# CalcsLive MCP Server - Usage Examples
This guide demonstrates practical examples of using CalcsLive MCP server with AI agents.
---
## 🎓 Getting Started Examples
### Example 1: Simple Unit Conversion
**User Prompt**:
> "Convert 100 kilometers per hour to miles per hour"
**AI Response Flow**:
1. AI recognizes unit conversion needed
2. Uses `calcslive_calculate` with a speed conversion calculation
3. Returns: **62.14 mph**
---
### Example 2: Basic Physics Calculation
**User Prompt**:
> "Calculate the kinetic energy of a 2000 kg car traveling at 60 km/h in joules"
**AI Response**:
```
Using CalcsLive calculation...
Inputs:
- mass: 2000 kg
- velocity: 60 km/h (converted to 16.67 m/s)
Result:
- Kinetic Energy: 277,800 J (277.8 kJ)
Formula used: KE = ½ × m × v²
```
---
## 🏗️ Engineering Examples
### Example 3: Hydro Power Calculation
**User Prompt**:
> "Calculate the power output of a hydroelectric plant with a flow rate of 150 cubic meters per second and a head of 25 meters. Assume 90% efficiency."
**AI Workflow**:
1. Validates hydro power calculation article
2. Inputs:
- Q (flow rate): 150 m³/s
- H (head): 25 m
- η (efficiency): 0.9
3. CalcsLive calculates: P = ρ × g × H × Q × η
4. Returns: **33.1 MW**
---
### Example 4: Pump Sizing
**User Prompt**:
> "I need to pump 200 gallons per minute against a pressure of 80 psi. What motor power do I need if the pump is 75% efficient?"
**AI Response**:
```
Converting units...
- Flow rate: 200 gpm → 0.0126 m³/s
- Pressure: 80 psi → 551,580 Pa
- Efficiency: 75% → 0.75
Calculating pump power...
Required motor power: 9.25 kW (12.4 HP)
Recommendation: Select a 15 HP (11 kW) motor for safety margin.
```
---
### Example 5: Structural Load Calculation
**User Prompt**:
> "Calculate the stress on a steel beam with a cross-sectional area of 50 cm² supporting a load of 10,000 N"
**AI Response**:
```
Using stress calculation...
Inputs:
- Force: 10,000 N (10 kN)
- Area: 50 cm² (0.005 m²)
Result:
- Stress (σ): 2,000,000 Pa (2 MPa)
For reference:
- Steel yield strength: typically 250-400 MPa
- Safety factor: ~125-200 (well within safe limits)
```
---
## 🔬 Scientific Examples
### Example 6: Projectile Motion
**User Prompt**:
> "A ball is thrown at 30 m/s at an angle of 45 degrees. What is the maximum height and range?"
**AI Calculation**:
```
Projectile motion analysis:
Inputs:
- Initial velocity: 30 m/s
- Launch angle: 45°
- Gravity: 9.81 m/s²
Results:
- Maximum height: 22.96 m
- Range: 91.74 m
- Time of flight: 4.33 s
Formulas:
- h_max = (v² × sin²θ) / (2g)
- range = (v² × sin(2θ)) / g
```
---
### Example 7: Thermal Expansion
**User Prompt**:
> "A steel rod is 10 meters long at 20°C. How much will it expand when heated to 100°C? (Steel α = 12 × 10⁻⁶ /°C)"
**AI Response**:
```
Thermal expansion calculation:
Inputs:
- Original length (L₀): 10 m
- Temperature change (ΔT): 80°C
- Thermal expansion coefficient (α): 12 × 10⁻⁶ /°C
Result:
- Length change (ΔL): 9.6 mm
- Final length: 10.0096 m
Formula: ΔL = L₀ × α × ΔT
```
---
## 🏭 Industrial Examples
### Example 8: HVAC Calculation
**User Prompt**:
> "Calculate the cooling capacity needed for a room that is 5m × 6m × 3m high with 4 people and 2kW of equipment"
**AI Workflow**:
1. Calculates room volume: 90 m³
2. Estimates heat load:
- People: 4 × 100W = 400W
- Equipment: 2000W
- Room envelope: ~500W
3. Total: ~2.9 kW
4. Recommends: **3.5 kW (1 ton) air conditioner** with safety margin
---
### Example 9: Electrical Power Calculation
**User Prompt**:
> "What current will a 5kW heater draw on a 240V circuit? What wire size do I need?"
**AI Response**:
```
Electrical calculation:
Power: 5000 W
Voltage: 240 V
Results:
- Current: 20.83 A
- Recommended breaker: 25A (next standard size up)
- Recommended wire: 12 AWG copper (rated for 25A)
- Voltage drop (50ft run): 2.4V (1% - acceptable)
```
---
## 🌡️ HVAC & Thermodynamics
### Example 10: Heat Transfer
**User Prompt**:
> "How much heat is transferred through a brick wall (k=0.8 W/m·K) that is 20cm thick, 10m² area, with inside temp 20°C and outside -5°C?"
**AI Calculation**:
```
Heat transfer (conduction):
Inputs:
- Thermal conductivity (k): 0.8 W/(m·K)
- Thickness: 0.2 m
- Area: 10 m²
- Temperature difference: 25°C
Result:
- Heat transfer rate: 1000 W (1 kW)
Formula: Q = (k × A × ΔT) / d
```
---
## 🚗 Automotive Examples
### Example 11: Brake Distance
**User Prompt**:
> "How long does it take a car traveling at 70 mph to stop with a deceleration of 0.7g? What distance does it travel?"
**AI Response**:
```
Braking calculation:
Inputs:
- Initial velocity: 70 mph (31.29 m/s)
- Deceleration: 0.7g (6.867 m/s²)
Results:
- Stopping time: 4.56 seconds
- Stopping distance: 71.4 meters (234 feet)
Note: This assumes ideal conditions. Real-world conditions may vary.
```
---
## 💧 Fluid Mechanics
### Example 12: Pipe Flow
**User Prompt**:
> "Calculate the pressure drop in a 100-meter long, 50mm diameter pipe carrying water at 5 liters per second. Use Darcy-Weisbach with f=0.02."
**AI Calculation**:
```
Pipe flow analysis:
Inputs:
- Pipe length: 100 m
- Pipe diameter: 50 mm (0.05 m)
- Flow rate: 5 L/s (0.005 m³/s)
- Friction factor: 0.02
- Fluid: Water (ρ=1000 kg/m³)
Results:
- Flow velocity: 2.55 m/s
- Pressure drop: 131 kPa (1.31 bar, 19 psi)
- Head loss: 13.3 m
Formula: ΔP = f × (L/D) × (ρv²/2)
```
---
## 🎯 Best Practices
### 1. Always Validate First
```
User: "What inputs does the pipe flow calculator need?"
AI: [Uses calcslive_validate to discover inputs]
```
This ensures you know what parameters are available before attempting calculations.
### 2. Specify Units Clearly
```
Good: "Calculate force with mass = 10 kg and acceleration = 5 m/s²"
Bad: "Calculate force with mass 10 and acceleration 5"
```
### 3. Ask for Unit Conversions
```
User: "Give me the result in both SI and imperial units"
AI: Can request specific output units via the outputs parameter
```
### 4. Leverage Multi-Step Calculations
CalcsLive automatically handles dependencies:
```
Power = Voltage × Current
Current = Power / Voltage (automatically calculated)
```
---
## 🚀 Advanced Techniques
### Chaining Calculations
**User**: "Design a pump system for 500 gpm at 100 ft head, then calculate the monthly electricity cost at $0.12/kWh running 8 hours/day"
**AI Workflow**:
1. Pump power calculation → 15 HP
2. Energy calculation → 15 HP × 8 hrs/day × 30 days
3. Cost calculation → Energy × $0.12/kWh
4. Result: ~$400/month
### Optimization Problems
**User**: "What pipe diameter minimizes total cost (pipe cost + pumping cost) for 100 gpm over 500 feet?"
**AI can**:
1. Calculate pressure drop for various diameters
2. Calculate corresponding pump power
3. Compare capital cost vs operating cost
4. Recommend optimal diameter
---
## 📊 Tips for Effective Use
1. **Be Specific**: Include all relevant parameters
2. **Use Standard Units**: SI or common imperial units
3. **Ask for Validation**: Check what inputs are available
4. **Request Explanations**: Ask AI to show formulas used
5. **Verify Results**: Cross-check critical calculations
---
## 🆘 Common Questions
**Q: Can I create my own calculations?**
A: Yes! Create articles at [calcs.live/editor](https://www.calcs.live/editor) and make them public to use via MCP.
**Q: What if a calculation doesn't exist?**
A: Ask the AI - it can often guide you to create the calculation article yourself.
**Q: Are results accurate?**
A: CalcsLive uses professional engineering formulas. Always verify critical calculations independently.
**Q: Can I use this for commercial work?**
A: Yes! Premium/Enterprise subscriptions include commercial use rights.
---
**Ready to try it yourself? Start asking your AI agent engineering questions!** 🚀
