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LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

Received ^.^^^^h. , i8gS^

^Accessions l^o.hO yc 'y . Cla&s No.

SYLLABUS

ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS

PAET I.

LINEAR DYNAMICS

WITH AN APPENDIX

THE MEANINGS OF THE SYMBOLS IN PHYSICAL EQUATIONS

Prepared by the
Association for tJte Improveoiient of Geometrical Teaching

MACMILLAN & COV

AND NEW YORK
1890

Price One Shilling

SYLLABUS

ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS

PART I.

LINEAR DYNAMICS

WITH AN APPENDIX

MEANINGS OF THE SYMBOLS IN PHYSICAL EQUATION

THE

Prepared hy the
Associat-wnjor thelrnpr<yvement of Geovietrical Teaching

y^OV THE >f

'tjhivbhsit

MACMILLAN & CO.

AND NEW YORK '"3-7,

1890 ^

ot"

.-'

NOTICE.

^0/07
The following Syllabus of Linear Dynamics, originally

prepared for the Association for the Improvement of Geometrical

Teaching by its late President, R. B. Hayward, M.A., F.R.S./

and subsequently submitted for criticism to the Members of the

Association and revised by a Committee of the same, is now

published in accordance with a resolution passed at the fifteenth

General Meeting of the Association held in January, 1889. The

Appendix originally prepared by Prof. A. Lodge, M.A., having

been similarly discussed and revised, is published under the same

authority.

OXFORD : HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE VNIVERSITV

CONTENTS.

I. Introductory

PAOB

II. Linear Dynamics 7

Chapter I. Linear Kinematics 7

II. Force and Mass ........ 13

III. Force and Time .20

IV. Force and Length 22

V. System of two or more Masses . . . . -29

VI. Miscellaneous Examples and Problems . 31

Table of Units 32

Appendix. — Alternative Mode of regarding Symbols in Physical Equation* 33

A 2

SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

Introductory.

[This introduction is intended, not for the beginner, but to explain the
scope of the following syllabus and the principles on which it has been
drawn up.]

The Science of Dynamics treats of Force^ Matter and Motion, their
measures and mutual relations.

Motion when considered in itself, apart from the physical nature of
the moving object and the forces which produce the motion, forms the
subject of the preliminary Science of Kinematics.

Dynamics naturally divides itself into different branches, according
to the greater or less simplicity of the masses or systems of matter,
on and between which the forces are supposed to act.

1. The simplest case is that of a single ^mr^ic7e, or mass of matter
of insensible dimensions, and therefore such that it may be treated
as a geometrical point.

2. Next in simplicity is the case of a (so-called) Rigid body, or a
mass whose position (like that of a definite geometrical figure) is
determined when the positions of three of its points (not in the same
straight line) are determined.

3. Then follow cases of greater complexity, according to the
supposed nature of the forces connecting the parts of the system.
— Flexible Strings, Elastic Strings, Fluid Masses, Elastic Solids, &c.

Each branch of Dynamics is conveniently subdivided into two
parts, Statics and Kinetics.

In Statics are considered all those relations of the forces acting on
the system, which are independent of the element of time. It
includes, therefore, the case of the system remaining at rest or
moving with steady (i.e. unchanging) motion, in which cases the
forces are said to be in equilibrium.

6 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

In Kinetics are considered the relations between the forces and
the changes of motion produced by them in the system on which
they act.

Hence Dynamics includes —

(a) The Statics and Kinetics of a particle.

(/3) The Statics and Kinetics of a rigid body.

(y) The Statics and Kinetics of strings, of fluids (Hydrostatics and
Hydrokinetics), of elastic solids, of viscous masses, &c., &c.

The fundamental principles of Dynamics are clear and simple.
Their application to the various forms of aggregation of matter,
solid, fluid, viscous, &c., requires all the resources of Mathematical
Science.

Elementary Dynamics aims at giving a knowledge of the principles
themselves, and their applications to such simple cases, as can be
treated with the aid of elementary mathematical processes.

Elementary Dynamics is conveniently divided into the following
branches : —

1. Linear Dynamics.

In which the forces and motions considered are limited to given
straight lines. The moving object is a particle, or some point of a
body or system which defines its motion of translation. Hence
Arithmetic and a little Elementary Algebra is all the necessary
mathematical knowledge demanded, with the use of the signs -f- and
— to distinguish sense.

2. Uniplanar (or Plane) Dynamics.

In which the forces and motions considered are limited to directions
parallel to a given plane, and so involving translations parallel
to that plane and rotations about axes perpendicular to the plane.
Hence Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, Elementary Plane Geometry,
and for the fuller developments, Plane Trigonometry and Conic Sec-
tions, are the requisite mathematical equipment for this branch.

3. Solid (or three-dimensional) Dynamics (Rigid Dynamics).

In which the forces and motions considered may have any directions
in space, but the masses on which the forces act are rigid, or such
that their positions are defined when the positions of three points
(not in the same straight line) are determined. In addition to the
before-mentioned mathematical subjects, a knowledge of Geometry of
three dimensions is required for this branch.

4. Non-rigid Dynamics.

The questions in this division which can be treated without the aid

LINEAR DYNAMICS. 7

of higher mathematical methods are very few. They are chiefly some
simple cases of the equilibrium of Fluids, and of Flexible strings and
Elastic springs.

II.

Linear Dynamics.

[Clauses within square brackets may be omitted for the beginner.]

Special Introduction.

Subject of this Division. A single particle capable of moving
along a straight (or other defined) line acted on by a force or forces
in that line.

The nature and measures of motion of a point along a line must
first be treated, apart from the nature of the particle and the forces
which act on it. Hence the first chapter on Linear Kinematics.

CHAPTER I.

Linear Kinematics.

1. Motion involves a combination of the conceptions of tiTne and
space or distance.

A point P is in motion with respect to a point 0, if the distance
OP, or its direction or both, change with the lapse of time. All
motion relative. Absolute rest, even if conceivable, not realisable.

Motion of a point along a given line is its change of position with
respect to a point supposed fixed in that line.

2. Position.

If 0 be a fixed point in a given line and P any other point in the
same, the position of P is defined by the distance OP along the
line and the sense (forwards or backwards) in which it is measured.
The distance measured in terms of a unit of length, foot, mile, metre,
&c., the sense by the sign + or — prefixed.

The distance measured in the sense from 0 to P will be denoted
by OP ; then that measured from P to 0 must be denoted by PO
and PO = - OP or OP + PO = 0.

If, when PQ is moved along the line till P comes to P, Q comes
to S, then PQ = PS.

« SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

For all positions of P, Q, R, PQ-\- QR = PR.

{Ex. If P^ = + 6 feet, p = - 5 feet, P^ = (+ 6 - 5) feet
= + 1 foot, &c., &c.).

The signs + and — , as indicating sense are thus seen to obey the
same laws as when they indicate addition and subtraction.

[If M be the middle point between P and ^, PM + Qfil — 0,

So G is the mean 'point of n points i^ ? -^5 • • • ^ , if
GP, ■\-GP, +^. + GP, = 0,

whence OG = OP. -^ ^ ^ -. ^ OPn .

n
If of these points }> coincide in P, q in Q, r in R, &c.,

^^p.op + g.o^ + r.gK + ...

j?; + 5' + r + ... ^

3. t^m/6^ 0/ Length.

The unit-length is arbitrary.

The actual standards are the yard and the metre.

The units, used in this syllabus, generally the foot or third part of
the yard denoted by F, or the centimetre (j^jj of the metre) denoted
byC.

When the unit is left undefined, it is denoted by L.

4. Time.

An a 2)riori test of the equality of two different intervals of time
perhaps impossible.

It is assumed that the time of a complete rotation of the earth
about its axis is constant. A unit derived from this is the m£an
solar day^ which is the mean of the intervals between two consecutive
transits of the sun's centre across the meridian. The second, which
is 86'To^ ^f t^® mean solar day^ is the unit generally adopted in
Dynamics. It is here denoted by S.

"When the unit-time is left undefined, it is denoted by T.

5. Velocity — Speed.

The motion of a point at any instant is defined by its velocity,
a magnitude involving the two elements direction and rate of motion
or speed. In Linear Kinematics the direction is given, and the sjt;eec?
alone is the subject of investigation. The motion may be either
forwards or backwards along the line, so the speed will have the sign
+ or — to express the sense of the motion. To explain how speed
is estimated numerically, we must consider

LINEAR KINEMATICS. 9

6. Uniforvi Motion.

(i) Definition.

Speed proportional to the length traversed in a given time.

(2) The unit-speed not assumed arbitrarily, but with a definite
relation to the unit-length and unit-time.

Def. — The unit-speed is the speed of a point moving at the rate of
the unit-length per unit-time.

If V denote the unit-speed, this may be expressed thus :
V = L/T, the ^ solidus' or mark / standing for the word ' per.'
We shall also denote L/T by L.

The British unit-speed is F/S or F: read, 'foot per second.'
The C. G. S. unit-speed is C / S or C : read, ' centimetre per sec' *
(Examples. Change of ' miles per hour 'to F or C, and the re-
verse, &c., &c.)

(3) [Change of units generally,

If VJ, T' be new units of length and time, such that L' = m L
and T' = nT, then

L7T'=-L/T,orV' = -V.

' n ' n

Hence speed is of the dimensions 1 with respect to length and — 1
with respect to time.
Examples.]

(4) In uniform motion if, with the speed v feet per sec. (or L).
I feet (or L) are traversed in t seconds (or T),

I =i vt or V = - .
t

(Numerical Examples.)

(5) Relative motion of two 'points along the same line.

If the points F, Q have speeds tt F, v F respectively, the speed
of Q relative to P is {v—u) F.

Discussion of different cases, according to the signs of u and v
and their relative magnitude.

(Numerical Examples.)

(6) [The speed of the mean point of any number of points is the
mean of the speeds of those points.]

7. Variable Motion.

(i) Mean speed. If a point move along a given line from the
point P to the point Q in < seconds, the uniform speed which would

* The British Association Committee on Units suggest that a speed of i cm. per
sec. should be called a Mne.

lO SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTAKY DYNAMICS.

carry it from P io Q in the same time is feet per sec. (or C /S

or L /T), and this is called the mean speed of the point during the
time t seconds.

PQ .

(2) If the motion is uniform, the ratio is constant, whatever

be the length of the interval of time. If it is variable, this ratio, or
the mean speed, changes with the length of the interval of time, but
as t is made less and less, and consequently PQ less and less, without
limit, the mean speed approaches without limit to a finite value.
This limiting value of the mean sjyeed is regarded as the actual speed
of the point, when it is at the point P.
(Various Illustrations.)

(3) (Acceleration.) Quickening.

"When the speed of a point along a line is increasing or diminish-
ing, it is said to be quickened (accelerated), and the rate at which
the speed is changing, reckoned positive if increasing and negative if
diminishing, is termed the quickening (acceleration) of the point.

If the speed u F/S changes to v F/S in the interval ^ S, the

mean quickening during the interval is — — - F/S per second.

t '

If the mean quickening is the same, whatever be the length of the
interval t seconds ; that is, if the mean rate of increase or decrease
of speed is the same over whatever interval of time it is estimated,
the point is said to be uniformly quickened (accelerated), or its quick-
ening is constant or uniform. In other cases the quickening is variable.

Very few cases of variable quickening can be dealt with by
elementary mathematical methods. The case of uniformly quickened
(accelerated) motion alone is here treated.

[Note. — Velocity may change either by change of speed or of
direction or of both. Acceleration is the rate at which velocity is
added (or destroyed). If the velocity added is in a direction different
from that of the existing velocity, there is a change of direction of
velocity as well as (in general) of S2)eed. For that part of the
acceleration which produces change of speed only, the term quickening
has been here introduced.]

(4) Units of Quickening. (Acceleration.)

Quickening (uniform) proportional to the speed added (or destroyed)
in a given time.

Unit- Quickening assumed with reference to unit-speed and unit-
time.

U r T' = -, . L/TT or A' = 4 A.

LINEAR KINEMATICS. II

Def. — The Unit-Quickening is that quickening which adds the
unit-speed in the unit-time.

If A denote the unit-quickeriing, this may be expressed thus :

A = V/T or A = (L/T)/T, which may be written L/TT ;

Or A = L/T, which may be expressed as L.

The British unit-quickening is then F/SS or F, which may be
read ' foot per second per second.'

The C. G. S. unit-quickening is C/SS or C, which may be read
' centimetre per second per second.'

(Numerical examples of changes as of ' yards per min. per min.' to
F/SS, &c., &c.)

(5) [Change of units generally.

If L', T' be new units of length and time, such that L' = wi L and
T = nT, then

-2 . L/TT or A' = -

n^ ' iv

Hence quickening is of the dimension 1 with respect to length
and — 2 with respect to time.

Examples.]

8. Uniformly quickened {accelerated) motion.

(i) If with the constant quickening aF (or aC or a L) the speed

changes in < S (or T) from u F (or C or L) to t' F (or C or L),

V -- u ...

a = or V = u + at. (A)

(2) The mean speed during any interval of time is the mean of the

speeds at the beginning and end of that interval.

Or, if during the t S (as above) IF (or IC orlL) are traversed, the

- I u ■\- V
mean speed = - = — - — •
t tt

Outline of Proof . The speeds t'S after the beginning and before
the end of the interval are respectively u-\-at' and v — at\ and
the lengths described during an interval rS with these speeds
being {u-\-atf)TF and (v— a<'')TF, the sum of a pair of such lengths
= (M-f v)tF: hence, if there be n pairs of such intervals of tS in
the whole interval of t S, so that 2nr = t,

the total length in <S = ^ ^ . t F.

This is true however large w, and however small (consequently) r, is
taken, and hence up to and therefore at the limit

U A- V

'=-!-•<• (B)

B 2

12 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

(3) Combining the formulae of (i) and (2),

l^ut-\-^at\ (C)

Al,o l^'^^^.^'^l^ tjZ^ or v^ = u^ + 2al. (D)

2 a 2a '

(4) If the point start from a state of rest, u = 0, and the formulae

become , , ,09^7

v=at, I = \vt = -^ar, v' = 2aL

(5) The lengths traversed in successive equal intervals of time are
in Arithmetical Progression.

Starting from rest, the lengths are as the successive odd numbers
1, 3, 5, 7,

(Examples.)

9. Falling Bodies.

(i) A body (particle) left to itself near the earth's surface falls in
a definite direction, known as the vertical, vv^ith uniformly quickening
speed (except so far as it is affected by the resistance of the air,
which acts differently on different bodies), and the quickening is the
same for all bodies at the same place. This is proved by observation
and experiment, and it is found that the quickening, which is called
the quickening due to gravity and usually denoted by g, varies to
a small extent from place to place according to the latitude, and to
a lesser extent (for any accessible heights) according to the height
above the sea-level. The value of g at sea-level varies between
32-09 F at the equator and 32-35 F at the poles, its value at
Greenwich being 32-19 F: or, expressed in C. G. S. units, between
978-10 C and 983-11 C, the value at Greenwich being 981-17 C.

In the examples g may be taken as32For98lC.

(2) If length, speed, and quickening be all reckoned positive in

the U2)ward vertical direction, the formulae (A), (B), (C), (D) become

adapted to falling (or rising) bodies by putting a = — ^, so that

V = u — gt, I := ut — ^gf^, v"^ = u^ — 2gl.

It follows that a body thrown vertically upwards with the speed

u F rises for - S, and attains the greatest height — F. Also that in

if O

the descent it has the same position and is moving with the same
speed downwards at a given time after its greatest height as it had
at the same time before reaching it.

(Examples and Exercises.)

[10. The mean point of any number of points moving in the same
line with uniform quickening moves with uniform quickening equal
to the mean of the quickening of the several points.]

FORCE AND MASS. 1 3

CHAPTER II.

Force and Mass.

1. Linear Kinematics has treated of the motion of a point without
i-cference to the object moved or the forces producing motion.

Dynamics proper treats of the relations between Forces, the bodies
on and between which they are exerted, and the motions they produce.

In Linear Dynamics the body is a particle, the motion along a
straight (or other defined) line, the forces those which change the
motion along the line.

2. The fundamental principles of Dynamics are best summed up
in Newton's three Axioms, known as the * Laws of Motion.' A
statement of these Laws, followed by comments introducing the
definitions and explanations requisite for their full comprehension,
will be a convenient mode of expounding those principles.

In Newton's words : —

' Lex Prima. Corpus omne perseverare in statu suo quiescendi vel
movendi uniformiter in directum, nisi quatenus illud a viribus im-
pressis cogitur statura suum mutare.

' Lex Secunda. Mutationem motus proportionaleni esse vi motrici
impressae et fieri secundum lineam rectam qua vis ilia imprimitur.

* Lex Tertia. Actioni contrariam semper et aequalem esse reactio-
nem : sive corporum duorum actiones in se mutuo semper esse aequales
et in partes contrarias dirigi.'

Translated : —

Law i. Every body persists in its state of rest or of uniform
motion along a straight line, except in so far as it is compelled by
impressed (i.e. external) forces to change that state.

Law ii. Change of motion is proportional to the impressed moving
force and takes place along the straight line in which that force acts.

Law iii. To every action there is an equal and contrary reaction :
or the mutual actions of two bodies on one another are always equal
and directed in contrary senses.

3. These laws are too abstract to be directly deduced from or
verified by experiment, though many familiar facts may be adduced
giving a presumption of their truth. Their 'proof depends on con-
sequences deduced from them, which can be compared with experi-
ment.

4. In Law i. the hody must be primarily a 'particle or mass of
insensible dimensions, its motion being along a line.

14 SYLLABUI^ OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

(The results obtained for a particle may be extended to a finite
body or system of particles, either if the motions of all the particles
are the same or, when their motions are different, if the motion of a
certain point, called the Centre of Mass, defining the motion of the
system as a whole or its motion of translation is alone considered.
That such a point can always be found, whetlier the body be a solid
figure or a system of disconnected masses, as a flock, an army, a flight
of birds, &c., is afterwards proved.)

5. Law i. implies that motion, like rest, is a state or condition of a
body. Not motion, but change of motion has to be accounted for by
force.

It asserts the Inertia of Matter, or that property by reason of
which a material body can be set in motion or reduced to rest, or
have its motion altered only by the action of Force — a fact with which
we are familiar from the consciousness of effort, when we try to move
a body or reduce it to rest. (Illustrations.) — This property is funda-
mental, and hence the following definitions :

Matter is that which possesses Inertia.

Force is a cause which changes a body's state of rest or motion.

6. Law i. also asserts that the forces which change a body's state of
rest or motion are impressed forces, that is, forces exerted on the body
from without or external forces : not forces between the parts of the
body. (A man cannot jump without something to press against, &c., &c.)

The important distinction of external and internal forces made clear
by Law iii.

Law iii. .asserts that if A exerts a force on B, B exerts an equal
force in the opposite sense on A. (Illustrations.) Such a pair of
forces is termed a Stress.

The stresses between the different parts of a body or system are the
internal forces of the system.

A force which acts on the body and which is one of the elements of
a stress between it and another body is an external or imjyressed force
on the first. (Illustrations.)

7. Measure of Force.

By Law ii. equal changes of motion in a given mass are due to
equal forces.

Equal changes of motion in a given mass are equal changes of
speed in the same time.

Hence,

Def. Equal Forces are such as applied to the same mass produce
equal quickenings (accelerations): i.e. generate equal speeds in the
same time.

rORCE AND MASS. 1 5

It follows that equal forces applied in exactly contrary senses to
the same mass leave its state of rest or motion unchanged.

Hence the equivalent definition ;

Equal Forces are such as aj^plied to the same mass in opposite
senses balance one another : i.e., leave its state of rest or motion
unchanged.

Hence the measure of any force in terms of some Standard Unit of
Force, by finding how many of such units, or definite parts of such
unit, it will balance.

The most familiar force is Weight, or the force which urges a body
downwards in the vertical direction at any place on the earth's
surface, and the most obvious unit is the vjeight of some definite body.
The objection to this is that the weight of the same body varies from
place to place. This variation however is so small as to be of minor
importance in many applications, and so for ordinary terrestrial
purposes such a unit is commonly used. It is termed a Gravitation
Unit.

The Standard Gravitation Units are the weight of a pound in the
British System, and that of a gramme (or a cubic centimetre of pure
water at max. density) in the Metrical System.

An absolute Standard Unit of Force, independent of locality and
time, defined later.

8. Single Frojwsition of Linear Statics.

A number of forces acting on the same particle in the same line are
equivalent to a single force equal to their algebraical sum.

If that sum be zero, or if the sum of the forces in one sense is
equal to that of the forces in the opposite sense, the forces balance
one another or are in equilibrium.

9. Mass.

Equal forces applied to different bodies produce different quicken-
ings (accelerations). (Illustrations.)

Such bodies are said to differ in Mass. Hence,

Def. Equal Masses are such as are equally quickened (accelerated)
by equal forces.

From this, and taking the mass of a body as the sum of the masses
of its parts, mass can be measured in terms of a standard unit of
mass.

When the same quickening (acceleration) is produced in different
masses by different forces, the forces are proportional to the
masses.

(For if any number of equal particles close to one another are acted
on by eqiud forces, they are equally quickened, and if they have no

l6 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

relative motion at first, they will not alter their relative positions. If
then m of them are supposed to coalesce into a single mass and n of
them into another single mass, these two masses are in the ratio of m
to w, and the forces acting on them also in the same ratio.)

Hence the mass of a body may be measured by comparing the force
which produces in it a given quickening with the force that produces
the same quickening in the standard mass, assumed as the unit.

10. Weight 2)roportional to Mass.

Gravity, or the weight of a body, produces at a given place on the
earth's surface the same quickening for all bodies : hence at the same
place

The weights of bodies are proportional to their masses.

The weight of a body changes from place to place, and if the body
were moved far enough from the earth, would become insensible, its
mass however is at all places and under all circumstances the same.

(Illustrations.)

1 1 . Mass the measure of Inertia and of Quantity of Matter.

The Inertia of a body is proportional to the force required to
generate or destroy in it a given change of motion : it is therefore
proportional to the mass. Also Inertia being the characteristic
property of matter, the Quantity of Matter in a body is proportional
to its Inertia and therefore to its mass.

12. Relation between Force, Mass, and Quickening {Acceleration).
Since for a given quickening,

The force is proportional to the mass moved :
and by Law ii. for a given mass.

The change of motion, that is, the quickening, is proportional to the
force ;

Therefore generally,

The force is proportional to the mass x the quickening.

Or if/ units of force produce in m units of mass a units of quicken-
ing, and/'' units of force in m^ units of mass a' units of quickening,

f '. f :: ma : mfa\

By assuming the units, so that f=. 1, m'= 1, and a'= 1, or that

the unit of force produces in the unit of mass the unit of quickening,

this becomes ^

/= ma.

13. Units of Mass and Force.

The relation between the units of Force, Mass, and Quickening
implied in the equation . _

is universally adopted.

FORCE AND MASS. 1 7

The unit of Quickening has been taken as,

The foot per sec. per sec. (F/SS or F) in the British system, or
the centimetre per sec. per sec. (C/ SS or C) in the C. G. S. system,
or generally L /TT or L, when L is the unit-length and T the unit-
time.

Thus the unit-mass being assumed, the unit-force is defined, and
the unit-force so determined is an absolute unit.

The unit-mass is.

In the British system the Imperial Pound, herein denoted by P.
and in the C. G. S. the gramme, herein denoted by G.

Hence in the British system,

The unit-force is that force which, applied to a mass of one pound,
produces the acceleration of one foot per sec. per sec. Its fitting
signature, therefore, is P F or P F/S S.

In the C. G. S. system,

The unit-force is that force which, applied to a mass of one gramme
produces the acceleration of one centimetre per sec. per sec. Its
fitting signature, therefore, is GC or GC/SS.

If M denote any unit-mass, the signature of the unit-force generally
is M L or M L/TT. Or, if A {Avvafxis) denote the unit-force in
a system in which M, L, T denote respectively the units of mass,
length, and time, ^=MLorML/TT.

The unit of force in the C. G. S. system is called a dyne : that in the
British system has been called a j^oundal.

If we denote the dyne by Aq and the poundal by Ap,

Ap = PF or PF/SS, Aq = GC or GC/SS.

14. Com2)arison of absolute units with gravitation units.

If the force acting on a body is its weight equal to w absolute units
of force, the acceleration produced is^ units, and the equation /= ma
becomes

In the British system g = 32-2 F, approximately, and for the mass
of a lb. m = 1, therefore

the weight of a pound =32-2 poundals,

and 1 poundal = — — x weight of a pound ;

= weight of ^ oz. nearly,

so that to convert jpouiulals to pound-weights we must divide
by 32-2.

J 8 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

In the C. G. S. system ^ = 981 C, approximately, and hence
the weight of a gramme = 981 dynes,
and 1 dyne = -g-|y x weight of a gramme,

= 1-02 X weight of a milligramme,
so that to convert dynes to gramme- weights we must divide by 981.

(Numerous examples, chiefly numerical, of the forces required to
produce given motions, motions produced by given forces, &Tr., &c., in a
single mass.)

15. [Change of units generally.

If M'', L', T^ are respectively units of mass, length, and time, such
thatM' = ;;M, L' = qL, T' = rT,

A' = W\'U/TT = ^ M L/TT = ^ A.

Hence force is of the dimensions 1 with respect to mass and length,
but of the dimensions — 2 with respect to time.
Examples.]

16. Ajyjplication of the foregoing principles to masses connected hy
a string.

The string is supposed inextensible and of insensible mass, and to
pass round smooth pegs, or pulleys of insensible mass which turn on
smooth axles.

(i) A mass mf P (or m! G) is dragged along a smooth table by a
string which, passing over its edge, is attached to a mass m P (or mG),
hanging freely.

The mass mf has a quickening, a F (or a C) produced by the
tension of the string, and the mass m the same quickening produced
by the excess of the weight mg poundals over the tension. Whence

g, and the tension = > g poundals.

m + 7?/ ' m + m

(Numerical examples.)

(2) Two masses, mP, m^P hang freely by a string passing over a
pully.

The mass m P falls and the mass m' P rises with the same quicken-
ing a F, the former owing to the excess of the weight mg poundals
( P F) over the tension, the latter owing to the excess of the tension
over the weight m^g (PF) whence •

m — m^ . ,, . . 2mm' ^

a = -. g, and the tension = -. q r r.

m + m' ^ m + m'^

(Numerical examples.)

(3) Both the foregoing cases may be treated as a single system of
two masses, in which case the tension becomes an internal stress, and

FORCE AND MASS. I9

may be neglected in determining the quickening. Thus, in the first case,
the only external force (excluding those forces which are /orces of con-
straint defining the path along which the particle moves) is the weight

mq. and the mass moved is w + m\ therefore a = — ; -,'

17. Atwood's Machine.

This is a -contrivance for realising experimentally the motion in-
vestigated in the second of the foregoing examples, by reducing the
friction of the axle of the pulley and the mass of the pulley so that
they may be neglected without much error.

Every student should make numerous experiments, comparing the
motion observed by means of the vertical scale and the seconds* pen-
dulum with that calculated from the foregoing formulae for the known
masses.

Professor Willis's modification of Atwood's machine is to be recom-
mended as cheaper and sufficiently accurate for purposes of illus-
tration.

wi — mf
By takinof masses such that ; 7 is a moderately small fraction,

the acceleration due to gravity is so reduced as to become easily
observed.

The machine is adapted to compare forces, masses, and the motions
produced in many ways, the most important of which, as illustrating
the foregoing principles, are

(i) To show that the quickening is uniform.

(2) To show that, the mass moved being the same, the quickening
is proportional to the moving force.

(3) To show that, the force being the same, the quickening is in-
versely proportional to the mass.

(4) To show that when the quickening is the same for different
loads, the force is proportional to the mass moved.

(5) To obtain an approximation to the value of g.

18. Uxamjdes of stresses between the jjarts of a moving si/stem.

(i) The pressure of a heavy mass on an ascending or descending
platform.

a. Speed uniform. The pressure = the weight.
/3. Acceleration uniform and = a F downwards,

pressure = (l ) X weight.

(2) Pressure of one weight on another attached to one end of the
string in Atwood's machine, &c.

c 2

V OP thr"^^

universitt;

20 SYLLABUS OP ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

19. Miscellaneous examples involving the direct application of tlie
loregoing principles.

CHAPTER III.

Force and Time.
Momentum — Impulse — Direct Collision.

1. Suppose a force, / poundals (or dynes), acting on a mass,
m pounds (or G), to produce the quickening a F (or aC), which in t S
changes its speed from uP to vF, then since

f=ma (ii. §12)

and V — u=i at, ' (i. § 8)

mv — mu

mv — mu =/t, or / =

2. Def. The product of the mass of a particle and its speed at any-
instant is termed its momentum.

The above result may then be stated thus :

The change of momentum of a body acted on by a constant force is
proportional to the force and to the time during which it acts.

Or thus :

When a body is acted on by a constant force, that force is equal to
the rate of change of its momentum.

3. The unit of momentum is the momentum of the unit-mass
moving with the unit-speed : that is, one pound moving with the
speed IF, or 1 gramme with the speed iC.

Its signature then is generally M L, PF for British units, and GC
for C.G.S. units.

No name has generally been assigned to this unit, but it will conduce
to clearness to have such a name. It is proposed therefore to express
it by adding the syllable -em to the name of the mass-unit.

Then PF may be called a jyoundem, GC a grammem *.

[4. If the force be variable, suppose the whole interval tS to be
divided into intervals t^, t^,...tn S< during which the forces acting
uniformly are respectively /u/g, . . ./„ poundals, then the total change
of momentum is /^ t^ ■\-f^ ^2 + • • • +/n ^n poundems, which may be de-
noted by 2 [ft\ and is called the time-integral of the force. Hence
the change of momentum during any time is equal to the time-integral
of the force through that time.

* The B.A. Committee on Units suggest the term hole for this C.G.S. nnit.

FORCE AND TIME. 21

5. If / denote a force such that ft = ^ {ft), f is the mean-force
acting during the time t, and the change of momentum during the
time t being equal toft,/ is also the mean rate of change of momentum
during that time.]

6. Impulse.

If the force acting on a mass be very large, it will produce a finite
change of momentum in a very short time. If the time is so short
that there is no sensible change of position of the body during that
time, the total change of momentum, which is equal to the time-
integral of the force for that interval, is all that is required to be
known to determine the motion.

Def. The aggregate effect (or time-integral) of a force acting for
any time, measured by the change of momentum it produces, is termed
an Impulse. When the force is very great and the time of its action
extremely small its impulse is called a Blow.

The unit-impulse is that impulse which generates or destroys a
unit of momentum, and its signature is ML or PF or GC in the
different systems. An impulse may thus be expressed in poundems
or grammems *.

(Examples of impulses, and of the mean force of impulses on dif-
ferent suppositions as to the duration of the impulse, &c.)

7. Im,pulsive actions between two masses wliicli have relative
motion.

In all such cases when a stress arises between the masses, the
action and reaction generate equal and opposite momenta, so that the
total momentum of the system is unchanged. The effect of the stress
is to transfer momentum from one part of the system to another.

(i) Masses connected by an inextensible string, which suddenly
becomes tight.

If the masses vi P, m' P were moving with speeds u F, u^ F, they
move on with a common speed v F, such that

mu -f m^u^

V = y-f

m -{■ m
and the impulse = -,(u — u) poundems (PF).

(2) Impact between inelastic balls.

(3) Impact between imperfectly elastic balls.

(4) Limiting case of perfect elasticity.

(5) Limiting case, where one of the masses is infinite. Reflexion
from a fixed surface. (Examples.)

* It has been suggested that the impulse of a poundal acting for a second
should be called a poundal-second.

%% SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

CHAPTER IV.

Force and Length.

Work — Power — Energy.

1. When the particle (or point of a body) to which a force is
applied moves in the line in which the force acts, the force is said to
do \Yorh, or to have Work done against it, according as the motion
is in the sense of the force or in the opposite sense. In the former
case the work done is reckoned as positive, and in the other as nega-
tive, and the quantity of work done is greater as the distance through
which the point moves is greater, and also as the force is greater.

A force which acts in the direction in which its point of application
moves is called an Effort, and a force which acts in a direction opposite
to that in which its point of application moves is called a Resistance.

(Illustrations.)

We may take therefore the equation,

Work done = Force X the distance in the line of action of the force
through which the point where it is applied moves, this distance being
reckoned positive or negative as the motion is in the same or opposite
sense to the force.

2. Units of Work.

A unit- work is the work done by the unit-force acting through
the unit-length — or that of a poundal through a foot, called a
jpounderg, or of a dyne through a centimetre, called an erg — the
respective signatures are therefore

W= AL= MLL/TT, Wp= ApF= PFF/SS,

Wq = AqC = GCC/SS.

It is more usual, however, to measure work by the gravitation units,
i\iQ foot-jwund or the kilogrammetre, which are respectively the work
done against gravity in the ascent (or that done by gravity in the
descent) of one pound through one foot, or one kilogramme through
one metre. Hence, the foot-pound =32*2 poundergs, and the kilo-
grammetre = 981 X 10^ ergs.

(Examples.)

3. If the force be variable, the work done through a given
length is the line-integral of the force through that length ; and
the mean force over that length is the line-integral divided by
the length, or the mean rate of doing work per unit-length.

4. If the motion of the point at which a force acts is perpen-

FORCE AND LENGTH. 2^

dicular to the direction of the force, there is no motion in that
direction, and therefore the force does no work.

(Illustrations.)

When the motion is in a direction inclined at an acute or obtuse
angle to that of the force, the force does some work (positive or nega-
tive), but the consideration of this case is beyond the province of
Linear Dynamics.

5. Principle of Work in a Simjyle Machine.

A simple machine may be defined as a contrivance by which a
force applied at one part is made to overcome a resistance at another
part, the other external forces acting on the system being merely
forces of constraint which do no work, positive or negative, and the
internal stresses being also such as (under the conditions of the
working of the machine) do no work.

For such a machine working steadily , that is at a uniform speed, it
is a general Principle that the work done by the effort applied is
equal and opposite to that done by the resistance.

(Note. — This principle is stated by Newton in a more compre-
hensive form in the Scholium with which he closes his comments-
on the Laws of Motion. He regards it as an exemplification
of the Third Law, the work done by the force being the Action
and that by the resistance as the Reaction. As it is important,
however, to prevent the confusion which would arise from applying
the same term to a Force and to Work done by a force, it is per-
haps best to regard the Third Law as relating to Forces only, as
is done in this syllabus, and to enunciate the Principle of Work as
a distinct principle.

In its most general form this principle contains in itself the whole of
Dynamics, and Lagrange in the ' Mecanique Analy tique * has deduced
all his results therefrom.) "

6. Since a small force working through a considerable distance
may do the same amount of work as a much larger force through
a less distance, a machine may, in accordance with the principle
of work, be made by means of a small force to overcome a great
resistance. The ratio of the resistance to the effort, when the machine
is working steadily (or remains at rest), is termed the Force-ratio
of the Machine, and the ratio of the speed of the point where the re-
sistance acts, in the direction of the resistance, to that of the point
where the effort acts, in the direction of the effort, is termed the
Vetocity-ratio.

7. Force-ratio of sorne simple moAihines,
(i) Wheel and Axle.

24 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

By the construction of the machine, while the force applied hy

a Btring round the wheel, works through a length equal to the

circumference of the wheel, the weight suspended by the string

round the axle is raised through a height equal to the circumference

of the axle, therefore by the principle of work

the force x circum, of wheel = resistance x circum. of axle,

. , „ . circum. of wheel

whence the lorce-ratio = — ; — r—

circum. 01 axle

rad. of wheel

rad. of axle

If the radii of wheel and axle are equal, this ratio = 1, or the effort
= the resistance, and the system is reduced to the case of a single
fixed pulley.

(Examples.)

(2) Systems of Pulleys.

a. Single Moveable Pulley.

If the weight attached to the string is descending, that attached to
the pulley ascends through half the distance : therefore
the effort = | X the resistance, or the force-ratio is 2.
/3. Other systems.
Examples.

(3) Inclined Plane.

If a force acting along the plane pulls up a weight resting on
the plane at a constant speed, the distance along the plane : height
through which the weight rises : : the length of the plane : its height ;
whence the force : the weight : : the height of plane : its length.

Examples.

(4) Lever with suspended weights.

(5) Eoberval's Balance.

8. It should be observed that all the above machines are ideal,
and not capable of being realized in practice, as it is impossible to
get rid entirely of friction and other resistances which absorb work,
and so reduce the amount which is applicable to effect the work which
the machine is designed to do. The ratio of the useful work done to the
work applied is termed the efficiency of the macliine. This is always
a fraction less than 1, and as the fraction is nearer to 1, so is the
machine nearer to the perfect machine, as we have assumed it above.

9. Power

Is the rate * of doing work, measured by the work done per unit of
time.

* The Power of a machine may be regarded as its maximum rate of doing work ;
when it is working at a less rate, the term Activity might be used instead of Power.

FORCE AND LENGTH. «5

The absolute unit of power is therefore a unit of work (erg or
pounderg) per unit of time (second). The gravitation unit is 1 foot-
pound per sec.

Power, however, is more frequently measured by a conventional
unit, called a Horse-power. A Horse-power is that power which
does 33000 foot-pounds per min. or 550 foot-lbs. per sec. It is,
therefore, 550^ x the absolute unit, or

550^ ApF/S or 550^ PFF/SSS.
(Examples.)

10. Energy.

Energy is a general term for the capability of doing work which
from any cause a mass, or different masses in their relation to one
another, may possess.

Energy may exist in various forms. Like matter it may be
transformed, but wherever energy in one form disappears, the same
quantity of energy in another form invariably arises. This is the
great principle of ' Persistence (or conservation) of Energy,' which
asserts that * Energy may be transformed, but cannot be originated or
annihilated.'

To discuss all the forms of Energy, would be to treat of every
branch of Physical Science. Here it must suffice to enumerate some
of its principal forms, and then develop the notion in its purely
Dynamical relations.

1 1 . Different forms of Energy,
(i) Kinetic Energy.

The power which a body in motion has of doing work in virtue of that
motion, that is, the power which it has in virtue of its motion of over-
coming a definite resistance through a definite space, is termed its
Kinetic Energy. The kinetic energy of a particle depends on its
mass and its speed in a manner which we shall presently demonstrate.
The kinetic energy of a body is the sum of the kinetic energies of its
particles.

Kinetic Energy is an essentially positive magnitude, of which there
may be more or less in a given body or system, and of which we may
conceive it to be totally deprived, but beyond this zero there is
no negative.

(Illustrations.)

(2) Potential Energy or Energy of Position or Static Energy.

When there is a stress exerted between two masses, work is done
when they approach or recede from one another, and their capability
of doing work in virtue of that stress is increased or diminished accord-

26 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

ing as the work so done is negative or positive. Hence they have a
power of doing work dependent on their relative position, and this is
termed Potential Energy or Energy, of Position.

When one of the masses is regarded as fixed, the potential energy-
is referred to the other mass.

(Illustrations — weights at different levels, springs, &c.)
Kinetic and Potential Energy are the purely dynamical forms of
energy, and all purely dynamical problems resolve themselves into
investigating their relations and the changes in a system from one
form to the other. Probably all forms of energy may prove ulti-
mately reducible to these two, or even to kinetic energy alone; but
in the present state of science it is necessary to recognise other forms.
Foremost among these is

(3) Heat.

Heat is, according to modern views, the energy of the insensible
motions of the molecules of which matter is composed,

It has been proved experimentally by Joule that when dynamical
energy is employed solely in generating heat, a definite quantity [H)
of heat is produced by a definite quantity ( W) of dynamical energy,
and conversely, when heat is employed to produce dynamical energy,
the quantity of such energy developed will be W when the quantity
of heat which disappears is H.

(General illustrations.)

The numerical relation between heat and dynamical energy has
been found by Joule to be this :

The quantity of heat, which raises the temperature of 1 lb. of
water by 1° Fahrenheit, is equivalent, when transformed into
mechanical energy, to about 772 foot-pounds or 24850 poundergs.

(Examples.)

(4) Other forms of energy are those due to chemical afiinity, an
to electric and magnetic attractions and repulsions.

12. Kinetic Energy.

Suppose a force of p poundals acting on a particle, whose mass is
m pounds, through the distance I feet to change its speed from u
feet per sec. to v feet per sec, then a feet per sec. per sec. being the
acceleration due to the force,

j^; r=ma,

and the work done by the force = ^^ ^ = m a ? poundergs,

also from kinematics v'^~u^=2al,

therefore the work done by the iorce=\mv'^ — \mu^. Hence ^mu^
is the total work done by the mass m against a resistance which

FOECE AND LENGTH. 27

reduces it to rest, and is therefore the measure of its kinetic energy
when it is moving with the speed u F.

The above equation may then be expressed thus :

The change in kinetic energy between two positions of a particle is
equal to the work done by the force acting along its path between these
positions.

Hence the rate of change of kinetic energy per unit of length, or the
line-rate of change of kinetic energy is equal to the force.

[13. If the force is variable, and the whole interval Z F is divided into
parts, /j, ^2) • • • ^n Fj through which the forces jp^, "p^-, • • • Vn poundals
respectively act, the total change in kinetic energy is equal to
i^i ^1 + i?2 ^2 + • • • + Vn Ki which is denoted by 2 (j) I), and is called the
line-integral of the force. Hence the change of kinetic energy over any
distance is equal to the line-integral of the force over that distance.

14. lip denote a force such that pl=^{pl),p is the mean force
acting through the distance I, and p is equal to the mean line-rate of
change of kinetic energy of the particle. It should be observed that
this mean force is not in general the same as the mean force during
the time of describing the interval, which (as we have seen) is equal
to the mean time-rate of change of momentum. These, however, have
the same limit, when the time aud therefore the distance are diminished
without limit, being then the force acting at the instant. They are
also equal, when the force is constant.]

15. Units.

Since kinetic energy = work done, the unit of kinetic energy is that
kinetic energy which is equal to the unit of work, and is therefore that
of 2 units of mass moving with the unit-speed : that of 2 lbs. with
the speed of 1 foot per sec, or that of 2 grammes with the speed of 1
centimetre per sec.

1 6. Illustrations of the principle of energy by the solution of simple
jyrohlems.

(i) Rising or falling body.

If u F, ?/ F be the speed of the mass m P at two different heights
h F, K F measured vertically from the same point and positive upwards,
the change of kinetic energy in passing from the height h to h^ is
\ mu^ — ^mu^, and the work done is mg{h — h'), so that

\ mu''^ — \mu'^ = mg{]t — U),
or \ mu^ ^ + mgh^ = J mu"^ + mgh.

The quantity mgh is the potential energy of the mass m due to its
weight, relatively to the level whence the heights are measured, and
the above equation expresses that in the motion the sum of the

D 2

%S SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

kinetic and potential energies of the mass remains constant, which is
the form in this case of the principle of the Persistence of Energy.

As the body rises, its kinetic energy diminishes and potential energy
increases, while as it falls, the kinetic energy increases and the potential
energy diminishes.

(2) Bodies rising and falling under constraint.

If besides the force of gravity no other force is acting but one of
constraint, guiding the particle along a certain line from one level to
another, this force doing no work, the same relations hold as in the
last case.

(3) Atwood's Machine.

Suppose m to descend and mf to ascend through the distance h F,
then the decrease of potential energy = mgh — m^gh, and the kinetic
energy acquired from the state of rest = ^ mv"^ + ^ mV, therefore

^ {m + inf) v^ = {m — m') gh,

„ ^ m — mf ,

or v'=2 — y gh,

m-\-m

so that the acceleration is 7 a, as before shewn.

(In this, the kinetic energy communicated to the wheel, and the
energy lost (or rather converted into heat) by friction are neglected.)

(4) Wheel and Axle loaded with any weights.

(Mass of Wheel and Axle neglected, and also Friction.)
If m descend through h F and m^ ascend through h^ F,

h r
since —^=1 — , the decrease of potential E. = mgh — mfgh^

= i(m-m'-~)gh,

V T

and since — = — 5 the increase of K. E. = A mv^ + \ mV^,

= i(m + m'— )v%

.r'

therefore 1. (7^ + 77^' __) -^2 _ ^^^ _ ^' _ ^ ^^^

or v' = 2 ^- — ^ j-j- gh.

If mr = mV, the masses m and m' balance as before.

(Examples.)

17. Kelations between Momentum and Kinetic Energy.

CENTRE OF MASS, 29

If a mass m P moving with the speed v F has the momentum

/ poundems and the kinetic energy £ poundergs,

/ = mv and E = ^ mv',

7-2 2E

whence E = ^ Iv = I — and T = — = ^2mE.

^ m V

Hence, of two masses having the same momentum, that has the
greater kinetic energy which has the greater speed and therefore the
less mass.

Thus in firing a gun, by Law iii. the momentum of the ball * forward
is equal to that of the gun backward, but the kinetic energy of the
ball is greater than that of the recoiling gun in the ratio in which
the mass of the gun is greater than that of the ball.

Again, by communicating a given amount of momentum to a larger
mass the kinetic energy is diminished. Instances.

Examples on all the foregoing results.

CHAPTER V.

System of two or more Masses.
Centre of Mass.

1. The mean point of a series of points in a line has been defined in
Kinematics.

If at the points we conceive particles of equal mass placed, and then
suppose m^ of the particles to coalesce at /J, m^ at i^ . . . , then m^,
rwj, ... will measure the masses at i^, i^..., and if 0 be the mean
point, now to be called the centre of mass, and 0 a fixed point in the
line,

OG = ^1^1 + ^2^+ ••
m,+W2+ ...

If 0 coincides with G, OG becomes 0, and we have

m^GP^ + m^GF^^ ... =0.
In the case of two masses Wj, m^, since m^GP^ + m^GP^= 0,
GP^/ GP.^ = —m^/m^ or G divides iji^ in the inverse ratio of the
masses at ij, ij.

* The mass of the powder being neglected.

30 SYLLABUS OF ELEMENTARY DYNAMICS.

2. If at any instant m^, m.^, ... have speeds v^, v^, ... F respectively,
the centre of mass will have the speed v F, such that

_^ m^v^-\-m^%+ ...

Thus 2? F is the mean speed of the particles, and the momentum of
the total mass of the system moving with the mean speed or that of
the centre of mass is equal to the sum of the momenta of the separate
particles or the total momentum of the system.

If v{, Vg'v F be the speeds of m^, wig, ... relatively to the centre of
mass, so that /Wj = ^-|- v^^ V2-=v-\-v^.../ii follows that

or the total momentum of the system relatively to the centre of
mass is 0.

3. Since the internal stresses of a system can only transfer momen-
tum from one part to another of the system without altering its total
amount, the motion of the centre of mass of the system is unaffected
by any collisions or mutual actions of the particles. Its motion may
therefore be fitly taken as defining the motion of the system as a
whole, or its motion of translation relatively to external objects.

4. The statements as to speed and momentum, made in § 2 above,
are equally true as to quickening and external forces, and the centre
of mass will move as if all the forces were applied to the total mass
of the system collected at that point.

5. Kinetic Energy of the system.

The total kinetic energy = i m^v^+ ^'m^v^+ ... . (poundergs)

If, as in (2), we put v +i?/ for v^, &c.,

the total kin etic energy = | (m^ ■\-m^-\- ...)v^+l; m^ "y/ '^ + i ^n^ ^2' ^ + • • • 5

since m^v^^ -\- m^v^ -\- ... = 0.

Hence the total kinetic energy is equal to that of the whole mass
moving with the speed of the, centre of mass (or the kinetic energy of
translation) jr;Z^ts that of the particles relatively to the centre of mass
(or the kinetic energy of their motion relative to their centre of naass).

The kinetic energy of translation is unaffected by internal stresses,
such as collisions, explosions, or mutual attractions or repulsions, and
can be changed by external forces on\j. The kinetic energy of relative
motion may be increased by the change of potential energy into kinetic,
or decreased by the opposite change. It will also'be diminished by its
conversion into heat, when this escapes and is lost to the system.
Such ultimate loss of kinetic energy to the system occurs in all cases

CENTRE OF MASS. 3 1

of collisions unless the particles are perfectly elastic, as we proceed to
shew for two particles.

6. Loss of kinetic energy in collisions.

The kinetic energy of two masses ttIj, m^ moving with speeds u^, u^
respectively may be put into the form

The first term is unchanged by collision, the second becomes, if x\^v^
be the speeds after collision,

but Vj — Vg = e(i«2 — Wj), therefore the second part, or the relative
kinetic energy, is diminished by

Hence the kinetic energy lost (or converted into heat) is the fraction
1—e^ of the original relative kinetic energy, which fraction varies from
0 for perfectly elastic to 1 for perfectly inelastic bodies.

(Examples.)

7. In a machine working steadily by which one weight raises
another, the centre of mass of the two weights neither rises nor falls.

(Exami)les.)

CHAPTER VI.
Miscellaneous Examples and Problems.

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APPENDIX.

Alternative Mode of regarding Symbols in
Physical Equations.

In the foregoing syllabus the small italic letters used in the
formulae have been regarded as expressing the numerical multipliers
of the several standards or units in terms of which the magnitudes
involved are measured. This necessitates, of course, an explicit state-
ment of some particular relation between the standards of measure-
ment employed, and therefore, in order to avoid this necessity and to
make the fonoiulae as general as possible and applicable to all methods
of measurements and sets of standards, many physicists prefer to
regard these symbols, when used in fundamental equations, as re-
presenting the magnitvdes themselves, that is, numerical multipliers
and standards together, instead of merely the numerical multipliers.
They consider that by this method of interpretation the equations are
rendered more truly complete and fundamental statements of mechani-
cal and physical equivalences, such equations being unaffected by any
variations in systems of standards.

It should be clearly understood that the adoption of this inter-
pretation involves the extension of the notion of ratio to that of
two magnitudes of different kinds, and of a jyroduct to that of two
magnitudes, both concrete, whether of the same or of different kinds.*
Thus, a speed involves the elements length and time, being measured
by the distance travelled per certain time, and, as it is directly
proportional to the distance travelled, and inversely proportional to

* See paper on ' the Multiplication and Division of Concrete Quantities,' read
by Mr. A. Lodge before the Association in January 1888, reprinted in * Nature '
July 19th, 1888, and in the 14th Keport of the Association, January, 1888.

34 APPENDIX.

the time occupied, would be represented by the ratio or quotient

distance . . , t n , rv.

— . Again, the work done by an effort is directly proportional

to the effort and to the distance through which its point of application
moves, and is represented by the product of this distance into the
effort, distance X effort.

In applying the formulae, thus understood, to particular cases, we
shall sometimes be led to expressions such as (minute)^, (feet)^,...,
to which by themselves we may not be able to apply any specific
meaning, but we know from the mode in which we have framed
the primary definitions that we can apply the ordinary rules of
proportion to them without stopping to enquire into their physical
meaning. Further, as we cannot equate two quantities of different
kinds, it will follow that in any valid equation the concrete factors can
be arranged so as to involve only pure ratios, and the impossibility of
doing this in any case would be therefore a certain indication of error.
The application of this test to a result is often extremely useful.

For practical application of physical principles to numerical
examples it is often convenient to deduce, from the fundamental
relations, such numerical equations referred to specified units as may
be found practically convenient, though even in practical applications
it would often be useful, particularly in cases of mixed standards, or
change of standards, to use the full values of the various quantities
involved, standards and all. The student, or practical man, ought to
be able to use either method at will. For example :

(i) The distance {d) of the marine horizon from a man standing
with his eye at the height h above the sea is given by the approximate
formula c^^ = 2Rh, where R is the earth's radius. This is a funda-
mental relation, independent of any method of measurement we like to
adopt. To deduce from this a convenient numerical equation, we may
say : Let h = a feet, d =^ x miles,
then (x milesf = (8000 miles) x {a feet) ;

1 foot
x^ =: 8000 a X —^ ,
1 mile

8000

= a,

5280

.-. the square of the distance of the horizon, measured in miles,
is half as much again as the height of the observer's eye above the

APPENDIX.

surface, measured in feet. This is a convenient numerical relation,
deduced from the original fundamental one.

This illustration clearly exemplifies the difference between numerical
equations in certain specified units and the fundamental relations
which are independent of units, and shows the essential limitation of
the numerical equation as compared with the generality of the other,
but shows also the greater convenience of the numerical equation for
practical application.

The following example will show, on the contrary, the advantage
which sometimes accrues from taking the standards into the formulae.

[The solution of this and some of the following examples is given
in duplicate in parallel columns illustrating two different ways of
expressing the concrete quantities, the one employing ratios and
products as above explained, the other rising the relations between
the units of the different magnitudes involved as explained in the
SyUabus.]

(ii) A steamer moves at the rate of 20 knots against a constant
resistance equal to the weight of 55 tons. Find the amount of coal
per day required, given that the energy of combustion of a pound of
coal is 5000 foot tons-weight, and that the engines can utilize 5 per
cent, of this energy. (A knot = 6080 feet per hour.)

Let X — required daily consumption
of coal,

then r-T^ X 250/<2e< x tom-tceight is

the utilised energy each day,

, X '250 feet x tons-weiqht .
1 lb. 1 day

the power exerted.

This power must be equal to the
product of the resistance and velocity,
namely 55 tons-weiyht x'20 knots,

X 250 feet X tons-weight

lU).

24 hrs.

^K . . z. 20 X 6080 feet

55 tons-weiqht x ;

\hr.

55x20x6080x24„

X = r-rr Jhs.,

250
^ 55x20x6080x24

250x2240
= 286-6 tons.

tonf,

Suppose the daily consumption of
coal to be x tons.

Then since 1 lb. of coal yields -^ of
5000 or 250 foot-tons of useful work,

X tons yields 2240 .r x 250 foot-tons :

and the work of the resistance per hour

= 55 X 20x6080 foot-tons.

Hence, equating the energy utilized
to the work done in one day,

2240x250 a; = 24x55x20x6080;

24x55x20x6080

2240 X 250

286-6.

It should be noted that, in the left-hand solution of the above

E 2

36 APPENDIX.

example, x is the quantity of coal irrespective of methods of measure-
ment, and that when the number of lbs. in this quantity is required,

— - ), has to be taken. This is an important

principle, and may be very usefully employed in attacking problems
such as the following, where a strictly numerical equation referred to
one set of standards is to be adapted to another set. (It is adopted
in the left-hand solution below.)

(iii) The number of grammes in a" volume of air occupying a volume
of V litres at a temperature of f centigrade under a pressure equal
to h millimetres of mercury

■4645

273 + <

Find the mass in grains, when the volume is given in cubic inches,
the pressure in inches of mercury, and the temperature in degrees
Fahr.

First method. The full expression for the above formula is

volume heisrht of barometer
X

rrn. ,r^,f one litre one mm.

The mass = -464.5 grammes,

absolute temperature

one C°
and a gramme = 15-43 grains,

a litre = 61-02 cubic inches,
a mm. = -03937 inches,
1C° = 1-8 F°;

volume height

,^,^ 61-02 (in.)2 ^ .03937Trn.) .j, ,„

.♦. The mass = -4645 \—!- ^^ — - x 1.5-43 grains,

absolute temperature

volume height

-4645 X 1-8 X 15-43 (in.)^ ^ (in.) ^.^
X \ \ ^ ^ — - grains,

61-02 X -03937 absolute temp.

of which expression the numerical coefficient reduces to 5-37 ;
. •. the number of grains is given by the formula

5-37

459 + /'

if the volume is v cubic inches, the height of the barometer h inches, and the
temperature t° Fahr.

APPENDIX.

Second method. Let m , v , h' be the measures iu grains, cubic inches, and
inches respectively of the mass, volume, and barometric height, and t'^ the tem-
perature Fahrenheit.

Then

m grains

h! inches =

1.5.43

v'
6102

grammes,

litres,

mm.,

.03937
and «'°i^= f (/''-32)°C;

hence by the given equation

m' .4645 i^h'

15.43 " 6102 X 03937 x{ 273 + !(<'- 32)}'

,_ 15.43 X. 4645x9 v'h' v'h'

^"^ "^ "61-02 X. 03937x5 ^459+ f'~'^4'59T?'

(iv) In what distance would a constant force bring a train of
100 tons, moving with the speed of 30 miles per hour, to rest in
40 seconds 1 and what is the force ?

The distance

= average velocity x time,
15 miles

1 hour
15x40

X 40 i^ec.

miles ^

60x60

= \ofa mile,

= 880/ee^.

Also, Force x time = Mass x change
of velocity,

100 /on. X 30^
^ hour

.-. Force = ,

40 sec.

100 X 30 X 5280 tons x feet

40x60x60(«ec.)'

100x30x5280

40x60x60x32
= 3 ^ tons-weight,
= 7700 pounds-weight.

—tons-weight,

The speed = 30 miles/hr.,

^30x5280
60x60 ^ '

= 44 F/S ;
and by the formula I = ^vt,
the dist. = ^ X 44 X iOfeet,

= 880/ee^ or ^ mile.
Also the momentum

= 100x2240x44PF/S,
which is destroyed in 40 S by the force
100x2240x44

PF/SS,

= 110 X 2240 ^o?tn<7aZ«,

110x2240 - . ,,

ss — pounds-weight,

= 7700 pounds-weight.

38 APPENDIX.

(v) What uniform power would stop the train in the same time 1
Force x distance

Power required

time

_ 7700 pounds-weight x 880 feet

40 sec. '

= 7 7 00 x22footlhs.-weight per sec,

7700x22 „
= — ^^7^ — Horse-power,

= 308 Morse-power.

Or, Power = Rate of change of
Kinetic energy ;

Power

^30 miles\^

tonsxi — ; i-v-iO sec.

^ hr. /

550 ft. X lbs. weight -f- 1 sec.

2240x30^x5280=^
'' Ilx60*x32x40 '

The kinetic energy

PFF

= ^ X 100 X 2240 X 442 - or poundergs,

and the power

= rate of decrease of k. e.

50x2240x442
= — poundergs per sec.

Also 1 hP.

= 550 foot-lbs. per sec.

= 550 X 32 poundergs per sec.,
.*. the power

50 X 2240 X 442

40x550x32
308 HP.

HP.

Power = 308 K'.

Two other examples are appended, similar respectively to the first
and second of the examples already given.

(vi) Required the numerical equation giving the number of gallons
of water discharged per minute through a pipe of length I feet
and diameter d inches, the frictional loss of head being supposed
known and equal to h^ feet.

The general formula (Cotterill's Applied Mechanics, p. 462), gives
the rate of discharge as equal to

2g
4/

frictional loss of head

(diameter)^,

length of pipe

where / is a coefficient of fluid friction, an average value of which
may be taken as -0075, so that 4/ =03.

'. Eate of discharge

TT /2x32x 12 inches
IW -03 (sec.)2

W .(inches)^
= -0036 gallons,

— [d inches)^,
I

= 40 7r
Now 1 cubic inch

APPENDIX.

Rateof disclmme = 40 tt x -0036 x 60 a / — d^^^^^

V l niin.

= 27«2a/ yd 5 gallons per minute ;

that is, the required formula giving the number of gallons discharged
per minute is

(vii) Find the maximum deflection of a timber beam of rectangular
section, 28 feet long, 18 inches deep, and 6 inches wide, supported at
its ends, and carrying a uniform load of J ton-weight per foot run,
Young's modulus of elasticity (U) being 750 tons- weight i)er square
inch.

The formula is

Maximum deflection = —— of

384 £Jx j\ of (width) (depth)^

Hence, in this example,

^, . j„ . 5 7 tons-weight X (28 feet j**

Maximum deflection = — — X : ^^rr ^

384 _^. tons-weight \/to- \^

^^^ (inchy ""^^^ "'-^ (^^ '"•)

5x7x(28xl2) X 12 . ,
— inches

384x750x6x18''
= 1-58 inches.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
BERKELEY

Return to desk from which borrowed.
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.

^J'flSi

■>■

LD 21-95m-ll,'50(2877sl6)476

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Full text of "Syllabus of elementary dynamics. with an appendix on the meanings of the symbols in physical equations .."

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