Work (physics) - Work and Energy

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, work and/or energy:

    If work and leisure are soon to be subordinated to this one utopian principle—absolute busyness—then utopia and melancholy will come to coincide: an age without conflict will dawn, perpetually busy—and without consciousness.
    Günther Grass (b. 1927)

    Auld Nature swears, the lovely Dears
    Her noblest work she classes, O:
    Her prentice han’ she try’d on man,
    An’ then she made the lasses, O.
    Robert Burns (1759–1796)

    Since the beginning of time, three-quarters of the mental energy and of the lies inspired by vanity have been expended for their inferiors by people who are only abased by such expenditure. And Swann, who was easygoing and unaffected with a duchess, trembled at the thought of being scorned and put on airs when he was with a housemaid.
    Marcel Proust (1871–1922)