ERIC Number: EJ1052007
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1309-7202
EISSN: N/A
Deriving the Work Done by an Inverse Square Force in Non-Calculus-Based Introductory Physics Courses
Hu, Ben Yu-Kuang
European Journal of Physics Education, v3 n3 p25-29 2012
I describe a method of evaluating the integral of 1/r[superscript 2] with respect to r that uses only algebra and the concept of area underneath a curve, and which does not formally employ any calculus. This is useful for algebra-based introductory physics classes (where the use of calculus is forbidden) to derive the work done by the force of one point charge or mass on another. I extend the method to evaluate any integral of the form ?r[superscript n] dr for any integer n ? -1.
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Physics, Algebra, Scientific Concepts, Teaching Methods, Introductory Courses, Equations (Mathematics)
Erciyes University. Melikgazi, Kayseri, 38039 Turkey. Tel: +90-352-207-6666; Web site: http://ejpe.erciyes.edu.tr/index.php/EJPE
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A