Physics I / Integrals as accumulation
Practice question · Multiple choice

Water flows into a tank at rate r(t)>0r(t) > 0, then out at rate r(t)|r(t)| when r(t)<0r(t) < 0. What does 0Tr(t)dt\int_0^T r(t)\,dt report?

Hints
  1. Where rr dips negative, the integral counts that area negatively.
  2. "Final volume" would also need the starting volume, the integral only measures the change.
Show the answer

A. The net change in water volume

Why

Signed area = net change: outflow intervals subtract. To get the final amount you must add the initial state, V(T)=V(0)+0TrdtV(T) = V(0) + \int_0^T r\,dt, the accumulation form of the fundamental theorem.

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