Applications of calculus in engineering

Calculus is a very versatile and valuable tool. It is made up of two interconnected topics, differential calculus and integral calculus.

Calculus is deeply integrated in every branch of the physical sciences, such as physics and biology. It is found in computer science, statistics, and engineering; in economics, business, and medicine. It is almost related to every matter, some examples are:

Modeling

When an engineer needs to understand how a building, bridge or other construct will react to changes in temperature, wind or other variables, he models it under those circumstances. A model is a computer construct that takes into account the materials, weight and other aspects of the item, and then examines how it would react to the variables. Calculus is used to determine the likelihood of an event, such as a total collapse.

Rate of Change

An engineer examining the speed of an object traveling on a roadway uses calculus to determine the rate of change of the speed and acceleration for the trip. She can integrate the rate of change using the starting and end points and determine how the speed and acceleration changes along the trip.

Robotics

Engineers creating the next generation of robotics need to know how the limbs will move based on a given command. This is especially true where the limbs have significant freedom of motion. Engineers use calculus to determine the likelihood of a limb being in a specific spot at a specific time.

Systems Design

Electrical and computer engineers develop new systems for specific needs, such as water regulation or heat diffusion. Many of these systems require the use of calculus to determine the boundaries of the system and how the system determines the values of the measurements. System design is an important aspect of engineering.

Bibliography:

http://www.ehow.com/info_8785081_use-calculus-engineering.html
http://calculus.nipissingu.ca/calc_app.html