Dynamic Systems:

Arithmetic includes numbers which have fixed values.  Algebra includes both literal and arithmetic numbers. While the iteral numbers  in  algebraic  problems  can  change  value  from  one calculation to the further, they also have fixed values in a given calculation.   While a weight is dropped and permitted to fall freely, its velocity changes continually.  The electric current in an alternating current circuit changes continually.  Both of these quantities have a variant value at successive instants of time.  Physical systems which include quantities that change continually are known as dynamic systems. The solution of problems including dynamic systems frequent includes mathematical techniques variant from those described in arithmetic and algebra. Calculus includes all the similar mathematical techniques included in arithmetic and algebra, like as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, equations, and functions, but it also includes various other methods.  These techniques are not hard to understand since they can be developed using familiar physical systems, but they do include new ideas & terminology.

There are several dynamic systems encountered in nuclear facility work. The decay of radioactive materials,  the  startup  of  a  reactor, and a power  change  on  a  turbine  generator  all  include quantities that change continually.  An analysis of these dynamic systems includes calculus. While the operation of a nuclear facility does not need a detailed understanding of calculus, it is most helpful to know certain of the basic ideas and terminology included. These ideas and terminology are encountered often, and a brief introduction to the primary ideas and terminology of the mathematics of dynamic systems is discussed in this chapter.