This interactive approximates the work done by a 2d vector field F along a curve (oriented in the positive x direction).[br]Enter Fx=x-component and Fy=y-component of your vector field F in the input fields (Fx=P and Fy=Q).[br]Change xn=Number of x Steps and the endpoints xmin and xmax of your curve.[br]Change v=vectorScale (readability).[br]Enter a different function for the curve (as an explicit function in x),[br]-----[br]Additional changes can be made to yn=Number of y Steps as well as ymins and ymax and vh=VectorHead (readability).

The interactive is to help us understand the principles behind the line integral for work (often called type 2).[br]From Physics 1, we know that work is force*distance, e.g. if we push a box with F=3N for 5m, we have done work: W=15Nm[br]This is easy to understand for a constant force directly along the path of a straight line.[br]But: What if the path is a curve C? What if the force F is a vector function - this means both its direction and magnitude change with its position in space. [br]How then do we measure the work done by F along C?