Work done = 1 N x 1 m = 2 kg 1m2 1.414s-2 = 1 J ? wrong ?

AI Thread Summary
In the discussion, participants analyze the calculation of work done by a rocket motor exerting 1 Newton of force on a 2-kilogram mass. They clarify that work is defined as force multiplied by distance, leading to the conclusion that 1 N acting over 1 m results in 1 Joule of work. The conversation highlights the importance of considering acceleration and initial velocity, noting that a force of 1 N will cause a 2 kg mass to accelerate at 0.5 m/s², affecting the time taken to cover a distance. Participants emphasize that the time taken to move a mass depends on its initial speed and the force applied, and they clarify that power, not work, is related to the rate of energy transfer over time. The discussion concludes that the initial assumptions about distance and time need careful consideration to accurately determine the work done.
Chalmers
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~In the vacuum of outer space~

If a rocket motor exerts a force of 1 Newton on a mass of 2 kilograms for 1.414213562 seconds over a distance of 1 meter, how many Joules of work have been done?

I thought
Work = 1 N x 1 m = 1 kg 1m2 1s-2 = 1 J

so
Work = 1 N x 1 m = 2 kg 1m2 1.414s-2 = 1 J ?

I think there is something wrong with my set-up, but what is the proper way to write it?
Is my textbook wrong?
Please see the attached .PNG file for further clarification.
physics question.png
 
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Chalmers said:
Please see the attached .PNG file for further clarification.
"1N per second" is nonsense.
 
Ok, I think I understand.
Let me re-word my question:

After pushing 2 kilograms a distance of 1 meter, how many Joules of work has a 1 Newton motor (2 kg · 0.5 m/s2) done?

-or-

After running for 1.414213562 seconds, how many Joules of work has a 1 Newton motor (2 kg · 0.5 m/s2) done?

Are these equivalent questions?

And of course, how many Joules?
(& please show the set-up!)
 
And your data is inconsistent. If you accelerate the 2 kg with a force of 1N, you can do it along a distance of 1m OR during 1.4 s.
 
Chalmers said:
After pushing 2 kilograms a distance of 1 meter, how many Joules of work has a 1 Newton motor (2 kg · 0.5 m/s2) done?

-or-

After running for 1.414213562 seconds, how many Joules of work has a 1 Newton motor (2 kg · 0.5 m/s2) done?

Are these equivalent questions?
Yes. Work is force times distance. In both cases, you have 1 N and 1m = 1J.
 
nasu said:
And your data is inconsistent. If you accelerate the 2 kg with a force of 1N, you can do it along a distance of 1m OR during 1.4 s.
Am I missing something? Doesn't applying a force of 1N cause a 2kg mass to travel 1m in 1.4s?
 
What you are "missing" is that force causes acceleration not speed. A force of 1 N will cause a 2 kg mass to accelerate at 1/2 m/s^2. How far it will move in that time depends upon the initial speed. Perhaps you are assuming the initial speed was 0 but that was not given.
 
russ_watters said:
Am I missing something? Doesn't applying a force of 1N cause a 2kg mass to travel 1m in 1.4s?
Maybe I am missing something.
The acceleration will be ## \frac{1N}{2kg} = \frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}## , right?
The distance traveled:
## d= \frac{1}{2} a t^2 ##
## t^2 ## is 2 (it looks like he took t as square root of 2).
So ## d=\frac{1}{2} (\frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}) \cdot 2s^2 =1/2 m ##
What I am missing?

I think that it needs 2s to travel 1 m, at that acceleration. But I may have a brain failure tonight. :smile:
 
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Again, you are assuming that this has initial velocity 0- from rest. That was not given.
 
  • #10
nasu said:
Maybe I am missing something.
The acceleration will be ## \frac{1N}{2kg} = \frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}## , right?
The distance traveled:
## d= \frac{1}{2} a t^2 ##
## t^2 ## is 2 (it looks like he took t as square root of 2).
So ## d=\frac{1}{2} (\frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}) \cdot 2s^2 =1/2 m ##
What I am missing?
if initial speed was 0.35m/s... it checks out ..
 
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  • #11
HallsofIvy said:
Again, you are assuming that this has initial velocity 0- from rest. That was not given.
Aha, this is how you see it. Thank you for clarification.
It would be interesting to know where that value for time come from.
 
  • #12
nasu said:
Maybe I am missing something.
The acceleration will be ## \frac{1N}{2kg} = \frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}## , right?
The distance traveled:
## d= \frac{1}{2} a t^2 ##
## t^2 ## is 2 (it looks like he took t as square root of 2).
So ## d=\frac{1}{2} (\frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}) \cdot 2s^2 =1/2 m ##
What I am missing?

I think that it needs 2s to travel 1 m, at that acceleration. But I may have a brain failure tonight. :smile:
No - I don't know what I was thinking (I don't remember - either I didn't bother checking the math or did it wrong myself). You're right that they don't match.
 
  • #13
nasu said:
Maybe I am missing something.
The acceleration will be ## \frac{1N}{2kg} = \frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}## , right?
The distance traveled:
## d= \frac{1}{2} a t^2 ##
## t^2 ## is 2 (it looks like he took t as square root of 2).
So ## d=\frac{1}{2} (\frac{1}{2} \frac{m}{s^2}) \cdot 2s^2 =1/2 m ##
What I am missing?

I think that it needs 2s to travel 1 m, at that acceleration. But I may have a brain failure tonight. :smile:

1 kg with a 1 N motor would arrive at the 2 meter mark at 1.414 seconds.
 
  • #14
russ_watters said:
Yes. Work is force times distance. In both cases, you have 1 N and 1m = 1J.

Is that correct, though?
I thought that a 1N motor would exert more Joules per amount of time regardless of distance,
as long as we are comparing different masses.
It should take more time (& more Joules) for a 1 N motor to move 10 kg a distance of 1 meter, & less time (& less Joules) to move 1 kg a distance of 1 meter, right?
 
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  • #15
Chalmers said:
1 kg with a 1 N motor would arrive at the 2 meter mark at 1.414 seconds.
It may, if you choose the right initial speed. But not if it start from rest.

Chalmers said:
Is that correct, though?
I thought that a 1N motor would exert more Joules per amount of time regardless of distance,
as long as we are comparing different masses.
The "Joules per second" is power.
P=F*v where F is force and v is magnitude of velocity.
So you either have a motor with constant force and then the power depends on the velocity. So it won't be constant over time if you have accelerated motion.

Or you have a constant power motor and then the force won't be constant unless.

And of course, you can have both changing in time.
Chalmers said:
It should take more time (& more Joules) for a 1 N motor to move 10 kg a distance of 1 meter, & less time (& less Joules) to move 1 kg a distance of 1 meter, right?
The work done is force times distance (W =F*d) so is the same in both cases.
It would be a good idea to use the actual equations instead of trying to put them in words or trying to guess different relationships where a simple relation will show you imediately that your are wrong (or right).
 
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