Work and Energy
Work is closely related to energy. The conservation of energy states that the change in total internal energy of a system equals the added heat minus the work performed by the system (see the first law of thermodynamics),
Also, from Newton's second law for rigid bodies it can be shown that work on an object is equal to the change in kinetic energy of that object,
- .
The work of forces generated by a potential function is known as potential energy and the forces are said to be conservative. Therefore work on an object moving in a conservative force field is equal to minus the change of potential energy of the object,
This shows that work is the energy associated with the action of a force, and so has the physical dimensions and units of energy.
The work energy principle discussed here is identical in the case of Electrical work.
Read more about this topic: Work (physics)
Famous quotes containing the words work and/or energy:
“The press is no substitute for institutions. It is like the beam of a searchlight that moves restlessly about, bringing one episode and then another out of darkness into vision. Men cannot do the work of the world by this light alone. They cannot govern society by episodes, incidents, and eruptions. It is only when they work by a steady light of their own, that the press, when it is turned upon them, reveals a situation intelligible enough for a popular decision.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)
“All my energy and attention were devoted to trying to help her solve her problems. Unfortunately I didn’t have much success.”
—Arthur Miller (b. 1915)