-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of John Denker
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 11:05 AM
<Snip>
This is not a metaphysical distinction. There are direct practical
engineering considerations involved. There are some things such as
DC torque motors that put out a definite force to an excellent
approximation. There are other things such as stepper motors that
allow me to dictate the position, velocity, and acceleration of the
load, independent of the force required, to an excellent approximation,
over a wide range of conditions. Once upon a time I earned my living
designing things that depended on stepper motors, so don't try to
tell me this isn't real.
[Bill Nettles]
Now that's an interesting project. I do have a few questions.
1) In a system of stepper motors which provide definite accelerations independent of the mass which was being accelerated, did the power consumption of the motors depend on the mass being accelerated?
2) Were there situations in which the you had to get motors capable of larger torques because the first motors you used wouldn't provide the accelerations required? If so, wouldn't it be reasonable to say that you couldn't get "ma" because the motor was incapable of producing "torque/r" when connected to that m? In other words, without the ability to produce sufficient torque you can't get the correct acceleration?