Astrophysics/work

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Question
why when we calculated the work we multiplied force * distance  not F/D i.e division what is the meaning

Answer
It's just the definition of work.  It's actually a specific definition for a constant force in a straight line, you need to integrate for varying forces and paths.  Force/distance would have units of kg/s^2, which would have no normal meaning.  It wouldn't be a unit of energy at all.  The only thing I can think of it meaning would be the rate of change of a mass flow rate, and that would be a very odd thing to measure indeed.  What makes you think to even try to divide when the definition is W=f*d?

Astrophysics

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Steve Nelson

Expertise

Fusion, solar flares, cosmic rays, radiation in space, and stellar physics questions. Generally, nuclear-related astrophysics, but I can usually point you in the right direction if it's not nuclear-related or if it's nuclear but not astrophysics.

Experience

Currently a physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Doctoral dissertation was on a reaction in CNO-cycle fusion, worked in gamma-ray astronomy in the space science division of the naval research laboratory in the high-energy space environment branch.

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Physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in physics, research was on nuclear fusion reactions important in stellar fusion.

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