Work with force changing with angle

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter drabdallh
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle Force Work
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of work done by a force that changes with the angle, specifically in the context of a physics problem. Participants are examining the relationship between force, distance, and angle in the work formula, with references to specific problems from textbooks.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that if the force is given by F=MGcos θ and the angle between the force and displacement is θ, then the work done would be MGcos²θ.
  • Another participant agrees with the expression MGcos²θ but expresses concern about the initial formulas, suggesting that the setup may be misinterpreted and that the angle might be accounted for incorrectly.
  • A reference is made to a specific problem from a textbook (Serway problem 7,20) to provide context for the discussion.
  • One participant questions the assumption that all contributors have access to the same textbooks, indicating a potential barrier to understanding the problem fully.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the formulas presented, and there are competing views regarding the interpretation of the problem setup.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the formulas and the specific context of the problem, as well as the accessibility of reference materials among participants.

drabdallh
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
IF F=MGcos θ AND THE ANGLE BETWEEN F AND D IS θ
THEN WILL THE WORK BE MGcos2θ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
MGDcos²θ, yes. But I'm a bit concerned about your formulas to begin with. What's the setup? You might be accounting for θ once more than you need to.
 
serway problem 7,20
 
I'm not sure why you assume we all have access to every textbook used for physics lectures.
 

Similar threads

High School Lifting an Object: Work, Force, and Cosine
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
High School Can energy be decomposed?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Work done when moving an object
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
High School Determine forces acting on double inclined plane
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Undergrad What is the purpose of the vector α in the rotational work integral?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Graduate Modeling the damping of a physical rigid pendulum
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Is Mechanical Energy Conservation Free of Ambiguity - follow up
  • · Replies 77 ·
3
Replies
77
Views
6K
High School Work Done By Conservative Forces
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Question regarding finding the magnitude of Torque
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Undergrad Phase angle of a damped driven harmonic oscillation
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
11K