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Calculus

Calculus provides tools for scientists to calculate natural phenomena and problems for mathematicians. It originated from the Latin word for pebble and deals with derivatives and integrals of functions. Calculus describes dynamic systems through differential equations, allowing prediction of weather patterns and modeling of rocket launches. Numerical weather prediction solves differential equations to forecast conditions by extrapolating computed tendencies over time.

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sherida
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172 views5 pages

Calculus

Calculus provides tools for scientists to calculate natural phenomena and problems for mathematicians. It originated from the Latin word for pebble and deals with derivatives and integrals of functions. Calculus describes dynamic systems through differential equations, allowing prediction of weather patterns and modeling of rocket launches. Numerical weather prediction solves differential equations to forecast conditions by extrapolating computed tendencies over time.

Uploaded by

sherida
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sherida G.

Grajo & Adrian Nava


BT - ELX 1A

Statement:

The story of calculus brings out two of the main things that mathematics is for:
providing tools that let scientists calculate what nature is doing, and providing new
questions for mathematicians to sort out to their own satisfaction.

Discussion:

Mathematics is an important part of our life. Very often we make use of counting,
multiplication, addition, percentages and so on. Many of us are never again going to use
calculus directly in our life. But, just because we are not going to use calculus directly,
doesn’t mean it is not important to study.

The word calculus originates from the Latin word meaning pebble. The Romans use
pebbles to perform calculations on an abacus and the word became associated
generally with computation. It is also the branch of mathematics that deals with the
finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally
based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. The two main types are differential
calculus and integral calculus. The beauty of calculus is not just in the math’s alone. It’s
in the way that calculus can form a connection or relationship and a language to describe
the dynamic nature of our world. There are unlimited uses and benefits of calculus in any
field. Calculus is the language of motion and change. By using it, we have the ability to
find the effects of changing conditions on a system like the weather. In atmosphere, we
have a changing temperature and changing pressure. So by using differential equations
meteorologists can indicate and predict the weather for our benefit.
The first attempt to predict the weather numerically was by the British scientist L.F.
Richardson, he showed how the differential equations governing atmospheric motions
could be written approximately as a set of algebraic difference equations for values of
the tendencies of various field variables at a finite number of points in space. Given the
observed values of these field variables at these grid points the tendencies could be
calculated numerically by solving the algebraic difference equations. The new values of
the field variables could then be used to recompute the tendencies which in turn could
be used to extrapolate further ahead in time. By extrapolating the computed tendencies
ahead a small increment in time, an estimate of the fields at a short time in the future
could be obtained. Even for a short-range forecast over a small area of the earth, this
procedure requires an enormous number of arithmetic calculations.

With the development of more powerful computers and better modeling techniques
numerical weather prediction has returned to models that are quite similar to
Richardson’s model and more accurate.
The Primitive Equations are used as the forecast equations in NWP models. Vilhelm
Bjerknes first recognized that numerical weather prediction was possible in principle in
1904. He proposed that weather prediction could be seen as an initial value problem in
mathematics. Since equations govern how meteorological variables change with time, if
we know the initial condition of the atmosphere, we can solve the equations to obtain
new
values of those variables at a later time.

Representation of NWP model:

where
∆A give s the change in a forecast variable at a particular point in space
∆t gives the change in time (how far into the future we are forecasting)
F(A) represents terms that can cause changes in the value of A

This equation means that the change in forecast variable A during the time period t is
equal to the cumulative effects of all processes that force A to change.

Future values of meteorological variables are solved for by finding their initial values
and then adding the physical forcing that acts on the variables over the time period of
the forecast.
where F(A) stands for the combination of all of the kinds of forcing that can occur. The
process is then repeated for the duration of the simulation. This stepwise process
represents the configuration of the prediction equations used in NWP.

Another example is how calculus can be used in aerospace to describe a rocket launch.
If an object is in motion like a rocket we can use calculus to model it. The thrust of a
rocket into space is based on the calculus of motion. In rocket physics, we are applying
Newton’s second and third law to a rocket that has a variable mass.

The Rocket’s mass is decreasing over as the fuel propellant is being burned off. As the
rocket propellant ignites the rocket experiences a very large acceleration as the exhaust
exits out the back of the rocket at a very high velocity. This backward acceleration
exerts a push force on the rocket in the opposite direction causing the rocket to
accelerate upwards. The force acting on the rocket called the thrust is the rate of
change of momentum which is the first derivative of momentum.

Using calculus momentum or the amount of motion of the rocket:


P = mass x velocity. And so the rate of change of momentum:
P’ = dmv/dt, the thrust of the rocket.
We can also write this as a physics equation: F =ma, Newton’s second law. And
rewriting this from a calculus standpoint: F =M x dmv/dt.

To put it simply the thrust of the rocket during a launch is the first derivative of
momentum. Rocket propulsion also employs Newton’s third law, conservation of
momentum. This dictates that if a material is ejected backward like the exhaust in a
rocket launch, the forward momentum of the remaining rocket must increase because
an isolated system can’t change its net momentum. In other words for every action,
there is an equal and opposite reaction — Newton’s third law — After launch to achieve
the desired final orbital velocity around the earth or to escape from Earth’s gravity the
mass of the rocket must be as small as possible. And so the rocket sheds mass by
using different rocket stages separating its parts such as the rocket boosters.

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