Detailed Example of Mathcad Sigma Summation and Integral Functions

January 17, 2013

Filed Under - Reinterpreting Newton's Law of Gravitation

Joseph A. Rybczyk

Sigma Summation Method 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------c

2

c ( a T)

This is the formula I want to compute the summation value for as T varies from 0 to some higher value for an object
undergoing acceleration at a constant rate of acceleration a until a certain speed v is reached.

For that purpose the constants c and a are assigned the values shown to the right. c 299792458

a 9.80665
vc

The variable T, however, is dependent upon the value of v as defined by v 0.8 c and the relational expression

a c v
vc

This then gives the final value for T as. T

4.076 10

a c v

We are now ready to find the time t that transpires in the acceleration frame as defined by the previously given expression
2

c ( a T)
operated on by the Sigma summation function

This gives

and

where T is assigned the range of values given by the range variable T 0 4.076 10

to arrive at

This then gives

3.358 10

c ( a T)

c
2

c ( a T)

t 3.358 10

or simply

Sigma Summation Method 2 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Using the second method we take

and assign it to t to obtain

and

and

T0
7

t 3.358 10

or simply

4.076 10

to obtain

c ( a T)

T0

T0
7

4.076 10

4.076 10

into which we input

c
2

c ( a T)

T0

3.358 10
2

Note: It should be understood that this second example still depends on the previously assigned values
for the constants c and a.

Integral Calculus Method ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this method we assign the function

to t to obtain

and

t
0

v c

where as before T is defined as

t
0

to which we set the limits at

4.076 10

dependent on the value of

v 0.8 c

a c v
T

This then gives

t
0

dT

And finally we type or paste

in the formula to be operated
upon by T to obtain

where the range of values defined by the limits 0 and T are assigned to the T to the right of d.

c
2

that gives
the result

dT

c ( a T)

Note: It is not necessary for the variable T to be

in the formula operated upon. For example.

c
2

dT 3.358 10

c ( a T)

or

t 3.358 10

c
2

c ( a v)

dT 5.154 10
2

where (for demonstration purposes only)

the T inside the formula was replace by v that
was previously set to v = 0.8c.