus the drag force in terms of kinetic energy

I have also calculated a numerical solution using an Euler method that iterates down using the differential equation.

The problem I have had is do I get the same result for variable force as I do with constant force
i.e.
dT = F(net)ds

You write it as an ODE.

dT/ds = -b - cT

Which has the solution,

T = (T_0 + b/c) e^{-cs} - b/c \,\,\,\,\, : valid while T>0BTW. Have you done ODE's in maths yet?
 
yeah I've done one or two. I needed to solve it for s(max). The solution to the problem is how far the car travels not the kinetic energy of the vehicle.

from
dT/ds = b+cT

we get

dt/(b+cT) = ds

for

(b+cT)=x, dx = cT

therefore

T = 1/c(dx)

we now get

1/c (dx/x)=ds

integrating

integral b+cT0 - b(1/c){1/x} =integral 0 - smax{s}

we get

smax = 1/c{ln(b)-ln(b+cT0}

The constants are negative.

is there a way ogf using equation editor

I just need to know if I can get

dT = F(net)ds from the variable force if you can help
 
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