Work and Energy

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to work and energy, including definitions of key terms and principles.

Work

The product of the magnitude of the displacement times the component of the force in the direction of the displacement.

Positive Work

Work done by a force when it has a vector component in the same direction as the displacement.

Negative Work

Work done by a force when it has a vector component in the opposite direction of the displacement.

Zero Work

Work done by a force when there is no displacement in the direction of the force.

Kinetic Energy

The energy associated with the motion of an object, expressed as K = ½ mv².

Potential Energy

Energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration, often related to gravitational force.

Conservative Force

A force for which the work done in moving an object between two points is independent of the path taken.

Non-Conservative Force

A force for which the work done depends on the path taken, such as friction.

Work-Energy Theorem

The net work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.

Power

The rate at which work is done, expressed in Watts (W), where 1 W = 1 J/s.

Friction

The force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in contact.

Elastic Potential Energy

Potential energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Potential energy associated with an object's height above the ground, calculated as PE = mgh.

Mechanical Energy

The sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system, which remains constant in the absence of non-conservative forces.

Spring Constant (k)

A measure of a spring's stiffness, defined as the force required to compress or extend the spring by one unit of length.