From, derivatives, we know that velocity, v, is the first derivative, and acceleration, a, is the second derivative. We can express this as
\[a=\frac{dv}{dt}\]
If we rearrange the equation to \(dv=a\,dt\), we can integrate in respect to t
\[v=\int a\,dt\]
If the acceleration is constant, we have \[v = at+c_1\]
A similar equation can be set up to find the displacement, s, in terms of time.
\[s=\int v\,dt\]
Example: During the initial stage of launching a spacecraft vertically, the acceleration \(a\,(in\,m/s^2)\) of the spacecraft is \(a=6t^2\). Find the height \(s\) of the spacecraft after \(6.0s\) if \(s=12m\) for \(t=0s\) and \(v=16\,m/3\) for \(t=2s\).
Solution
First, we find the equation of the veloctiy.
\begin{align} v&=\int 6t^2\,dt=2t^3+c_1 \\ 16&=2(2)^3+c_1 \end{align}
We solve and find that \(c_1 =0\), substitute \(c_1\) at \(t=2s\) back in and \(v=2t^3\).
Next we find the equation for the displacement.
\begin{align} s&=\int 2t^3\,dt=\frac{1}{2}t^4+c_2 \\ 12&=\frac{1}{2}(0)^4+c_2 \end{align}
We solve and find that \(c_2 =12\), substitute \(c_2\) at \(6.0s\) back in and \(s=\frac{1}{2}(6)^4+12=660m\).
By definition, the current i in an electric circuit equals the time rate of change of the charge q (in coloumbs) that passes a given point in the circuit.
\{i=\frac{dq}{dt}\]
Thus,
\[q=\int i\,dt\]
The voltage \(V_C\) across a capacitor with capacitance C is given by \(V_C=q/C\). Combining the equations the voltage is given by
\[V_C=\frac{1}{C} \int i\,dt\]
The measurements \(V_C\) is in volts, \(C\) is in farads, \(i\) in amperes, and \(t\) in seconds.
Example: A certain capacitor has \(100 V\) across it. At this instant, a current \(i=0.06t^{1/2}\) is sent through the circuit. After \(0.25s\), the voltage across the capacitor is \(140V\). What is the capacitance?
Substituting \(i=0.06t^{1/2}\) , we find that,
\begin{align} V_C &= \frac{1}{C}\int 0.06t^{\frac{1}{2}}dt \\ &= \frac{0.06}{C}t^{\frac{1}{2}}dt \\ &= \frac{0.04}{C}t^{\frac{3}{2}}+c_1 \end{align}
Now we solve for \(c_1\) with \(V_C=100\) at \(t=0\) and find that \(c_1=100V\). Thus,
\(V_C=\frac{0.04}{C}t^{\frac{3}{2}}+100\)
We also know that \(V_C=140V\) at \(t=0.25s\)
\begin{align}140 &=\frac{0.04}{C}(0.25)^{\frac{3}{2}}+100 \\ 40&=\frac{0.04}{C}(0.125) \\ C&= 125\times 10^{-4} F=125\mu F\end{align}
