Re: [Phys-l] Force on an accelerating piston

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

At 10:23 PM 1/1/2007,  Jack, you wrote:
> As I understand the question, the "gas" is an irrevancy.  I think
> Dan's question boils down to the following:
>         In 1 dimension, consider a spring with one end fixed.  At time
> t=0, apply a constant force to the other end (the "running end", to be
> nautical).  Describe the subsequent motion of the running end as a
> function of time.
>         Happy New Year and regards,
>                                 Jack


Now that's what I call a Physicist's model of the problem, in
 the Grand manner!

I was hoping for an adversion to a velocity distribution for a gas
 with temperature and pressure. Given a plausible time series of
pressure and temperature for the falling piston, the available
 population of  molecules with velocity exceeding that of the piston
provides a figure for force on the piston, for input to an iterative
model of the dynamics.


Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!