15-46 Calculus – Differentiation and Integration
15.2 APPLICATIONS OF PHYSICS
The process of integration also has interesting applications in physics. In this section, we shall discuss
two significant applications of integration – Work and Centre and Moments of Mass.
15.2.1 Work
Assume that a constant force F is used to move an object a distance d along a straight line. Then we
know that the work done by the force is defined to be the product of force and distance. However, this
formula does not work when force F is a variable. In such a case we use the method of integration as
an efficient tool for calculating work.
Result Let F be a continuous function on the closed interval [a, b] that represents force. Then
the work done by the for