Chapter 2: Problem 12
Problem 2.7 is about a class of one-dimensional problems that can always be reduced to doing an integral. Here is another. Show that if the net force on a one-dimensional particle depends only on position, \(F=F(x),\) then Newton's second law can be solved to find \(v\) as a function of \(x\) given by $$v^{2}=v_{\mathrm{o}}^{2}+\frac{2}{m} \int_{x_{0}}^{x} F\left(x^{\prime}\right) d x^{\prime}$$ [Hint: Use the chain rule to prove the following handy relation, which we could call the " \(v\) dv/d \(x\) rule": If you regard \(v\) as a function of \(x,\) then $$\dot{v}=v \frac{d v}{d x}=\frac{1}{2} \frac{d v^{2}}{d x}$$ Use this to rewrite Newton's second law in the separated form \(m d\left(v^{2}\right)=2 F(x) d x\) and then integrate from \(x_{\mathrm{o}}\) to \(x .\) ] Comment on your result for the case that \(F(x)\) is actually a constant. (You may recognise your solution as a statement about kinetic energy and work, both of which we shall be discussing in Chapter 4.)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.