Why a force perpendicular to the velocity doesn't change the magnitude?
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the question of why a force that is always perpendicular to the velocity of an object does not change the magnitude of that velocity. Participants explore this concept through various examples and mathematical reasoning, including references to kinetic energy and the implications of acceleration direction.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Debate/contested
- Mathematical reasoning
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that even minimal changes in velocity due to a perpendicular force could accumulate over time, potentially leading to an increase in speed.
- Others clarify that the question is unclear regarding whether the force is applied continuously or as a one-time offset.
- A participant points out that for a change in direction, the acceleration must remain perpendicular to the velocity at all times, particularly in circular motion.
- It is noted that if the force is perpendicular to the velocity, the work done is zero, leading to constant kinetic energy and thus constant speed.
- Some participants argue that the reasoning presented in the derivation assumes the conclusion that perpendicular forces do not change speed, which is the original question being posed.
- There is a discussion about the symmetry of calculations in time, where participants are encouraged to consider how velocity behaves when traced backward in time.
- One participant emphasizes that to change the magnitude of velocity, the acceleration must have components parallel or anti-parallel to the velocity vector.
- Another participant expresses confusion about applying the calculations backward in time and seeks clarification on this point.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the initial question. Multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of perpendicular forces on velocity magnitude, and the discussion includes both supportive and challenging perspectives on the reasoning presented.
Contextual Notes
Some participants highlight limitations in understanding the application of SUVAT equations in scenarios where forces remain perpendicular to velocity, indicating potential gaps in assumptions or definitions used in the discussion.
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No sir.phinds said:Is this a homework problem?
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Sir force is applied continuously perpendicular to the velocity as in case we rotates a stone using string and sorry I missed showing the force in my picture.phinds said:OK. Well, your question is completely unclear. I can't figure out whether there is a small offset applied to the motion and then it is left alone over time (which is what your picture looks like) or a continuous small offset being applied constantly over time (as your question implies).
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For a change in direction only (as with e.g. circular motion) the acceleration vector must remain perpendicular to velocity at all times.
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Sir can you please tell me from where can I get this proof.Ibix said:As @Bandersnatch notes, the problem is that you are allowing your velocity vector to change in your small time interval, but not the acceleration vector. If there's enough time for the velocity vector to change (possibly only infinitesimally) then there's enough time for the acceleration vector to change (possibly only infinitesimally). So the total acceleration in your ##\Delta t## won't be purely vertical, but will have a leftward component which will lead to it satisfying ##|\vec v_1+\vec v_2|=|\vec v_1|## (in the limit as ##\Delta t## goes to zero, anyway).
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Someone else had the same question recently:Hemant said:Sir can you please tell me from where can I get this proof.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/a-proof-that-magnetic-forces-do-no-work.981895/
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Hemant said:Sir I can't figure it from that thread can you please give me an proof of this.
Let ##K = \frac 1 2 m v^2 = \frac 1 2 m \vec{v} \cdot \vec{v}## be the kinetic energy of a particle. $$\frac{dK}{dt} = \frac 1 2 m \frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v} \cdot \vec{v}) = m (\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt} \cdot \vec{v}) = m\vec{a} \cdot \vec v = \vec F \cdot \vec v$$
Hence, if the force is perpendicular to the velocity, then ##\frac{dK}{dt} = 0##, which means the kinetic energy of the particle is constant, hence the speed is constant.
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Sir but in this derivation we have used the result of derivation"which proves that perpendicular force cannot change the magnitude of velocity" which is my question?PeroK said:Let ##K = \frac 1 2 m v^2 = \frac 1 2 m \vec{v} \cdot \vec{v}## be the kinetic energy of a particle. $$\frac{dK}{dt} = \frac 1 2 m \frac{d}{dt}(\vec{v} \cdot \vec{v}) = m (\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt} \cdot \vec{v}) = m\vec{a} \cdot \vec v = \vec F \cdot \vec v$$
Hence, if the force is perpendicular to the velocity, then ##\frac{dK}{dt} = 0##, which means the kinetic energy of the particle is constant, hence the speed is constant.
Sorry to argue sir.
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Hemant said:Sir but in this derivation we have used the result of derivation"which proves that perpendicular force cannot change the magnitude of velocity" which is my question?
Sorry to argue sir.
Not at all. $$\vec F \cdot \vec v = 0 \ \Rightarrow \frac{dK}{dt} = 0 \ \Rightarrow \frac{dv}{dt} = 0$$
PS Note that in post #11 I showed that: $$\frac{dK}{dt} = \vec F \cdot \vec v$$
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Whenever I see students with this misconception, they always look at the situation evolving forward in time. That is, they look at the velocity vector now, apply the [assumed to be] constant acceleration and derive that the velocity vector later has increased in magnitude. From this they conclude that speed must be increasing.Hemant said:As I have shown in the picture even if their is minimal change but shouldn't it increase after a long time as minimal changes will keep accumulating.
None of them ever bother to do the same calculation going backward in time to determine the velocity a moment ago. If they did, they would see that the speed a moment ago must also have been higher. So the same [mistaken] argument proves with equal force both that speed is increasing and that it is decreasing.
Edit: Of course, that's the difference between a parabolic path and a circular path. For a parabolic path (constant acceleration), the speed really does increase both forward and backward in time. For a circular path (always perpendicular acceleration) the speed stays the same both ways.
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To decrease velocity magnitude, you need an acceleration component anti-parallel to velocity.Hemant said:As I have shown in the picture even if their is minimal change but shouldn't it increase after a long time as minimal changes will keep accumulating.
To increase velocity magnitude, you need an acceleration component parallel to velocity.
If the acceleration has neither component, then velocity magnitude cannot change.
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Sir can you please explain me this point I can't understand what you want to say.jbriggs444 said:None of them ever bother to do the same calculation going backward in time to determine the velocity a moment ago. If they did, they would see that the speed a moment ago must also have been higher. So the same [mistaken] argument proves with equal force both that speed is increasing and that it is decreasing.
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The SUVAT equations work equally well in predicting how a system behaves going forward in time and going backward in time. You can trace the trajectory of a stone on string or a planet in its orbit into the future or into the past.Hemant said:Sir can you please explain me this point I can't understand what you want to say.
You have presented a calculation which purports to show velocity increasing into the future. How about applying that calculation to see how velocity behaves going into the past?
The laws of classical Newtonian physics are invariant under time reversal. If you can take a symmetric situation and derive an asymmetry, you've goofed.
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Sir how can I apply it?jbriggs444 said:How about applying that calculation to see how velocity behaves going into the past?
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Look at your original post. You evolved the velocity forward in time as the object moved to the right under a constant upward acceleration. Go back and do it again. But now the object is arriving from the left under constant upward acceleration and arrives at the center with rightward velocity v. What must its velocity have been a moment ago?Hemant said:Sir how can I apply it?
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Hemant said:Sir how can I apply it?
I'm not sure how helpful this is. SUVAT equations assume constant force and constant acceleration, which cannot be the case if the force remains perpendicular to the velocity.
It's a pity you've been distracted from the mathematics in post #11.
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Your misunderstandings seem to go deep. Do you understand how a first derivative is defined? Do you understand limits? Tangent lines to a curve?Hemant said:Please help me get out of this problem, which is correct explanation of this.
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Second, you are wasting the time of the people trying to help you as well as your own by not thinking about the answers you are gettng. How do I know this? Because your responses occur only minutes after someone else's post. You're not leaving enough time to think about it - and you just turn around and demand answers.
I don't think this is the first time this has been pointed out to you.
If you don't understand something, think about it. If you still don't understand, think some more. If you still don't understand, write a carefully composed message showing you have thought about it and discussing exactly what you don't understand. Don't just demand answers of us.
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So can you please tell me how can I give someone respect and as we can see most of the people on this thread are male so to whom may I say mam.Vanadium 50 said:Hemant, first, enough with the "Sir, if for no other reason than some of the "sirs" on PF are women.
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It isn't necessary. Just talk to us like you would talk to a friend.Hemant said:So can you please tell me how can I give someone respect and as we can see most of the people on this thread are male so to whom may I say mam.
I see you have not bothered to put any information about yourself on in your profile so I can't tell for sure but I think it is a safe assumption that you come from a culture where it is very important to show overt respect for your elders and superiors. That's not necessary on this forum, just be polite and that's plenty.
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Some cultures put more emphasis on honorifics than others. Culture on PhysicsForums mostly follows current western forms, which means first names (or nicknames, for those of us not posting under our real names) for more or less everyone short of a head of state. Just say thank you at the end of the thread, and that's enough.Hemant said:So can you please tell me how can I give someone respect and as we can see most of the people on this thread are male so to whom may I say mam.
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And I also want to share a thought "only that person has right to nag someone who praises."
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Firstly,I am not wasting someone time and if one thought that I am wasting his/her time then please just don't reply to my thread it's just that and secondly I thought a lot about a topic and sometimes I reply fast because I have seen or thought that explanation earlier so I tell them what is the place where I am stuck.Vanadium 50 said:Second, you are wasting the time of the people trying to help you as well as your own by not thinking about the answers you are gettng.
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That run-on sentence could use a lot of punctuation. It accomplishes nothing but to disavow responsibility for your actions. A complete waste of electrons.Hemant said:I am not wasting someone time...
The poor formatting conveys an impression of disrespect toward the reader. The explicit message is also one of disrespect.
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