Average of a Velocity Function

In summary, the question is asking how to show that the mean and mean of squares of a function V, which is defined as sin[kx' + A(n, t)], are independent of x' and any other power of V. The equation used to calculate the mean is <V> = [1/(b-a)] int [a,b] V(n, t, x') dx. The question also mentions the importance of the uniform distribution of A and implies that it is the domain of integration for the average. The context of the problem is related to a fluid flow and the requirement to show its homogeneity.
  • #1
mep12ah
4
0

Homework Statement



Given:

V(n, t, x') = sin [k x' + A (n, t)]

where
k is a constant
n stands for the nth realisation
A is uniformly distributed in [0, 2pi] and
x' denotes the position vector

How can I show that the mean of V i.e. <V> and the mean of the squares <V^2> are independent of x' and indeed for any <V^n>?

Homework Equations



I used <V> = [1/(b-a)] int [a,b] V(n, t, x') dx

where <V> denotes the mean

The Attempt at a Solution



I do not completely understand the question. The average over a complete period or integer multiples of the period is zero for a sine function. The arguments do not affect the average but clearly the interval where you take the average does.

The question implies showing <V>, <V^2> .. <V^n> to be independent for ALL x but being given that A is uniformally distributed in [0, 2pi], does this imply that this is the meant domain of integration for the average?

And how can I generalise for all <V^n>?
 
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  • #2
Mean as average over what? t or n? In that case, how does A depend on t or n?
x'? In that case, it is meaningless to ask how that average depends on x'.
 
  • #3
mfb said:
Mean as average over what? t or n? In that case, how does A depend on t or n?
x'? In that case, it is meaningless to ask how that average depends on x'.

This relates to a fluid flow. I am required to show that it is homogeneous which means that the statistical properties of a property measured at x' do not differ when measured at x'' - all statistical moments should be the same everywhere in physical space.

The average is over x.
 
  • #4
Ok, now I am confused. Where is x in your equation?

If you average over all x' in some volume, this average does not depend on V(x') for a specific x' if this V(x') is finite and not correlated to any other value in the volume.
 

FAQ: Average of a Velocity Function

1. What is the definition of average velocity?

Average velocity is the change in position of an object over a specific time interval. It is calculated by dividing the displacement (change in position) by the time interval.

2. How is average velocity different from instantaneous velocity?

Average velocity is the overall rate of change of an object's position over a specific time interval, while instantaneous velocity is the rate of change at a specific moment in time.

3. Can the average velocity be negative?

Yes, the average velocity can be negative if the object is moving in the opposite direction of the chosen positive direction. For example, if the positive direction is east, and the object is moving west, the average velocity would be negative.

4. How do you calculate the average velocity from a velocity function?

To calculate the average velocity from a velocity function, you need to integrate the function over the given time interval and then divide the result by the length of the time interval.

5. Why is average velocity important in physics?

Average velocity is important in physics because it helps us understand the motion of objects and how they change over time. It is also used in various equations and formulas, such as the equations of motion, to analyze and predict the behavior of moving objects.

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