Relating Momentum to Kinetic Energy

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between momentum and kinetic energy, exploring how these concepts are mathematically connected through integration and differentiation. Participants examine the implications of integrating force with respect to time and position, and how this relates to the familiar equations of motion and energy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that integrating impulse (FΔt) leads to momentum and questions how this relates to kinetic energy, suggesting a deeper connection between these concepts.
  • Another participant explains that integrating force with respect to time yields momentum, while integrating with respect to position yields energy, proposing a relationship between changes in energy and momentum.
  • A participant expresses confusion about the relationship between force, displacement, and velocity, asking for clarification on how these equations relate to kinetic energy.
  • Further clarification is provided that the ratio of force times displacement to force times time is indeed velocity, and this relationship is tied to energy and momentum changes.
  • One participant inquires whether taking the derivative of a kinetic energy equation would yield momentum, drawing a parallel to derivatives in motion equations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and interpretation of the relationships between momentum and kinetic energy. Some agree on the mathematical connections, while others seek further clarification, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple perspectives presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for assumptions regarding constant forces and the implications of integrating with respect to different variables, but these assumptions are not universally accepted or clarified.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students and educators in physics, particularly those exploring the mathematical relationships between fundamental concepts such as momentum and kinetic energy.

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We recently started going over momentum in my phyics class and we were given this bit of information: ##impulse=FΔt=mΔv=momentum## I noticed that I were to take the integral of both sides with respect to velocity, it would yield ##FvΔt=Fx=(1/2)mv^2## Which is the Work-Kinectic energy relationship. At first, I thought that integrating momentum and getting Kinetic Energy was just a coincidence, but then after thinking about how momentum and kinetic energy could be related and seeing that integrating both sides still yields a familiar formula I realize that it has to mean something. However, I can't figure it out, and my professor was unable to give me an answer. So, is this relationship similar to the relationship between Acceleration, Velocity, and Position, where, rather than integrating with respect to time we are integrating with respect to position and time? How am I to interpret this? i.e. Acceleration can be described as the change in velocity over some time and the velocity, the change in position over some time.

differential equations comes to mind when I think about integrating with respect to two variables at once, but alas, the answer eludes me! I've been chewing on this for days, so any insights are greatly appreciated!
 
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mΔv is a change in momentum.

If you integrate F with respect to t, you get momentum (change).
If you integrate F with respect to x, you get energy (change).
If F is constant, the first is just F*Δt, and the second is F*Δx. You can divide them, and get v Δp = ΔE, which is equivalent to your equation.
 
I'm not sure I follow you. How is ##FΔx##/##FΔt## not just velocity? Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what you're trying to say, would you mind expanding you're equations a bit? Like, could you show how whatever operation you're doing is equivalent to ##∫Ftdv=∫mvdv## which gives##Fx=(1/2)mv^2##?



Also, I'd like to draw attention to this question, as it is the one I'm most interested in. :)

Jesse H. said:
... So, is this(*momentum and kinetic energy*) relationship similar to the relationship between Acceleration, Velocity, and Position, where, rather than integrating with respect to time we are integrating with respect to position over time(##{\frac{dx}{dt}}##)? How am I to interpret this? i.e. Acceleration can be described as the change in velocity over some time and the velocity, the change in position over some time...
 
Jesse H. said:
How is ##FΔx##/##FΔt## not just velocity?
It is just velocity, exactly. But at the same time, it is the relation between energy and momentum change.

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what you're trying to say, would you mind expanding you're equations a bit? Like, could you show how whatever operation you're doing is equivalent to ##∫Ftdv=∫mvdv## which gives##Fx=(1/2)mv^2##?
I don't see how I could expand them. I can write them as formulas, however:
$$\int F dt = F \Delta t = \Delta p$$
$$\int F dx = F \Delta x = \Delta E$$
$$\frac{ F \Delta x}{ F \Delta t} = \frac{\Delta E}{\Delta p} \rightarrow v \Delta p = \Delta E$$

Also, I'd like to draw attention to this question, as it is the one I'm most interested in. :)
Energy, momentum and mass are related via derivatives in the velocity. With a constant external force (like gravity), it is even possible to relate them to each other:
Energy is related to the position (height)
Momentum is related to the velocity
Mass is constant - acceleration is constant
 
Ok thank you, I see.

Another question: If you were given an equation for an objects Kinetic Energy at any velocity, v, could you take the derivative of that equation and it would give its momentum for any velocity? I'm just curious if it works the same way as taking the derivative of a position function wrt time.
 
Sure, this is a direct result of the equations posted above.
 

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