The Setup
A Time-Dependent Force
Imagine a block of mass m=1 kg resting peacefully on a frictionless horizontal surface. Suddenly, a force begins to push it. But this isn't just any constant force; it's a time-dependent force given by F=6t. This means the force starts at zero and grows stronger with every passing second. Our mission is to find the total work done by this force during the very first second of its journey.
Newton's Second Law
The Momentum Connection
When dealing with forces that change with time, Newton's Second Law in its original momentum form is an incredibly powerful tool. We know that force is the rate of change of momentum:
By rearranging this, we can relate a tiny change in momentum dp to a tiny time interval dt:
To find the total momentum acquired by the block after 1 s, we simply integrate both sides. Since the block starts from rest, its initial momentum at t=0 is zero.
Evaluating the integral is straightforward:
p=[26t2]01=3(1)2−0=3 kg m/s
So, at exactly t=1 s, the block has built up a momentum of 3 kg m/s.
The Kinetic Energy Link
Now that we have the momentum, how do we find the work done? We need a bridge between momentum and energy. That bridge is the kinetic energy formula expressed in terms of momentum:
Let's calculate the final kinetic energy of our block at t=1 s:
Since the block started from rest, its initial kinetic energy Ki was 0. Therefore, the total change in kinetic energy ΔK is simply 4.5 J.
The Grand Finale
Work-Energy Theorem
We are at the final step! The Work-Energy Theorem is one of the most elegant principles in physics. It states that the net work done on an object is exactly equal to its change in kinetic energy:
Since we just calculated ΔK to be 4.5 J, the work done by our time-dependent force is exactly 4.5 J.
Final Answer: The work done by the force during the first 1 s is 4.5 J.