Cal85 Applications To Physics

Arkansas Tech University
MATH 2924: Calculus II

Dr. Marcel B. Finan
13 Applications to Physics
It has been shown how calculus can be applied to nd solutions to geometric
problems such as problems concerned with computing area, volume, and arc
length. In this section calculus is used to solve problems that arise from
Physics.
The Concept of Work
The work done by a constant force, F, in moving an object a distance , d, is
equal to the product of the force and the distance moved. That is,
W = F d.
The SI (international) unit of work is the joule (J), which is the work done
by a force of one Newton (N) pushing a body along one meter (m). Thus, 1
joule = 1 N-m. In the British system, a unit work is the foot-pound. Since
1N = 0.224809 lb(1 lb = 4.45 N) and 1m = 3.28084 ft (1 ft = 0.305 m), we
have 1J = 0.737561 ft lb(1 ft lb = 1.36 J).
Now, in most cases the applied force is not constant, but varies over the
straight line of motion. For example, suppose that the force, F(x), acting on
a particle as it moves along the straight line from a to b varies continuously.
In order to nd the total work done by the force we divide the interval [a, b]
into n small equal subintervals [x
i1
, x
i
], each of length x, so that the change
in F is small along each subinterval, i.e approximately constant. Then the
work done by the force in moving the body from x
i1
to x
i
is approximately:
W
i
F(x
i
)x.
So the total work is
W =
n
i=1
W
i

n
i=1
F(x
i
)x.
As n the Riemann sum at the right converges to the following integral:
W =
b
a
F(x)dx.
1
Example 13.1
Consider a spring on the xaxis so that its left end is at x = 0 when the
spring is at its rest position. According to Hookes Law, the force needed to
stretch the spring from 0 to x is proportional to x, i.e. F(x) = kx where k
is called the spring constant. Find the work done in stretching the spring
a length of a.
Solution.
The work needed to stretch the spring from 0 to a is given by the integral
W =
a
0
kxdx =
ka
2
2
.
Work Done Against Gravity
Mass and weight are often confused. Weight is the force of gravity on an
object. The mass of an object is the quantity of matter it comprises. An
objects weight will vary depending on a given gravity. For example an object
that weighs 10 pounds on earth is weightless in interstellar space. On the
contrary, an object will have the exact same mass. Gravity causes objects to
free fall with a constant acceleration (9.8 meters/second
2
on earth).
In the SI system, the unit of mass is the kilograms. Thus, 1 Kg of iron
stands for the mass of iron present. Its weight is the amount of force exerted
on it by gravity. Since force = mass acceleration, 1 Kg of iron weighs
1Kg 9.8m/sec
2
= 9.8
kgm
sec
2
= 9.8N. (A newton is a unit of force or weight).
The unit of mass in the British system is slug.
Now, according to Newtons Law, the force of gravity at a distance r from
the center of the earth is
F(r) =
k
r
2
where k is some positive constant.
The work needed to lift a body from a point at distance R
1
from the center
of the Earth to another point at distance R
2
is given by the integral
W =
R
2
R
1
k
r
2
dr =
k
r
R
2
R
1
= k
1
R
1
1
R
2
.
Example 13.2
Find the work needed to lift a body of weight 1N, 1000 km from the surface
of the Earth. The Earth radius is 6378 Km.
2
Solution.
First we will nd the value of k. Since F(6378) = 1 N then
k
6378
2
= 1, so
k = 6378
2
. Next we have R
1
= 6378km, R
2
= 6378 + 1000 = 7378km, hence
W = 6378
2
(
1
6378

1
7378
) = 864.462 N-Km.
Since 1 Km = 1000 m, the result in joule is
864.462 N-Km = 864.462 N 1000 m = 864462 J.
Work Done Filling (or Emptying) a Tank
Example 13.3
A tank in the shape of a right circular cone of height 12 ft and radius 3
ft is inserted into the ground with its vertex pointing down and its top at
ground level as shown in Figure 13.1. If the tank is lled with water (density
= 62.4 lb/ft
3
) to a depth of 6 ft, how much work is performed in pump-
ing all the water in the tank to ground level? What changes if the water is
pumped to a height of 3 ft above ground level?
Figure 13.1
Solution.
Set up a coordinate system with the origin at the vertex of the cone and the
y-axis as the axis of symmetry as shown in Figure 13.2.
3
Figure 13.2
Consider a layer of distance y
i
from the vertex of the cone and with thickness
y. The volume of such a circular layer is
V
i
= x
2
i
y.
Using similar triangles we nd that
x
i
3
=
y
i
12
and consequently x
i
=
y
i
4
. Thus,
V
i
=

16
y
2
i
y.
Hence its weight is m
i
= 62.4

16
y
2
i
y. The work done to raise it to the top of
the tank is
W
i
=
62.4
16
y
2
i
(12 y
i
)y.
Adding the works done to raise these slices we obtain the total work done to
empty the tank:
W =

6
0
62.4
16
y
2
(12 y)dy = 3.9

6
0
(12y
2
y
3
)dy
= 3.9
4y
3
1
4
y
4
6
0
= 2106 ft lb.
Now if the water is pumped to a height of 3 ft above ground level, all that
changes is the distance moved by the layer of water. It becomes 12+3y
i
=
15 y
i
and the work is given by
W = 62.4
6
0
y
2
16
(15 y)dy 9263ft lb.
4
Force and Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area acting on an object. You measure air,
steam, gas pressure, and the uid pressure in hydraulic systems in pounds
per square inch (psi). However, you measure water pressure in pounds per
square foot. So the pressure in a liquid is the force per unit area exerted by
the liquid. The pressure is exerted equally in all directions and it increases
in depth.
The pressure p of a liquid at a given depth h is given by the formula
p = g h
where g is the acceleration due to gravity and is the density of the liquid.
For a constant pressure over a given area, the force on the surface is given
by
Force = Pressure Area.
If the pressure is variable then the force is found by dividing the surface into
small pieces in such a way that the pressure is nearly constant and then write
a Riemann sum that yields a denite integral giving the total force. Since
the pressure varies with depth, we divide the surface into horizontal strips,
each of which is at an approximately constant depth. The following example
illustrates these concepts.
Example 13.4
Consider a dam for storing water as shown in Figure 13.3. Set up and cal-
culate a denite integral giving the total force on the dam. The density of
water is = 1000 kg/m
3
.
Figure 13.3
5
Solution.
We divide the dam into horizontal strips in which the pressure is almost
constant. (See Figure 13.4). Lets nd the area of a strip. The equation of
the line going through the points (1500, 0) and (1800, 100) is y =
x
3
500.
Thus,
A
i
= 2x
i
y
where x
i
= 3y
i
+ 1500. Hence
A
i
= (6y
i
+ 3000)y.
The pressure is given by
p
i
= gy
i
= 1000 9.8(100 y
i
) = 9800(100 y
i
).
Thus, the total force is
F =
100
0
9800(100 y)(6y + 3000)dy = 1.568 10
11
.
Figure 13.4
6

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Arkansas Tech University

MATH 2924: Calculus II

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