Using Derivatives and Integrals to Find Velocity: Am I doing this right?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around finding velocity from the force function F(x) = A + Bx, where A and B are constants and x represents displacement. The initial approach used Newton's second law, F = ma, to derive acceleration as a function of x, but the user realized that integrating with respect to time was incorrect. They corrected their method by recognizing that acceleration can also be expressed as a product of velocity and the derivative of velocity with respect to displacement. The final conclusion is that the second reasoning is correct, leading to a straightforward integration to find velocity. The user confirms that this approach successfully yields the desired result.
jumbogala
Messages
414
Reaction score
4

Homework Statement


The function given to me is F(x) = A + Bx.

x is the displacement, F(x) is the force as a function of that displacement, and A and B are constants.

From the function, I'm supposed to find the velocity of the function as a function of x.

We also know that the items which follow this function have mass m.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


First I tried using F = ma, giving ma = A + Bx. Then I divided by m on both sides to get a = A/m + (B/m)x.

Then I integrated both sides, to get v = whatever the integral of the RHS is.

But then I realized that a = dv/dt, NOT dv/dx. So integrating with respect to dt doesn't work.

So instead I think I should use a = dv/dt = (dx/dt)*(dv/dx) = v(dv/dx)

And work that into my equation somehow. But I'm having a mental debate with myself about whether I was right the first time... can anyone help?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You are right. Proceed.
 
So my 2nd reasoning is correct, not my first, right?

If I do that it works fine, it's just a simple integration. Thanks!
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top