Vector calculus - line integral

braindead101
Messages
158
Reaction score
0
Suppose that F is an inverse square force field; this is, F(r) = cr/ |r|^{3} for some constant c, where r = xi + yj + zmbfk. Find the work done by F in moving an object from a point P1 along a path to a point P2 in terms of the distances d1 and d2 from these points to the origin.

Not exactly sure where to start, do i still find the integral of F with respect to dr..., and there's no r(t).. like other questions, so i am lost.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your vector field can be derived from a potential function. Start there.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top