Work, Energy, and Power

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture on Work, Energy, and Power, including definitions for work, different types of energy, power, and related units and principles.

Work

In physics, the product of force times distance; what is put into something or accomplished.

Mechanical Work

A common term for work calculated as the product of force times distance.

Joule (J)

The SI unit for work and energy, equivalent to a Newton-meter (N·m).

Kinetic Energy

The energy an object possesses due to its motion, calculated as one-half times the mass times the velocity squared (1/2mv²).

Potential Energy

Stored energy, specifically gravitational potential energy in this context, calculated as mass times the acceleration due to gravity times height (mgh), where height 'h' is relative to the lowest point in the system.

Acceleration due to Gravity (g)

A constant value of 9.8 meters per second squared, used in calculating gravitational potential energy.

Conservation of Energy

A fundamental law of physics stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only converted from one form to another.

Power

The rate at which work is done or energy is expended, calculated as work or energy divided by time.

Watt (W)

The SI unit for power, equivalent to one Joule per second (J/s).

Calorie

A unit of energy often used in thermodynamics, food, and exercise, which can be converted to Joules.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A unit of energy used for measuring electricity consumption, representing power delivered over time (kilowatts multiplied by hours).

Input Work

The amount of work applied or put into a system or object, such as sliding a box of books.

Output Work

The work that is accomplished or gotten out of a system.

Derived Quantity

A unit that can be broken down into fundamental units (e.g., a Joule can be broken down into kilograms, meters, and seconds).