IdleTheory

Physical and Mathematical Definitions.

Idle Theory employs a little simple physics. Most of this is concerned with the physical concepts of Work and Energy.

Work is done when a force is moved through a distance. When a mass of 0.5 kilograms is raised 2 metres against the gravitational acceleration of the earth (9.81 m/s2), 0.5 x 9.81 x 2.0, or 9.81 Joules of energy is used. (Work and Energy are interchangable terms.)

The potential energy of this mass is 9.81 Joules. If it is released and allowed to fall back, its velocity, v, after falling 2 metres will will be 4 x 9.81 m/s, and its kinetic energy will be 1/2.m.v2 = 9.81 Joules. Thus its potential energy will have been converted into kinetic energy - energy is conserved.

Quantity Equivalent Dimensions S.I. units
Mass   M Kilogram (kg)
Length   L Metre (m)
Time   T Second (s)
Frequency cycles/unit time T-1 Hertz (Hz)
Area length x width L2 m2
Volume length x height x width L3 m3
Density Mass/unit volume ML-3 kg/m3
Velocity Distance/unit time LT-1 m/s
Acceleration Velocity/unit time LT-2 m/s2
Force mass x acceleration MLT-2 Newton
Weight mass x gravitational acceleration (terrestrial surface acceleration = 9.81 m/s2 = g) MLT-2 Kilogram (?)
Pressure or Stress force/unit area ML-1T-2 Pascal (Pa)
Moment of Inertia mass x length2 ML2 kg m2
Work force x distance ML2T-2 Joule (J)
Energy Work capacity ML2T-2 Joule (J)
Potential Energy mass x gravitational acceleration x height raised ML2T-2 Joule (J)
Kinetic Energy 1/2 mass x velocity2 ML2T-2 Joule (J)
Power Work/unit time ML2T-3 Watt (W)
Momentum Mass x velocity MLT-1  

The S.I. (or M.K.S.) system has the kilogram as its unit of mass, not weight. At the surface of the earth, a kilogram weighs 9.81 Newtons.

Theorem of Pythagoras
kinda interesting that this is rotated 1 degree to look rightA small square is drawn inside a larger square such that its vertices touch the sides of the larger square. The area of the larger square can be expressed in two ways.

1) Area = (a + b)2 = a2 + 2.a.b + b2
2) Area = c2 + 2.a.b

When areas 1) and 2) are equated
3) a2 + b2 = c2

Equations of Rectilinear Motion
1) v = u + a.t plot of velocity against timewhere
u = initial velocity
v = final velocity
a = acceleration
t = time
s = distance
2) s = u.t + 1/2.a.t2
(s is area under graph)
3) v2 = u2 + 2.a.s
(combining 1) and 2))

Newton's Laws of Motion
First Law of Motion: Every object continues in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless a net external force acts on it to change that state.
Second Law of Motion: The rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the force applied and takes place in the direction of the force.

This becomes force = mass x acceleration, p= m.a

Third Law of Motion: To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

The Laws of Thermodynamics
Zeroth Law: Suppose that of three bodies A, B, and C, bodies A and B are separately in thermal equilibrium with body C, then bodies A and B are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

This permits temperature measurement.

First Law: The change in internal energy of a system is equal to the the heat absorbed by the system plus the external work done on the system.

This is a statement the conservation of energy. Energy is neither created nor destroyed.

Second Law: For an isolated system, only those processes can take place for which the entropy of the sytem increases or remains constant.

Clausius' statement of the Second Law: It is impossible to construct a device that operating in a cycle will produce no effect other than the transfer of heat from a cooler to a hotter body. The spontaneous flow of heat from a colder body to a hotter body is impossible.

Lord Kelvin and Max Planck's statement of the Second Law: It is impossible to construct a device operating in a cycle for the sole purpose of extracting heat from a reservoir and changing it into an equal amount of work without rejecting a part of the heat. i.e. it is impossible to devise a machine that converts 100% of heat into work.

The universe is cooling down.

Third Law: It is impossible to reach the absolute zero of temperature in any physical process.

Newton's law of gravity:

F = G . M1 . M2 / R2

where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, M1 and M2 are two masses, and R is the distance between them.

Centrifugal or centripetal force:

F = M . R . W2

where M is a mass revolving at radius R from an axis with angular velocity W.


References:

Introductory College Physics. Atam P. Arya. Collier Macmillan.

Science Data Book. R.M.Tennent. Oliver & Boyd.

Idle Theory

Author: Chris Davis
Last Edited: 2 Jan 2005