How Can Non-Expressional Curves Be Used to Measure Energy Transfer?

[johnintheuk]

I'm trying to find the quantity of energy transferred between two systems. I have an absorption curve and a drive curve, but neither of these follow a mathematical expression.

I want to use the absorption curves to find out how much of the drive is being transferred. I know one way to do this would be to integrate the curves, but they can't really be approximated by an expression.

How else might I go about it?

I have actually thought about drawing them, then doing the old cutting out and measuring the area trick for a rough estimation. Surely there's something easier than that though.

Maybe scan them and use something on the computer to find the enclosed area?

But there's a lot of sharp deviation on the curves, so I'd really need to cut the x-axis up into a lot of sections to get any kind of accuracy whatsoever.

 

[OptimalDesign]

I'm trying to find the quantity of energy transferred between two systems. I have an absorption curve and a drive curve, but neither of these follow a mathematical expression.

I want to use the absorption curves to find out how much of the drive is being transferred. I know one way to do this would be to integrate the curves, but they can't really be approximated by an expression.

"math expression" means what to you?

Do you have some data that we could look at or a plot?

As long as the data is continuous, a math expression should be possible to find. See this http://www.digitalCalculus.com/demo/curvfit.html" program with its many examples.

 

[astrokreng]

I understand your struggle in trying to quantify the energy transfer between two systems when the curves do not follow a mathematical expression. One approach you could take is to use numerical integration methods, such as the trapezoidal rule or Simpson's rule, which do not require a mathematical expression but rather use discrete data points to approximate the area under the curve. This would provide a more accurate estimation compared to visually measuring the area.

Another option is to use a computer program or software that specializes in curve fitting and data analysis. These programs are designed to handle complex curves and can provide more precise calculations of the energy transfer.

Additionally, you can try to break down the curves into smaller sections and analyze the energy transfer within each section separately. This may help to better understand the behavior of the curves and provide insights into the energy transfer process.

Overall, while there may not be a straightforward solution to your problem, there are various approaches and tools that can help you in quantifying the energy transfer between the two systems. It may require some trial and error, but with persistence and the use of appropriate techniques, you can achieve a more accurate estimation of the energy transfer.