All Questions
69
questions
0
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2
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46
views
Is it possible that work is being done on an object, it's kinetic energy doesn't changes and still the body is transferred from one point to another?
Recently, I read a book about Electrostatics which stated that "Electrostatic Potential at a point is defined as the work done to move a unit charge from a reference point (generally taken as ...
-4
votes
1
answer
96
views
Does every object have an infinite amount of energy? [duplicate]
If energy is defined as the capacity to do work, and the formula for work is force times displacement, if we place an object on a frictionless surface and apply any amount of force to said object, the ...
2
votes
2
answers
102
views
Where does $W = \Delta E$ come from?
My textbook states the following:
$$W_{net}=W_{non−conservative}+W_{conservative}$$
$$W_{non−conservative}=ΔKE+ΔPE$$
$$W_{conservative}=−ΔPE$$
$$W_{net}=ΔKE$$
$$W=FDcos(Θ)$$
However, my teacher states ...
- 23
0
votes
1
answer
84
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Why isn't work $Fd \sec \theta$? [closed]
In the following image if force the triangle PAN was right angle at P then the component of force in the direction of displacement would be $F\sec\theta$ so work $F*Displacement(AC)*\sec \theta $.
I ...
-1
votes
1
answer
79
views
Is there a non-counterfactual definition of energy? [duplicate]
I have once heard that the definition of energy is "the ability to do work". However, that is a counterfactual definition, because a physical system can have that ability without actually ...
- 1,252
0
votes
6
answers
280
views
Does potential energy actually exist? Or is it just a useful mathematical model? [closed]
The title basically covers it. I've actually thought about this question for a while now, and I am still not sure if I have a definitive answer. Most potential energies seem to just be the work that ...
- 183
4
votes
2
answers
932
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How do we justify that work is a "transfer of energy" in the general case?
By the work-energy theorem, we can justify that the work on a particle due to the net force equals the change in kinetic energy of the particle. In compact notation,
\begin{align}\tag{1}
W_{\text{net}}...
- 8,640
0
votes
1
answer
276
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Why do manual treadmills burn more calories than automatic treadmills?
Studies show that manual treadmills burn 30% more calories than automatic ones.
Let's assume that there is no air friction.
The figure is a diagram of the forces acting on a person running on the ...
- 197
0
votes
3
answers
88
views
Consolidating two ways to calculate work
I was wondering if I could get some help closing some fundamental gaps in my intuition of work, as it relates to force and distance travelled.
Scenario
Say we pull a 1kg box along the ground. We pull ...
- 163
1
vote
1
answer
87
views
Kinetic and Potential Energy of a multi degree of freedom (MDOF) system
Consider the following MDOF system:
$M\ddot x+Kx=F$
where $M$ and $K$ are the mass and stiffness matrix respectively, and $x$ and $F$ are the displacement and force vectors.
How can one determine the ...
- 37
0
votes
5
answers
97
views
How can potential energy increase? [closed]
If work is done on a body, the energy of the body increases. If work is done by the body, energy decreases. When we take a body up to some height, some work is done by us on the body, which is stored ...
0
votes
1
answer
312
views
How can the Joule be the unit of both work and energy?
Say a person applies 1 N to a box with a mass of 1 kg, displacing 1 m. This is one Joule of work
(1 N for 1 m).
Now say the person applies 1 N to a box with double the mass, displacing 1 m as well. ...
- 19
1
vote
2
answers
97
views
Why is force "accumulated" more at a higher speed?
I tried to understand why kinetic energy is proportional to the square of velocity. In this endeavor I stumbled upon a book "Emilie du Chatelet: Daring Genius of the Enlightenment" (ISBN 978-...
- 97
1
vote
2
answers
154
views
What work does a microwave oven do? [duplicate]
I learned that when energy is transfered it either produces work or it becomes thermal energy (heat).
Work implies a force that acts on an object producing changes in its position.
I'm learning these ...
- 111
2
votes
0
answers
141
views
What is the status of the Work-Energy Theorem? [closed]
All the 'proofs' of the Work–Energy Theorem that I have seen show that the work done by the resultant force acting on a body is equal to $\Delta \left(\tfrac 12 m v^2)\right)$ for that body. [It's ...
- 36k