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Boundless Physics
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Chapter 6

Work and Energy

Book Version 3
By Boundless
Boundless Physics
Physics
by Boundless
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Section 1
Introduction
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Introduction to Work and Energy

Work is the energy associated with the action of a force.

Section 2
Work Done by a Constant Force
Force in the Direction of Displacement

The work done by a constant force is proportional to the force applied times the displacement of the object.

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Force at an Angle to Displacement

A force does not have to, and rarely does, act on an object parallel to the direction of motion.

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Section 3
Work Done by a Variable Force
Work Done by a Variable Force

Integration is used to calculate the work done by a variable force.

Section 4
Work-Energy Theorem
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Kinetic Energy and Work-Energy Theorem

The work-energy theorem states that the work done by all forces acting on a particle equals the change in the particle's kinetic energy.

Section 5
Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy
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Conservative and Nonconservative Forces

Conservative force—a force with the property that the work done in moving a particle between two points is independent of the path it takes.

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What is Potential Energy?

Potential energy is the energy difference between the energy of an object in a given position and its energy at a reference position.

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Gravity

Gravitational energy is the potential energy associated with gravitational force, as work is required to move objects against gravity.

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Springs

When a spring is stretched/compressed from its equilibrium position by x, its potential energy is give as $U = \frac{1}{2} kx^2$.

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Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Conservation of mechanical energy states that the mechanical energy of an isolated system remains constant without friction.

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Problem Solving With the Conservation of Energy

To solve a conservation of energy problem determine the system of interest, apply law of conservation of energy, and solve for the unknown.

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Problem Solving with Dissipative Forces

In the presence of dissipative forces, total mechanical energy changes by exactly the amount of work done by nonconservative forces (Wc).

Section 6
Power
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What is Power?

In physics, power is the rate of doing work—the amount of energy consumed per unit time. 

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Humans: Work, Energy, and Power

The human body converts energy stored in food into work, thermal energy, and/or chemical energy that is stored in fatty tissue.

Section 7
CASE STUDY: World Energy Use
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World Energy Use

The most prominent sources of energy used in the world are non-renewable (i.e., unsustainable).

Section 8
Further Topics
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Other Forms of Energy

Thermal, chemical, electric, radiant, nuclear, magnetic, elastic, sound, mechanical, luminous, and mass are forms that energy can exist in.

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Energy Transformations

Energy transformation occurs when energy is changed from one form to another, and is a consequence of the first law of thermodynamics.

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Potential Energy Curves and Equipotentials

A potential energy curve plots potential energy as a function of position; equipotential lines trace lines of equal potential energy.

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Boundless Physics by Boundless
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Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation
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Chapter 6
Work and Energy
  • Introduction
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  • Work Done by a Variable Force
  • Work-Energy Theorem
  • Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy
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Linear Momentum and Collisions
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